i know it's not knoxville, but big ed's pizza is a well-known standard for pizza around here. this place was established in oak ridge in 1970 and has been serving pizza to happy people since.
i was in college when i first visited big ed's. big ed was still alive back then and i caught a glimpse of him standing at his usual bar spot that evening. even though he has passed, his pizza still lives on. and a pizza quest wouldn't be complete without a trip to this historic spot.
the style seems new york, although the logo on the window of the store says it's "true italian style." the crust is of the hand tossed variety, providing a thinner foundation. the sauce and toppings are consistently delicious. i have included the link to big ed's website at the bottom of this post. you should read the "who is big ed" section which talks about the history and what ingredients are made and used. it is interesting.
both k1 and i were quite hungry, so we decided on a couple of 12 inch pies each. k1 ordered her usual pepperoni only. i ordered pepperoni, bacon, and onion. (they now put benton's bacon on their pizzas!)
being as hungry as i was, i threw down on my pizza. i couldn't get enough of the flavors of tomato sauce and cheese and toppings! k1 was able to take some of her pizza home for later enjoyment. that might have been a smarter move. now, she can have the experience of big ed's extended more than just one evening.
being the classic as it is, i felt we needed big ed's t-shirts to show our pizza solidarity.
