I realize this is a terrible admission, rising to the level of deliberate arson or or pink lawn ornaments in some eyes, but dang it, I like the taste.
My question for your consideration: why is it that anchovies are such a well-known pizza topping, and yet seemingly reviled by so many? More generally: why are some foods sort of, “Eh… I can take it or leave it,” while others sharply polarize people into hate and love?
And while I’m on the subject of tastes – why do kids go through periods when they hate things like crusts of bread, which don’t really taste that different from the bread itself, or vegetables, which admittedly taste different, but are well-liked by adults? Why do you think taste is so subjective, and so changeable?
I think kids’ tastes are carryovers from their desire to drink milk. So they really like sweet, creamy, fattening stuff. So, if you want to test my theory just find some kid who isn’t a mammal, and offer him the choice of Oreos or kale. I betcha he’ll pick the kale.
I think maybe anchovies are just to prove you’re tough. For people other than you, of course. Also, they’re more “authentically Italian” than a lot of pizza toppings (e.g. pineapple, teriyaki chicken, bubblegum), so maybe they are there for people who like to be historical. Or maybe hysterical.
Anyway, I like anchovies, but mainly on lettuce. There’s a little dish I made up … romaine lettuce, lemon juice, olive oil, raw eggs, and anchovies. I bet nobody else would like it though.
I’ve had anchovies and raw eggs before, in the context of steak tartare… which I also love. Frankly, your dish doesn’t sound all that bad!
Your theories have a certain persuasive appeal, but do not account for liking bread and not liking crusts thereof. Surely the bread isn’t so much more milk-like than the crust, is it?
I’ve wondered about anchovies, too–maybe they are a regional or generational thing. And, no, you may not have them on half the pizza. There’s always one nasty, hairy little thing that hides on my half.
My guess, from some experience, about kids’ taste is that they are extremely sensitive to taste and texture. My 2-year-old thinks ketchup is too spicy. With bread crusts, I think it is more the texture than the taste that bothers them, although if you taste the crust on sandwich bread, I think you’ll find it is very slightly bitter, which is something kids usually don’t like at all.
Very creative, Boris. Sounds excellent. I bet some Parmesan cheese and some crumbled bacon might go well with it, with a little freshly ground black pepper.
Can’t believe I forgot the parmesan cheese. I just bought a “Cesar salad” kit which includes croutons, dressing, romaine, and parmesan. I read the ingredients on the dressing … no anchovy paste! The sin! The horror! (No raw eggs either but I ain’t complaining!)
I read somewhere that kids are more sensitive to bitter tastes than adults. Vegetables tend to be more bitter than, say, meat (especially things like broccoli and spinach, those old standbys that so often get fed to the dog), so you don’t develop a taste for them until you’re older, when your taste buds are less sensitive to bitter tastes.
I, myself, like anchovies, but only in very, very small quantities. My husband is embarassed by this and doesn’t like me to talk about it.
Anchovies are delightful as a flavor enhancer, in small quantities. Moosh up an anchovy or two (or use a small squirt from the anchovy paste tube) and toss into your next sauce.
I put them into braising liquid for lamb shanks, and when oiling and garlicking a simple pasta dish.
For CatInHat, all I can say is that you must throw off your shackles and tell your husband you will no longer be silent! Glory in your love of anchovies; do not cower in shame! Verily, I say to you that only by…
OK, I ran out of steam on that one pretty early.
Thanks for the insight ref: bitter tastes. That goes a long way towards explaining my questions.
And: I have been known to eat anchovies directly out of the can… never in and of themselves, but when using them in a preparing a salad, I will cheat and snack on one or two.
I worked at a pizza place in high school, and was the only one there who would touch anchovies, much less eat them. My favorite is anchovy and onion pizza–my wife rarely lets me order that, for obvious reasons.
I don’t care if the original Cesar salad didn’t have anchovies. I’m no purist–bring the little salties on!
Sardines in mustard on wheat bread…mmm!
And while I’m at it, pickled herring on a bagel with tomato is one of my all time favorite sandwiches.
Hello, everyone. My name is Mitzi and I am… also… (SOB!) an anchovy lover.
Unfortunately no one in this college town (!) sells anchovies on pizzas so I have had to take matters into my own hands, and get the ‘take and bake’ style and furnish my own anchovies and capers (yes, it seems much better to cook the pizza with the stuff on it). It’s nothing about machismo (since when was it macho to like fish? Although there is a contingent of macho types who want to show that 'they’ll eat anything).
I wouldn’t be surprised if some tastes do change with age and habits, especially from childhood. I remember being very much into sugar as a kid, and now I don’t like it at all (especially chocolate (“Guards!”).
Perhaps related: I just had a Xmas lunch with a crowd of long-time chain smokers (including the cooks) who I belive must not be able to sensitively taste much (the food, ahem, lacked).
Mitzi, in the true spirit of fraternal anchovy lovers, I can provide some help.
You will find that Pizza Hut does, in fact, have anchovies. There are several Pizza Huts in Eugene, Oregon. I called the one at 579 E Broadway (541-686-1166) and confirmed that they have the tasty treats. I have no idea how close within the city that is to you, but it’s a starting point.
Get some real bread, not that Pepperidge Farm crap, I mean real French or sourdough bread, and cut it into slices and toast it. Then take some slightly mushy tomatoes, cut 'em in half, and rub them over the bread. If your bread wimps out, then it wasn’t cool enough in the first place. We want bad-ass bread here. Sprinkle salt and then drizzle olive oil over your macho bread slices Then eat them with anchovies, cheese, ham, or anything else that looks good. That’s Catalan pizza.
