(veracipizza.com) – Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, Washington

How I heard of this place: Friends of ours from the east coast recommended it as we made our way through the Ballard Farmers Market. It was a place they had wanted to try for weeks, and it was finally time.

Type of cuisine: Pizza! Wood-Fired. Authentic. Neapolitan.

“Veraci Pizza features a delicious ultra-thin artisan crust made from our secret recipe. Each batch of dough is hand prepared in a mixing bowl, never by machine.

We fire our gourmet pizzas with apple wood from Yakima Valley in screaming oven temperatures around 1000 degrees.  Each pizza pie is cooked in fewer than two minutes!

We use only the freshest and highest quality natural ingredients and buy direct from local farms whenever possible.  All of these things combine to create the most delicious pizza you’ll ever experience.”

Ambiance: Set outdoors, in a small nook between buildings towards the center of the Farmers Market, we smelled the sweetness of fresh-baked pizzas. As we followed our noses, we saw the large umbrella overhead, the mini oven and a dozen patrons awaiting in the quick-moving line for pizza.

What I ordered: Three of the four of us first enjoyed the Savory Sal ($5 per slice), covered in pepperoni, Italian dry salami, red onions, black olives and Provolone cheese on a savory red sauce with a signature three-cheese blend.

One of our dining companions selected the Fresh Mushroom ($4.50). Upon taking the last, mouth-watering bite, we knew we were up for more! My husband and I shared a slice of the Florentina ($5) with baby spinach, shaved Parmesan, Ricotta cheese and red onions on a garlic olive oil base topped with the Veraci signature three-cheese blend.

What I loved: The Savory Sal. Despite my lack of interest (almost always) in any form of sausage was exceedingly tasty, abundant with complementary flavors and easily devoured.

Why I loved it: The Ballard Farmers Market, on a sunny late summer day is always a treat, and to have delicious lunch just around the corner, in addition to the friendly vendors, makes it all the more appealing.

Cost: High ($4 – $5 per slice)

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