As Homer Simpson might say, "Dough!"

Happy Atheist's Day (Psalm 14:1)!

Being a native Chicagoan, I'm something of a pizza fundamentalist. 

Contrary to the hype, Chicago isn't really a "deep dish" town. I wouldn't go so far as to say that "Chicago-style" pizza is just a gimmick, but Chicagoans usually go either for a lesser-known local specialty- the thin-crusted, usually rectangular "tavern style-" or for what is generally known as "New York-style" pizza (when nobody is looking). And we're serious about it.

I've always loved Aurelio's, myself. But local, family-owned pizza parlors are the best.

Iowa, on the other hand, is... different. The most popular pizza here is what, to my taste, is the incredibly bland, tasteless stuff served by Casey's chain of convenience stores. Pizza Ranch has an edible product, I suppose. There is a chain called Pagliai's that has parlors in Grinnell and the Des Moines suburb of Johnston that actually puts out a pretty decent pizza. But Iowa is not, shall we say, a mecca for pizza connoisseurs.

I should say that "breakfast pizza," featuring scrambled eggs, sausage, sausage gravy, bacon, and even hash browns, is a big thing in Iowa and is often done okay here. But there is a legitimate question as to whether it's actually pizza, properly speaking.

There's a Domino's a block from me. But on the rare occasions when I disobey my cardiologist and indulge, the place I generally end up is Fong's. It's across the street from The Royal Mile and run by the same company.

Fong's has a great staff. Like the Mile, it has an interesting clientele, too. But alas, it specializes in the abomination known as "California-style" pizza.

Many of us have a problem with pineapple on pizza. But Fong's is way beyond pineapple. Anything edible is liable to end up on a Fong's pizza; its specialty is Crab Rangoon. There are a variety of sauces, too. Many are interesting. Some are regrettable. 

On the whole, its more conventional efforts, while not great by Chicago standards, are certainly better than Casey's. But not long ago, they went too far. Putting Lucky Charms on a pizza to celebrate St. Patrick's Day was a crime against nature heinous enough to draw national media coverage- and well-deserved ridicule.

But The Dough Company, another Iowa pizza joint whose product I have yet to sample, has gone even farther. Little Caesar uses "Pizza Pizza" as an advertising slogan. But The Dough Company took the slogan literally. See the picture.

Fortunately, it's an April Fool joke. Photo by The Dough Company.