Big Belly Bloch

Meet Matt. Matt is one part of the pizza equation of Emily or Pizza Loves Emily as I still like to call it, as I am just so enamored by the place and the people behind it. Emily opened on a spotty but rapidly gentrifying strip of Fulton Street in my old hood in the BK. I of course read about it prior to opening and watched as Matt, Emily and their awesome team brought it to life but have to admit, it took me a hot second to get in the door as when the pizza cravings struck, my loyalty was to Franny’s as that is what I had known and loved and grew into the BK with.  Thank goodness for those amazesaltyballs (aka Cortez Bottarga) for finally bringing me through those doors to meet Matt. Upon seeing the space, smelling that burning wood and hearing I knew I would like the place. Then I ordered a pepperoni pizza and I was in love. Charred and chewy all the way through, with no sog, generously coated in toppings without being weighed down, bright with herbs and saucy when appropriate. This was a different breed of BK pizza. Just like Matt & Emily were meant to be (they met in college and had a first date over pizza), them two and I were meant to be, as turns out I had just started some freelance work with their marketing partner agencyIMD. As fortune would have it, I got to spend hours in the restaurant learning their stories, trying the food which has evolved to be SO much more than pizza their carefully curated beer & wine list & awesome seasonally driven cocktail creations. The Love Potion is still my go-to: Campari, Gruet, Lemon. Enough written. I can write many other posts on the edibles that come out of the small kitchen-the burger is #1 in my world; the salads are perfectly balanced and their chicken wings are the best I have every had in life, IN LIFE. Outside of thoroughly enjoying the food & beverage, I really came to develop a special connection to this place and to Matt and Emily (now wife if I failed to mention that). I crave an experience there on a weekly basis, and when I am back in the BK it is a must visit for me as it just feels good to be there.  I <3 Emily and this guy has played a pretty big part in growing that relationship, so thanks Matt (and Emily). I’ll see you guys soon and in the meantime, learn a bit about Matt here:

How do you know BigBellyBloch?

We meet during an underground bottarga smuggling operation and then again in a more professional setting.

Do you have a nickname and if you are willing to, can you share its origin, please.

In college people called me Matty Ice because it sounds like Natty Ice (Natural Ice) the shitty cheap beer that everyone drank. I have not been called that in some time.