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Chapter Three

Anthony Panariello Leave a comment

Caldren just stared. Fifteen years of searching. Scouring books, tracking obscure clues—and now, here he was, standing on the precipice of his journey’s end. And he was terrified. After almost a month of searching this area he was now sitting across the fire from a being made of light was telling him she can teach him about magic. He wondered if this was a dream and he would awake soon to the cold hard ground at his campsite to resume his fruitless searching. He had so many questions they all raced around his mind and he had trouble deciding which one to ask. Imogen was sitting there and had resumed her humming seeming not to care as the silence stretched on.

“Why did you wait so long to come here? I’ve been searching for almost a month!” was the question that won. Caldren winced, of all the questions that he had about magic and the fundamental powers of the universe, that was the question that got asked first? He started to ask a different question when Imogen cut him off and answered him “I told you that it is hard for me to understand the flow of time but in the resonance time works completely differently. I’m not sure the mechanism of it as far as I can tell it’s random and part of the chaos of raw magic. When I activated the failsafe I was unsure how long I should stay in the resonance. How long would they search? There was no guidance I was given so I thought perhaps a year would be the safest. I couldn’t leave as the raw magic would rip me apart once I left the safety of the library so I was alone for such a long time. When I initiated the return I came back to a place completely empty of life and a reminder of what was lost. You see, scholar, even though I’m not human anymore I still have emotions and feelings I’m still the orphan girl who laid dying and made a choice”

She stopped, and Caldren’s eyes widened as a pearlescent tear traced down her cheek, streaking with pale light. He was fascinated by this and had so many followup questions for her but she held up her hand indicating she just needed a moment, then she continued

“I was now without a purpose. No one came seeking knowledge and there were no guides anymore to show people the way, so I faced an eternity alone” she lowered her voice to a whisper and continued “Scholar, I even searched for a way to end the magic that sustains me but I could find nothing” her shining eyes rose to mine and he felt her loneliness. He was taken back to that dark tunnel where he cried in the dark, alone. He wanted to give her a hug but wasn’t sure that was possible with her being an incorporeal being.

“I was alone for a long time when at last I felt some people entering the vale. I sought them out and watched them. Maybe they were seekers of knowledge and I could once again have a purpose. However, these men bore arms and the insignia of the empire and I could almost feel their ill intent. So I remained hidden to keep the knowledge from them and returned to my library to resume my solitary vigil.

“How did you hide from them? You’re made of light – wouldn’t you be spotted almost immediately?” Caldren asked curiosity making him interrupt her story. She grinned at him and suddenly vanished. Caldren swung his head around trying to find her but she seemed completely gone. Suddenly her voice came from the spot she as sitting at “Now do you see how I was able to hide?” Caldren nodded and she slowly faded back into view. She continued her story “For many years these men came however as time wore on they came less and less and it seemed like they had given up and assumed the library was completely gone. Recently, however, a small group of men arrived wearing plain traveling clothes and carrying no blades. They were searching with a purpose as if they knew what to look for. They seemed to want to hide who they were but I could tell they were the emperor’s men. They came very close to finding a way in, scholar and I had no way to arm the defenses of the school as that requires actual real hands.” She held up her glowing hands and smile ruefully. “If these men were to gain entrance they would have access to the greatest store of knowledge in the world. Normally entrance to the library was meted out by the keepers who ensure requests were within the guidelines and the library was guarded by the clockwork archivists so this never was an issue in the past but now they lie dormant and there are no keepers left and I fear the knowledge these men are seeking”

Caldren took a long drink of his water then out of habit offered it to her realizing too late what he was doing. She laughed and that broke some of the tension that was building when she was telling her story. She gave him an appraising look then resumed speaking “I was unsure what to do – they were getting closer and I felt it was only a matter of time before they discovered a way in. Shortly after they left I felt another person enter the vale I thought that odd as there was usually some time between their visits so that’s when I found you. I didn’t reveal myself to you until now scholar because I needed to be sure and to be honest, I’m still not entirely sure of your intent.” She gave him a pointed look that reminded him that he evaded her questions on why he was seeking Temerith. “However I find I’m out of time and options and this conversation has been somewhat illuminating” Caldren couldn’t help but giggle a little bit and she rolled her eyes at him and continued “I need someone in the library to help me prevent these men from gaining access. Someone who can operate the defenses of the school and in the worst case, help defend it.

“Defend it? I’m not sure you noticed but I’m no warrior. I’m afraid I’m not going to be much help if armed men break in and try to storm the library” Caldren winced a bit as he remember his cowardice as the seekers grabbed his mother and he ran away, leaving her to them. The Lucent was offering him a resolution to his years long search but he wasn’t sure he could hold up his end of this bargain. “Also, please call me Caldren – there’s no need to be so formal”

“I don’t need a warrior, Caldren. That’s not how things were done in Temerith. The guards patrolled the town, not the library. The library… it was defended with power.”

