Hal Anderson

I'm a big pizza guy, but I'll admit I'm a bit of a snob about it. I've had way more pizza I didn't like than pizza I did. So when I finally stopped at PizzaLand on my way back from the lake, I understood why people kept telling me, "Hal, you've gotta try this place."

Sauce is huge for me, and theirs is terrific. I ordered thin crust, and it had the kind of crunch I wish more pizzas had. Owner Matt Slobodzian told me how they get it that way. They bake the pizza in a pan, then take it out and finish it right on the stone bottom of their old-school oven. They make the dough fresh and shred their own full-fat mozzarella in-house. All the toppings are top quality.

PizzaLand has been at 1765 Main Street since 1990, when a former Tony's Pizza delivery driver everyone knew as Uncle Larry bought the location and gave it a new name. Matt started working there at 16 and eventually took over. It's a North End institution tucked between Hartford and Belmont.

I'll be back for another pie, and next time I'm trying the wings too. They fry them in tallow. It's not my end of town, but still, how did I wait this long?

Most of us were watching the mayor's race on election night. Scott Gillingham kept his job, but look at what happened down the ballot. Nine new city councillors were sworn in this week. They join six incumbent councillors and a returning mayor. That's a lot of change at 510 Main Street.

Loren Remillard, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, says this new council has a mandate to challenge conventional thinking. I think he's right. And I'd say to those nine rookies, don't be afraid to make a little noise.

Just look around. Residents are worried about crime in their neighbourhoods. We've got people living in tents and people with jobs wondering how they're going to cover the rent. If the way we've been doing things at City Hall for the past four years was working well enough, I don't think we'd still be having so many of the same conversations.

So when somebody tells you, "That's how we've always done it," ask them how that's been working out. And if you hear that an idea has been studied before, ask what came of it and what you can do about it now.

Winnipeggers voted for change in a big way. Let's see it.

I hope you tune in for Hal’s Kitchen at noon today (and again tomorrow) on 680 CJOB. The show is now sponsored by Marcello’s Meats at 200-Meadowood across from St. Vital Centre. Thanks, Marcello!

On Hal’s Kitchen this weekend, Winnipegger Brendon Shewchuck who did great on MasterChef Canada, something new from Santa Lucia Pizza, the story of Paella and much more.

Hal’s Kitchen is also a column that appears in the Winnipeg Sun every Sunday.

If you didn’t get this in your mailbox, take a look at mine.

I highly recommend Green Blade for snow clearing in Winnipeg.

This is my third winter with them. They’re great!

Call 204-837-1764 for a free estimate.