Choosing the Best Sides, Drinks and Desserts to Go With Pizza

Ah, piping hot pizza! Some folks could live on pizza alone, never eating anything else. The average American devours an amazing 23 pounds of pizza each year, and even more pizza if they live in a college dorm. And while pizza is definitely an American (and global) staple food, there are certain side items, beverages, and desserts that seem to be custom made to go with this favorite culinary treat.

Sides

Pizza is a filling meal in itself, but adding side items to your pizza delivery order can make it even more special. The most commonly requested side items to go with pizza include:

• Appetizers, like bread sticks, chicken strips, mozzarella cheese sticks, cheese bread, grilled eggplant, Buffalo wings, quesadillas, potato skins, nachos, calamari, coconut shrimp, or steamed clams. The type of appetizer that you choose will likely depend on the type of pizza that you order.

• Salad. A simple green salad is a great accompanying side item to go with your Issaquah pizza, but you can order a more robust salad as well. From chef’s salad to a plain garden salad, you can bone up on your veggies while enjoying a perfect side dish to go with your pizza.

Drinks

Many folks prefer the old stand-by drink for washing down their delicious pizza meal – soda. Soda, whether in cola, citrus, root beer, or other flavors, is an ideal beverage that can also be purchased in diet form for those who are watching their waistlines. Fruit juices are also a good choice that is a bit of a break from the norm for those who are big soda drinkers. The healthiest drink of all to have with your pizza is sparkling mineral water, which has no calories at all. For those who prefer a beverage with a bit more head to it, there’s always beer, either in tap or from a bottle. And for the sophisticate on your list who wants to enjoy their pizza in true Italian style, wine in a favorite vintage can really cleanse the palette at the end of the meal. Wine a bit too much? Enjoy a wine cooler instead for fewer calories and less of a punch.

Dessert

Some say that dessert is the best part of the meal, while others say that desert is entirely overrated and that they can’t afford the calories! Dessert adds a pleasant end to any meal, especially when served with a hot cup of coffee or tea. Pastry desserts like baklava are always a popular treat when eating Italian. Baklava is a golden pastry with flaky layers that are separated only by syrup and walnuts. Tiramisu is another Italian favorite. This rich cake is drenched in espresso and layered with a mousse made from mascarpone cheese and then topped off with cocoa sugar. From ice cream to cheesecake to pie, there are many desserts that fit the bill for topping off your pizza meal.