81: White Anchovy, Tomato and Fresno Chile Pizza at Pizzeria Mozza

By Garrett Snyder Fri., Jul. 6 2012 at 12:18 PM

Categories: 100 Favorite Dishes, Pizza

Flickr/nicola

White Anchovy, Tomato and Fresno Chile Pizza

Leading up to this year's Best of L.A. issue (due out Oct. 4), we'll be counting down, in no particular order, 100 of our favorite dishes.

81: White Anchovy, Tomato and Fresno Chile Pizza at Pizzeria Mozza.

The mere mention of anchovies doesn't evoke pleasant memories for most people. Maybe someone dared you to order it as a pizza topping during a childhood slumber party. Perhaps your older brother snuck one onto a slice when you weren't looking.

But now you're older and (hopefully) wiser, and just like the Dr. Seuss character who was finally convinced to try green eggs and ham, the combined pizza influence of Nancy Silverton and Mario Batali might actually be enough to persuade you to take the plunge and discover how devilishly delicious the pungent anchovy can be.

It starts with Mozza's famous crusts -- chewy and dense, undulated with dozens of yeasty air pockets -- spread with a bright brick-red tomato sauce, sharp enough in its acidity to remind you of the summer sun. A dotting of pulverized green chiles is added, lending a lingering, herbaceous heat. On top are a few salt-packed alici di menaica anchovies, funky with maritime tang, curled up on the pizza into compact little umami bombs. Each component stands out like a vibrant pluck of a violin string, forming a kind of salty-tangy-funky harmony. Could you convince a 12-year-old version of yourself to eat this? Doubtful, but the grown-up in you knows better.

Check out the rest of our 100 of our favorite dishes. Suggestion? Write us a comment.

100: Lukshon's Dan Dan Noodles
99: Cemita de Milanesa at Cemitas Poblanos Elviritas #1
98: Chichen Itza's Cochinita Pibil
97: Tsukemen at Tsujita L.A.
96: La Cevicheria's Bloody Clam Ceviche
95: Duck Shawarma at Momed
94: Peruvian Chicken at Pollo a la Brasa
93: Squash Blossom Quesadilla at Antojitos Carmen
92: Thai Boat Noodles at Pa-Ord
91: Baco Mercat's Bazole
90: Furikake Kettle Corn at A-Frame
89: Live Santa Barbara Spot Prawns at Providence
88: Fried Pig Tails at Night + Market
87: Egg Salad Sandwich at Euro Pane
86: Galbi Jjim at Soban
85: Truffle Honey-Laced Fried Chicken at Manhattan Beach Post
84: Mool Naeng Myun at Yu Chic Naeng Myun
83: Chicken Vampiro at Mexicali Taco & Co
82: Sooo Cali Dog at Dog Haus

Want more Squid Ink? Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook. Reach the author at gsnyder@laweekly.com or follow him on Twitter at @searchanddevour.