Bertucci's with Jon Gabrus and Carl Tart (live)

"Bertucci's with Jon Gabrus and Carl Tart (live)" is Episode 352 of *Doughboys*, hosted by Nick Wiger and Mike Mitchell. "Bertucci's with Jon Gabrus and Carl Tart (live)" was released on June 2, 2022.

## Synopsis

Jon Gabrus (*Action Boyz*, *High and Mighty*) and Carl Tart (*Grand Crew*, *The Flagrant Ones*) join the 'boys to discuss sit-down pizzerias before a review of Bertucci's. Plus, a special tribute, and another edition of Snack or Wack.

Recorded live at The Wilber in Boston, MA on May 7, 2022.

## Nick's intro

"*A new idea is delicate. It can be killed by a sneer or a yawn. It can be stabbed to death by a quip and worried to death by a frown on the right man's brow.*"

These are the words of Ovid, a Roman poet whose work stands alongside the masters, Virgil and Horace, and is no doubt the most significant resident of the town now known as Sulmona, Italy. The second-most important Sulmonese was Pope Innocent VII, though his papacy was brief and insubstantial, a two-year term presiding over the disastrous Western Schism. And the third-most important inhabitant of Sulmona may very well be Joseph Crugnale, whose family immigrated to Boston during his childhood.

Growing up around the restaurant industry, Crugnale found success in the business in his twenties, and in 1981, he launched his own Italian-American concept, inspired by the brick pizza ovens in his grandmother's Italian hometown. The chain stayed local to The Commonwealth during the Reagan years, and then grew into neighboring states in the '90s and 2000s. Like many sit-down chains, it's been hit hard by recent events and filed for bankruptcy in 2018, before being bought off the scrap heap by Robert Earl, owner of Planet Hollywood, Buca di Beppo, and a stable of indefensible celebrity ghost kitchens.

But even in its current state, the osteria remains a Bay State institution, and one could say that, by daring to take a risk and in due time, reaping the rewards, Crugnale lived the advice of his fellow Sulmonese, Ovid: "*chance is always powerful / let your hook be always cast in the pool where you least expect it / there will be a fish.*"

This week on *Doughboys*, Bertucci's.

## Fork rating

	+ Ranch
* Oven-Roasted Broccoli
 Mike Mitchell
	+ Italian
* Oven-Roasted Broccoli
 Jon Gabrus
 Carl Tart
	+ Italian
* Mac & Cheese
 shared
* Bertucci Sampler
* Cheese Pizza
* Big Papi Pizza
* Artisan Hand Stretched Roasted Wild Mushroom Pizza

## Tribute to Brigham's

To my favorite ice cream shop?
The sweet cream that filled me up
I thought you'd stay forever
But a for-sale sign is in your window as of today
It's dough hard to say goodbye to yesterdough

And I'll take with me the memories
Of raspberry-lime rickies and the shakes
It's dough hard to say goodbye to yesterdough

Thank you, Brigham's.

If you would like to watch the video made for this song, you can see it on twitter here.

## Snack or Wack

In Snack or Wack, the Doughboys try a snack item and decide if it is good or bad.

For this episode, in honor of Mitch's favorite ice-cream shop, Brigham's, closing (see the tribute above), they try Brigham's Peppermint Stick Ice Cream.

Gabrus says it's like brushing your teeth with milk. Nick says it's too minty, but does like it. Carl also is not a fan of minty ice cream.

 Mike Mitchell
 Jon Gabrus
 Carl Tart

## The Live Feedbag

 Mike Mitchell
 Jon Gabrus
 Carl Tart
steak over country-fried steak

 Mike Mitchell
 Jon Gabrus
 Carl Tart
 Emma Erdbrink

 Mike Mitchell
 Jon Gabrus