PieHole catches Jen Rubino pre-bite at Jamian’s Food and Drink. (Photo by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)
By SUSAN ERICSON
Jamian’s Food and Drink gets testy on Tuesday nights as brainiacs and know-it-alls vie for points at a trivia contest that fills the Red Bank bar to capacity.
Jen Rubino, a 43-year-old borough resident and Italian teacher, has been showing up with her team from the beginning of the weekly showdown two years ago. Is it the camaraderie, the challenge — or maybe a craving for her favorite pizza that brings her out every week?
Shrimp scampi pizza is a popular item on the menu at Jamian’s Food and Drink. (Photo by Susan Ericson. Click to enlarge)
The waitress delivers the pizza to the table and Rubino grabs a slice. She takes a bite that elicits a moan of appreciation.
“It’s not a very traditional pie, but I like the way that they make the scampi part of it,” Rubino says. “It’s like, if you’re into shrimp scampi, you don’t have to dip the bread into the sauce. The bread is already a part of the pizza.”
The 14-inch bar-style pie has a crispy, thin crust topped with a creamy, cheesy garlic sauce. Big chunks of shrimp finish off the top of the pizza.
Jamian’s Food and Drink is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. weekdays and opens at noon on the weekend. A shrimp scampi pie will set you back $16. Do you have a special Craving? Tell us all about it: [email protected].
