Nancy Racette
Sausage Pizza
Peru, New York
My first date with Chuck was at Arnie’s restaurant in Plattsburgh. 1955. On March 4th to be exact. We were both seniors in high school. I was 16. He asked me out, and the funny part was he wasn’t old enough to drive at night. So, his mother drove us. I didn’t really care much for him then, but I loved his mother; she was the sweetest lady. Arnie’s serves Italian American food. And we had pizza, of course, a sausage pizza with cheese. I always remember that one. Their pizza is to die for. It was a recipe from Arnie’s mother from Italy. We finished high school. I went through nurse’s training. Chuck went to college. And we got married in 1958, three years later. So it’s been 66 years. We have three kids and five grandkids. And they all love Arnie’s. The grandkids, too. Every year on March 4th, we go back if we’re in Plattsburgh, and we have pizza. I’ve had a lot of pizzas, but that’s still my favorite. Best pizza ever. I love Arnie’s crust. It’s just tender, crisp. Arnie’s sons are running the place now. It’s an institution for us that we hope goes on.