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Pepper’s Pizza

by Evan Hatch

Pepper's Pizza 3I always wanted to be a part of Pepper’s Pizza in Chapel Hill. Pepper’s hid in plain sight on Franklin Street, two doors down from the Varsity Theater, a narrow squeeze of a restaurant with checkerboard floors, whacked art hanging and a cast of incredible characters working the kitchen. It was Chapel Hill’s coolest anti fraternity.  The kitchen was an open space (the first one I’d ever seen) blaring music – everything from Archers of Loaf, Stooges, Wu-Tang Clan, Sinatra.  The music set the mood for the entire place, and in my impressionable mind, I could judge the kitchen staff’s mood by its decibels. It was a punk place, but was warm and fuzzy enough. Beautiful alterna-servers took care of patrons in the large booths – taking the edge off the green-haired kitchen staff. It was a loved spot – and most patrons took ownership of the joint, the perfect place to bring family and guests from out of town. But the food was king – fresh and inexpensive. In college, there were pizza cravings. And there were Pepper’s cravings.

Peppers Pizza 1The food was healthy – beautiful green salads with fresh ingredients, thin and crispy crusted pizza, fresh gazpacho, strombolis and calzones.  This was pretty much the extent of the menu – apologies to anything forgotten.  The Pepper’s salad could change the opinion of the greens hater.  Crisp green romaine, shredded mozzarella, diced red onion, fresh mushroom and seedless tomatoes made a must for the meal.  Homemade dressings exceptional.  Those in the know had the”Djoppy” half honey Dijon, half poppy seed. My good friend Srinath Vadlamani let us in on this concoction, the smile from the waitresses when you ordered the dressing made the rogue going that much cooler.

Pepper's Pizza 2
And what to say about the pizza?  It was like no pizza ever experienced by this small town fellow. I am often a crust leaver, but this never happened at Pepper’s. It was a remarkably simple (and vegan) crust that came out crispy and not at all greasy.  And that kitchen put some serious thought into their pies – the Quattro Stagiano pie celebrated the four seasons beautifully, and The Hot Dog – amazingly turned a veggie specialty pie into a baseball stadium staple.  I do not know how it happened. It just did.

 

Pepper’s shuttered in 2011.  After a quarter century and two locations, it closed its doors. I still miss it- not weekly anymore, but every once in a while a fevered sensory dream.  Pepper’s was a local favorite. And everyone had their own favorites and personal stories. I heard a lot of good tunes there, had a date or two there, discussed a lot of culture there, and I wish right now, there was there.

…………………………………………………………..

EvanHatch2Evan Hatch
Evan is a folklorist currently working  with the North Carolina Folklife Institute in Cumberland, Hoke, Robeson & Scotland counties.  Since 2002, he worked in Middle Tennessee documenting traditional musical and material culture. He was producer at Spring Fed Records and served as President of the Tennessee Folklore Society.

 

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Filed Under: Central NC, Destinations, Food, Uncategorized Tagged With: Chapel Hill NC, Evan Hatch, Pepper's Pizza

About deborah-old

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Liz Winter says

    August 3, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    I would kill for a copy of Pepper’s gazpacho recipe!!! I crave it on a daily basis!

    Reply
  2. Leslie Shatzen says

    October 23, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    My husband started Peppers pizza. The gazpacho recipe came from his Mother. If you still want we would be glad to send!

    Reply
    • Deborah Miller says

      October 30, 2015 at 12:23 pm

      Hi Leslie, we would love to have the gazpacho recipe! It’s my favorite gazpacho that I’ve ever had. You can contact us at staff@ncfolk.org. Thanks so much!

      Reply
    • Sarah says

      September 11, 2022 at 3:55 am

      I’d love the recipe! Spent many fun times there at Peppers! Loved their pizza and the djoppy dressing on those delicious salads!

      Reply
  3. Missy Dixon says

    November 19, 2022 at 3:58 pm

    I was reminiscing about Chapel Hill telling my daughter about Peppers and Franklin St and just happened to come across your post while searching for pics. I worked at Pepper’s from 1992-97 and remember you and your group coming in. Best to you and thank you for the memories.

    Reply
  4. Terilyn says

    December 1, 2022 at 5:11 am

    Man I loved peppers. My random slice was sundried tomatoes, pineapple, and basil

    Reply

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