1. Save on toppings. Take away pizza is often a bit of a guilty pleasure: not the healthiest dinner option and not always the cheapest either. If you are willing to accept that you are prone to indulge once in a while, you can at least save a little money by opting for cheaper pizzas with fewer or zero toppings and jazzing them up at home. Having a jar of pesto in the fridge, along with some jalapenos and any leftover meat can really go a long way to elevating a cheap takeaway pizza to a full-on feast; however, this is not to say that there is anything wrong with plain: in fact, at a recent World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy, the best margherita in the world was found to come from just north of Melbourne!
2. Make the most of leftovers. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to leftover pizza: some people swear that it's better cold, straight from the fridge; others find that room temperature works best. One thing that both of these approaches have in common is that you are aware at every single moment that you are eating leftover pizza. A lesser-known method is to dry fry your pizza. Place a non-stick pan over a very low heat (this cannot be emphasised enough) and allow the pizza to reheat until the cheese on the top has melted. This may take anywhere from seven to ten minutes, but it is well worth the wait. When ready, the base will be crisp, not burnt, and you will never look at leftover pizza the same way again.
3. Don't compromise. As far as food goes, it doesn't get much more sociable than pizza. Pizza is often more than a meal: it is an event all unto itself (ever hear of a pizza party?), so there is an excellent chance that whilst you are browsing the local takeaway menu there will be at least one other pair of eyes looking over your shoulder, pulling you this way or that. When it comes to your order, though, there is often no need to compromise. Many takeaways, particularly chains, will allow you to choose a half-and-half option: essentially two pizzas in one, keeping everybody happy. These will often be the best bang for your buck; however, if for some reason this option is not available, go ahead and order that extra pizza and simply refer back to step two. You will often find two-for-one deals are surprisingly cost effective, and you will live to enjoy pizza another day. Buon appetito!
