For Rob Crissinger, any day can feel like Valentine’s Day when pizza is involved. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a lifelong love affair, deeply rooted in family history and shared experiences. “Pizza will always love you back,” Rob declared on National Pizza Day, perfectly encapsulating his profound connection to this dish of crust, cheese, and sauce. For Rob, pizza isn’t just food – it’s family.
This enduring love story is why Rob is embarking on “Pizzabout,” a culinary tour exploring the diverse pizza landscape of the 405 area and beyond. For someone who’s always been somewhat indifferent to pizza, this journey of discovery, guided by Rob’s passionate expertise, promises to be enlightening. Why Rob as the Pizzabout guide? Because his love for pizza is practically genetic, a familial trait passed down through generations.
Alt text: Black and white photograph of a vintage pizzeria named “Tasty Treat” with a sign that reads “Pizza and Italian Spaghetti”
Rob’s Familial Pizza legacy began in Ohio, where his grandparents established one of the state’s pioneering pizzerias, “Tasty Treat,” in Washington Courthouse during the 1950s. Growing up surrounded by the sights, smells, and tastes of a family-run pizza business, it’s no wonder pizza became ingrained in his DNA. This wasn’t just about food; it was about family gatherings, shared meals, and the comforting aroma of baking dough that permeated his childhood home.
His passion extends beyond simply eating pizza. Rob is a pizza enthusiast in the truest sense, enjoying the art of making it from scratch. He appreciates all forms of pizza, even frozen, which he elevates with gourmet additions like goat cheese. For Rob, a pilgrimage to Frank Pepe’s in New Haven, Connecticut, is a sacred experience. When discussing pizza styles, he enthusiastically ranks Detroit, New York, Chicago, and his family’s cherished French bread pizza, a nod to personal tradition. Internationally, Neapolitan, Roman, and his Grandma’s Sicilian style hold his top spots, showcasing a global appreciation rooted in familial taste and history.
Travel, another strong familial characteristic inherited from his air traffic controller father, further fuels Rob’s pizza pursuits. Moving across the country, from Illinois to Kentucky and Oklahoma, exposed him to diverse regional pizza flavors, enriching his already deep understanding.
His early pizza memories began at Straw Hat Pizza in Livermore, California, around 1978. Upon moving to Oklahoma, Crystal’s Pizza, with its fortune-telling machine, became a nostalgic favorite. In Springfield, Illinois, Godfather’s Pizza became the go-to, even in a town Rob recalls as “not much of a pizza town in 1981.” These weren’t just random pizza stops; they were culinary landmarks during his formative years, each location adding a layer to his evolving familial pizza story.
Alt text: Close-up shot of a New York style pizza slice with pepperoni, showcasing the crust, sauce, and melted cheese.
High school marked a pivotal moment in Rob’s pizza journey. Returning to Livermore, California, he discovered Pinky’s Pizza. This wasn’t just pizza; it was love at first slice. For an entire year, Pinky’s became a daily ritual with friends John Horn and Brian Digiovanni, a testament to the communal and familial aspect of pizza. “My attendance was a lot better that year,” Rob jokes, recalling those pizza-fueled school days. Pinky’s set a new benchmark, a taste of pizza perfection that he has been chasing ever since.
This pursuit of pizza perfection led him to Hideaway Pizza in 2016, where he served as director of marketing and public relations. Even after his tenure ended, his admiration for the Stillwater-born pizzeria remained strong. During his time there, he helped launch Pepperonipalooza, which became the chain’s top seller, further solidifying his impact on the pizza world.
His career path then led him to the Oklahoma State Department of Health, a role that, surprisingly, deepened his pizza connection. Traveling across all 77 Oklahoma counties during the COVID-19 pandemic, Rob explored the state’s diverse pizza offerings, realizing Oklahoma’s potential as a pizza destination. This statewide pizza exploration became a personal journey of discovery, reinforcing the comforting and constant presence of pizza in his life, even amidst challenging times.
Currently, as Executive Director of Communications for Epic Charter Schools, Rob’s pizza passion continues to burn brightly. Pizza has been a source of comfort and stability, helping him navigate personal hardships, including a divorce and a recent breakup. This highlights another facet of “familial pizza” – its role as a constant companion and source of solace through life’s ups and downs.
Rob’s familial pizza legacy extends to his sons, Chase, 21, and Kyler, 19, who he proudly states are even more knowledgeable and critical about pizza, carrying the torch of high pizza standards into the next generation. Pizza, for the Crissinger family, is truly a shared language and a bond that transcends generations.
Alt text: Rob Crissinger smiling and holding a pizza slice at Rendezvous Pizza, Bricktown, with a pizza oven in the background.
Through Pizzabout, Rob will share his expertise, reviewing local pizza establishments based on crust, cheese, sauce, and toppings, while also considering the overall experience. This monthly pizza exploration, launching on March 14th, promises to be a delicious journey. The first stops include Rendezvous Pizza and The Wedge, offering a taste of Oklahoma City’s pizza scene.
Perhaps, as Rob shares his love for pizza, he might even find another kind of love along the way. But one thing is certain: for Rob Crissinger, pizza is family, and that’s a love that will always endure. Join Pizzabout and celebrate the enduring love of familial pizza.
