Lost Pizza

We have always been huge fans of Memphis Pizza Cafe and get pizza there almost weekly, or, well, we used to. However, we have recently found out that they are continuing supporters of a major Memphis Zoo event that involves massive overflow parking with drivers directed out onto the open green space in one of our large city parks. As you probably can realize, open green space in urban areas is rare and valuable, and there's been much controversy -especially in the last several years- over the zoo administration's continued abuse of our Greensward for this purpose. That Memphis Pizza Cafe would enable this destruction of a free common green space shocked us, especially in view of the fact that this is a huge local story and they've been asked to refrain from participation. We won't be going back there until they stop supporting this.

That has led us to search for other local pizzas, and we have happily settled in at Lost Pizza, which is a locally-owned part of a regional chain. Locations are all in Mississippi except for one in Jonesboro, AR, and the one here in Memphis.

The interior is fun:

The pizza is great! You can view their menu here. Here's what I got at two recent visits:

tomato and spinach

Happy Hippie

That first drink is water and the second was Coke. The Husband and The Younger Son are meat eaters, so my veggie choice wouldn't do for them. The Younger son favors Italian sausage, and you can see his in the background of the first photo. I didn't get a picture of The Husband's selection, but I think he got ground beef, maybe. We are impressed and quite satisfied with our find. There's also a covered patio where we sat the last time we went:

Just in case you're unfamiliar with the controversy involving the zoo administration's encroachment into and destruction of the larger park in which they are located, I'll offer a few links detailing that history and a few photos.

• SaveTheGreensward.com has information.
• OvertonParkForever.org is the website of Citizens to Preserve Overton Park, which has as its mission "To preserve and defend the Old Forest and open spaces of Overton Park for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations."
• A Brief History of the Dispute

We want this:

Not this:

And lately, they've taken to directing drivers into the protected Old Forest. Here's an example of what happened to four acres of Old Forest they decided to clearcut when they wanted to build an exhibit there:

So, as sad as it makes me, no more Memphis Pizza Cafe for my family. Not until they stop enabling this abuse. But Lost Pizza is very good, so there's that.

I'm offering this rant, and pizza, and Coke to the participants of the weekly T Tuesday gathering hosted by Bleubeard and Elizabeth. Please bring a drink and join us!