Pizza Maker Specializes In Baking Gourmet Pies

Thu., Oct. 9, 1997

By Mike Prager mikeprager15@gmail.com (509) 459-5454

Correction: 10-16-97; S5 The address of the pizza shop was reported incorrectly in last Thursday’s South Side Voice.

Business

One of the entrepreneurs who started David’s Pizza in downtown Spokane is tossing his pies on the South Hill now.

Chris Bennett sold his interest in David’s three years ago and started a new operation last year called Bennidito’s Pizza, 1426 S. Grand Blvd.

The former defensive end for Whitworth College’s football team said the neighborhood has warmed up to his concept of gourmet pies available by delivery.

Nine out of 10 orders are sold by telephone and delivered by his drivers.

“The neighborhood has been really good,” Bennett said. “I knew if (the food) was good, they’d really support it.”

The menu reflects the South Hill. There’s the LC Tiger Primo with garlic, marinated chicken, mushrooms, feta and whole milk mozzarella cheeses and pesto sauce.

Not to be biased, Bennidito’s offers The Saxon, a meatless offering with artichoke hearts, mushrooms, garlic, pesto, goat cheese and tomato sauce.

Other specialty pies use sun-dried tomatoes, meats imported from Chicago, calamata olives and fresh basil.

“We use a lot of olive oil. We use a lot of garlic,” said Bennett.

He said he developed his own tomato sauce, which he spices with basil, oregano and garlic.

The pizza crust is tossed from fresh, homemade dough.

Prices for the largest specialty pies are $16.50, but a medium double pepperoni goes for $9.

Bennett also offers calzones, sandwiches and pizza by the slice.

He has only a handful of seats inside his shop, so most of his pies go out the door in boxes.

Bennett said he got the idea for opening a shop when he visited Miami some years back and was impressed by all of the small gourmet pizza vendors in the city.

So maybe he’s taking a little literary license when he promotes his shop as “The Center of the Pizza Universe.”

, DataTimes

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