[evennyNiz]

Is Godfather’s Pizza any good?

That’s the saucy question POLITICO asked a panel of political and culinary experts to chew over now that the company’s former CEO, Herman Cain, is rising in political polls.


Joining us for the great taste test were: Republican strategist Doug Heye (who writes about restaurants for Capitol File magazine); Democratic commentator Karen Finney; and D.C. foodie Nycci Nellis, who runs the website TheListAreYouOnIt.com.

In the blind competition (panelists didn’t know which pizzas they were eating and commenting about until after the contest was over), each participant sampled plain cheese slices from Pizza Hut, zpizza, Ledo Pizza, Papa John’s and, of course, Godfather’s Pizza (the closest one to Washington, for interested parties, can be found two hours away, deep in the heart of Virginia).

Unfortunately for Cain, his former business clearly is not churning out quality pies — the panel unanimously voted Godfather’s Pizza the worst slice of the five.

And their comments were enough to leave a bitter taste in the GOP hopeful’s mouth.

“It’s the most unappetizing,” said Nellis after just one bite. “The cheese is really sour! The crust is like a sponge.”

“That is so bad,” said Finney.

“The crust is trying to be thin crust and thick crust, it can’t make up what it is,” said Heye. “Not good.”

Cain took over the struggling pizza chain in 1986 and remained there until 1995 and touts his leadership of the company on the campaign trail. His website reads, “Energized by overcoming the many obstacles of his job at Burger King, Herman took on the biggest challenge of his career. He accepted the call to become the president and CEO of Godfather’s Pizza,” a company that was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. “In just 14 months, Herman returned Godfather’s to profitability and led his management team to a buyout of the company.”

A profile of Cain’s tenure at Godfather’s published this month in the Omaha World-Herald reports that he “… baked pies on a weekly basis in Omaha,” where the company’s headquarters are located. The paper also said Cain added the “Big Deal,” which had cheaper ingredients, and a “Hot Slice” to compete with similar products of the other chains. Godfather’s Jumbo Combo pizza, a five-pounder of cheese and toppings was scrapped.

“Thanks for the survey and sharing those 3 opinions,” said Cain spokesman J.D. Gordon “That said, I know plenty of folks who like Godfather’s the best. At the end of the day, I think we can all agree on liking pizza. What’s not to like?”

For its part, Godfather’s Pizza is avoiding nearly all queries about Cain, opting instead to send reporters a document containing a “Media Statement” and “Frequently Asked Questions.”

“Godfather’s Pizza takes no position on political candidates, but we do make great pizza,” states the document. And, blind taste tests be damned, Godfather’s stands by its craftsmanship. “Godfather’s Pizza strongly supports a commitment to excellence, an obsession with great-tasting pizza, and a desire to have a little fun.”

“It looked bad, it tasted bad, it just wasn’t what you want from a slice of pizza,” Nellis said later of the Godfather’s slice.

“It was gross. The cheese tasted like it was sour, basically, and it had turned,” said Finney. “So it was cheap, cheaper than $9.99? [In fact, the Godfather’s pie was $11.99.] I gotta say because I’ve had $9.99 pizza from Domino’s that tasted a lot better.”

And forget taste, Finney panned Godfather’s on looks alone. “When you put it down [in front of the POLITICO panelists], we all kind of had a reaction of not wanting to put it in our mouths. And that’s not a good sign.”

Heye, ever the Republican spokesman, doesn’t blame Cain.

“When I had Godfather’s Pizza growing up as a kid, I remember it being a very good pizza,” said Heye. “This is not the pizza of Herman Cain.”

Finney wasn’t as generous. “You can just tell it tasted like people cutting costs — cutting corners to cut costs — and that’s not what we need right now. We need investment.”

For the record, Ledo Pizza was voted the universal favorite among the group.



Read more: VIDEO http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1011/66258.html#ixzz1bHkM5qsy

[LarpBulaBus]

Saw that on the tube.

I have a hard time believing that Karen Finney didn't like any of them!

I kid, I kid.

There's nothing wrong with 'chubby sex'.

[Zmniubqr]

I have not had one of those pizza's in a long time, but I recall it was not that great........

You know the kind....... You start eating then you instinctively look to see if the cardboard was stuck to the bottom of the crust.........lol

[huedaanydrax]

I'd rather eat frozen pizza bought at the supermarket before I'd ever eat Godfathers for the following reasons.

a) The frozen pizza tastes better

b) The frozen pizza is more convenient

c) The frozen pizza tastes better

[MARMELADINA]

I've never had it, for some reason I imagined it was similar to Little Caesars not real pizza.

[Waymninelia]

I've never had it, for some reason I imagined it was similar to Little Caesars not real pizza.

I've never had Little Caesars because somehow I imagined it would've been similar to Godfathers, in that a frozen pizza from the supermarket would taste better.

[Fegasderty]

Then Cain truly does know how to run a business. He took a mariginal product and still managed to turn the company around financially...!!! Good job...

[Mereebirl]

I've never had Little Caesars because somehow I imagined it would've been similar to Godfathers, in that frozen pizza from the supermarket would taste better.

If I had a choice between DiGiorno's and Little Cesar's I'm sticking with DiGiorno's every time. It's not that it's that good it's just not that bad.

[poulaMahmah]

I'll stick with KASHI whole grains.

White dough and brown shoes don't make it.

frozen pizza is easy -why fake it? (apologies to Frank Zappa)

[TyncTyncSah]

If I had a choice between DiGiorno's and Little Cesar's I'm sticking with DiGiorno's every time. It's not that it's that good it's just not that bad.

Yeah, that's what I'm getting at, it's not as bad, couple that with the convenience of not having to leave the house and I won't ever eat at either Little Caesar's or Godfather's.

[Itrtuawh]

Tommaso's in North Beach is the best.

California? Maybe for California it's the best, but it's not the best, not compared to New York or Chicago, not when we're talking pizza.

[BamSaitinypap]

Little Caesar's is pretty bad & several frozen varities are better, but I think dominoes is even worse..........

THe house brand grocery pizza is even better than that crap.......

[jinnamys]

If Im hungry and I want pizza. Its Papa Johns.....its the best.