WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – While heading back for a lovely day on the water just south of Surf City (thanks Pat and Kat), we decided to swing into The LBC Bottle Shop and Beer Yard in Hampstead. If you haven’t been, the bottle shop in front has a selection of imports, domestics, craft beers and seltzers to choose from while the beer yard is more a hangar-style shelter with a bar, taps, tables and TVs. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable if you need help making a selection, and overall it’s a great place for refreshments if you’re in the area (I apologize in advance for the lack of pictures, I was covered in sand and saltwater but the experience was too good not to write about!)
The LBC also boasts a small stage and space for live music, but the acoustic covers weren’t the only things that were wafting through the air. The undeniable smell of WilmyWoodie Wood Fired Pizza also filled the sky. WilmyWoodie has been a favorite on the food truck scene for years, and for good reason. It’s a culinary creation on wheels unlike anything you have ever seen, complete with a wood fired pizza oven attached to the back. The truck also has a home at The LBC, making it easy to grab a beer and a pizza in one fell swoop.
I’ve admittedly heard about WilmyWoodie for a while now, and shamefully this was my first time experiencing their brand of wood fired pizza (I say “shamefully” because I should have sought them out long before this). You can order a wide variety of specialty pizzas, like the “The Honey Blue Bleu” with house-made hot honey, Muenster cheese, fried chicken, blueberries and blue cheese. Or what about “The Pie-Mento” with pimento cheese, bacon, banana peppers and jalapenos?
Of course, they have a selection of “normal” pies or you can create your own. Our crew went with a little bit of both, with “The Betty” specialty, loaded with mozzarella, parmesan, blue cheese and whipped ricotta topped with fresh garlic, herbs and seasoning (and a side of hot honey). It was honestly one of, if not the best white pizzas I’ve ever had. Each bite bursts with flavor, aided by a healthy dose of ricotta, and the perfectly cooked crust provides that charred flavor you love from wood fired ovens without being too chewy.
We also snagged “The ILM,” which is essentially a classic pepperoni pie, and then created our own with pepperoni, banana peppers and mushrooms. Both pizzas were quickly dispatched, with each one cut into four slices for easy sharing. I have to point out, the house-made ranch dressing and WilmyWoodie’s own hot honey are absolute must haves with your order. Each dip takes whatever pizza you’re enjoying to a completely new level…