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A Tale of Two Pizzas, or Maybe Three

The Infinite Craving for Pizza Dilemma

I love pizza… who doesn’t, right? I mean, it’s pizza—what’s not to love? I’ve tried it all, from gas station slices that probably should come with a warning, to high-end brick oven masterpieces with local ingredients.

Now, I consider myself a bit of a connoisseur. I’m not into overly complex pizza menus. For me, the best places are the ones where your choices are simple: Neapolitan or pepperoni, good dough, quality ingredients, a nice oven… boom, that’s it! SiMPL.

But what happens when you’re hit with a menu that looks more like a novel? Dozens of pizza options staring back at you. You’re hungry, you’re confused, and you end up making the usual decision: “Pepperoni, please!” That, my friends, is The Paradox of Choice in action.

The Paradox of Choice is when more options lead to decision paralysis, and even dissatisfaction with your choice. (Barry Schwartz’s theory on how having too many options can actually make us less happy—sound familiar?)

Now, don’t freak out, but most of the time, your decisions are influenced by external factors you don’t even realize. Whether it’s an ad, a recommendation, or just pure habit, your choices aren’t as free as you think they are. So yes, you think you’re making a decision, but in reality, you’re following a path laid out by design. Kind of freaky, right?

You want to know more Check out this 17 year-old TED talk.

Simplify Decision-Making (Pizza Edition)

If you want to understand more about how we think and make decisions, check out Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman (and yes, there’s a book review later on, so keep reading). He’s the guy when it comes to human behavior. Kahneman explains that our brains have two systems for thinking: one that’s fast and intuitive, and another that’s slow and methodical. The more decisions you force your brain to make, the more tired it gets, which is why leaders like Obama and Zuckerberg simplify their daily decisions by wearing the same clothes. They save their brainpower for the big stuff.

Honestly, I’d rather have a president focused on making important decisions than one exhausted from choosing what to wear every day. Can I get an amen?

This is why I love SiMPL menus. A few solid options are enough. If I’m at a restaurant, I want to relax, not feel like I’m taking an exam.

Pizza Journey: From Bianco to Sorrento

Now, I make a pretty mean pizza myself. I love experimenting with recipes and taking notes every time I tweak something. (Fun fact: I think this is partly how I ended up married—but more on that later.)

One of the best pizzas I’ve had was at Pizzeria Bianco in the U.S. Chris Bianco doesn’t mess around. It’s all about the ingredients, the dough, the oven, and keeping it simple. If you’re ever in Phoenix, do yourself a favor and check it out. (Or watch his Chef’s Table episode on Netflix for a taste!… check out the trailer below)

But let’s not get too fancy. Back home in Panama, my go-to pizza joint is Sorrento, an old-school spot I’ve been going to since I was a kid, it was Grandpa’s choice for pizza. Nothing fancy, but it’s got that nostalgic charm—and sometimes, that’s all you need.

Pizza Stories: 2 of the Top Panama Pizza’s

Verace Pizza

One night, over drinks, a friend told me about Verace Pizza. Naturally, I took notes. A couple of weeks later, my brother-in-law sent me a photo of the pizza and said, “Second time this week, you have to try it.”

So, we did… or at least tried to. Turns out, Verace only opens from 6 pm to 10 pm! I was ready to give up, but 6:05 pm rolled around, and we ordered two pizzas.

It was raining, and the delivery was delayed, but once I got it in the oven to heat it up… wow. Worth every minute. Simplicity at its best—just a few great options on the menu, and they nail it every time.

Check out their IG here.

The Gamboa Baking Co.

On the weekend of the infamous water outage (from my last newsletter), we found ourselves near the Panama Canal, unaffected by the water situation. That’s where we stumbled upon Gamboa Baking Co. After months of trying to get a table, we finally had our chance—and it was worth the wait.

The chef started the business in his garage in the small town of Gamboa, and word of mouth has turned his simple menu into a sensation. With just five pizza options, there’s no room for complexity, but that’s exactly why it works.

Check it out!

Check out their IG here.

My wife and I sat at the bar, right where the pizzas were made, and we were mesmerized. The pizzas were fantastic, but watching them come together was half the fun. We’re not TikTok foodies who do it for the likes—we’re foodies who love creating, eating, and enjoying the art of food.

The Magic of Simplicity

As you may know by now, my wife is a professional Pastry Chef and Cake decorator who comes from a long line of bakers, while I come from a long line of bread eaters! One of the reasons I got hitched was when her father offered to teach me how to make bread. It’s been 8 years since we started our first couples project—a sourdough starter named Djamal. But more on that in a different newsletter. For now, check out this beauty I made at home! 

But I digress. The point is, sometimes less is more. Too many options can overwhelm you, and you’ll end up liking whatever you get simply because the decision-making process was exhausting. Don’t fall into that trap!

In Summary:

The more choices you have, the less positive you’ll feel about your decisions. Keep it simple—whether it’s pizza or life.

SiMPL Book Review: Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman

Alright, let me start by saying this: Thinking, Fast and Slow is not a SiMPL book. It’s long, it’s dense, and it dives deep into the complexities of how our brains work. But… it’s worth every minute.

Kahneman, a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist, presents a breakdown of how we make decisions using two systems: Fast (intuitive and automatic) and Slow (deliberate and analytical). Throughout the book, he gives examples that will blow your mind—seriously, you’ll question every decision you’ve ever made. His studies on neuroscience and decision-making are nothing short of amazing.

One of the best takeaways for me is how we often think we’re making rational decisions, but most of the time, we’re just going with our gut—thanks, System 1! This book shows you that even when you think you’re in control, your brain might be playing tricks on you.

But again, it’s not a SiMPL read. You’ll need some time, coffee, and a lot of curiosity. If you’re into understanding human behavior and the science behind decisions, this book is a game-changer. You can get it on Amazon here.