Caldren stilled. Was she offering to teach him magic? Is the impossible promise he made to his mother actually one he could keep? He spoke up hesitantly daring to hope “Are you saying you can teach me to harness this power?”

“Yes and no Caldren” she replied “I am not a teacher and the blood of all who could teach you have stained the blades of the imperial seekers. However I have access to their knowledge and methods and I think between the two of us was can possibly make it work. Understand this is very dangerous. This power is one of pure chaos and you will struggle to control it. It will fight you and if you lose control it will burn you out from the inside leaving behind ash and destruction. This risk is even higher as most are trained from childhood how to harness this power and have years to learn the right way. However, we do not have that luxury of time”

Caldren’s eyes went very wide at this. Suddenly the desire to learn magic was secondary to his desire to stay alive and not be burned to ash. He also has the warning in his mind from that imperial officer that if he tried to take up this power they would hunt him down relentlessly. He wrung his hands as he considered this information. He had no idea that the old magic was such a dangerous thing. Did his mother know when she sent him to seek it out? Was that why the seekers came for her? Thinking of her bolstered his nerves and he decided that he should at least follow this journey to the end. One he was in Temerith and understood more he could make a better decision. He asked Imogen what she needed him to do.

She noticed his nervous bearing and told him “Be calm, I am not asking you to perform anything too dangerous or draw in so much power that you are in true danger. Most of what I need required but a trickle of power to activate defenses that are already in place. The first thing we should do is close the ways. They were open when the library was attacked and remain open which means that if these imperial men should find the path there is nothing to stop them from entering. The other important task is repairing the archivists. I do not know how but during the attack the imperial seekers somehow disabled them and our protectors stood silent as we were cut down.”

Those tasks didn’t sound overly dangerous to Caldren. She needed him to perform tasks she couldn’t and was willing to teach him how to draw power which was what he wanted. It seemed like a fair trade but he felt like there were some things that perhaps she wasn’t sharing. He had a thought and asked her “Why don’t you just do the same thing you did last time? If these men find the path and break in just bring he library back into the..” He struggled to remember the name. “The resonance” she supplied.

“Why is it called that?” He asked

“Because the resonance exists in the same space as the world we are in right now. The power overlays everything, invisible and harmless in this world because the power is dampened but cross the veil and that power is amplified greatly. Over eons of time that power has become a maelstrom as it builds upon itself. That is why it is so dangerous Caldren, when you try to draw the magic you become a conduit and that raw power is pulled into this world through you.”

“I’m still not sure how that is dangerous – you opened the door to this place, can’t you shut it and cut off the power?”

She shook her head “It isn’t that simple. The power is constantly pushing against the veil with unimaginable force. Most mages only draw a trickle of power through what amounts to a pinhole and even that power is more than enough to perform most tasks. However there some who seek to pull in vast amount of power for great works and others..” she grimaced as she finished the statement “others drew in great power to bring death and destruction”

“Ash mages” Caldren breathed. He had read the stories of these mages calling down fire from the heavens and wiping out entire armies. He had always thought them legend as the very idea of that level of power seemed impossible.

“Yes, Scholar. These men were trained to be living weapons—years of study and discipline, reduced to nothing by the whims of lesser men.” She shook her head. “They would open a vast conduit, pulling in as much power as their bodies could withstand, unleashing devastation. But the power was never meant to be wielded like that. In the end, it always consumed them. That is why they were called Ash Mages, Caldren—because when the magic was finished with them, that was all that remained.

He had spent years searching for magic, longing for it. But now that it was within reach, the idea of channeling raw chaos through his body—power that could leave him nothing but ash—made him feel sick. Had his mother known this when she made him promise? Had she wanted this for him?

Caldren shifted closer to the fire as the cold settled in. He looked over at Imogen sitting simply on a log and wondered how she did that. She wasn’t here physically so was she floating? He shook his head to clear it out and tried to connect all the dots. She came to him because she needed his help. The officer’s men were getting close to discovering the entrance and she feared what they would do once they did. She obviously had no love for the empire after what they did and was desperate to keep them out. She couldn’t do it herself and needed someone to help. She couldn’t leave Aethervale so appearing to him and asking his help was the only option she had. The question is whether he trusted her to be telling him the truth. She answered all his questions so far and he didn’t get a sense she was trying to trick him but his life had taught him to be very careful when it came to trusting people

He wondered why she was telling him everything he wanted to know when he was struck with an idea. “You’re bound to answer any question I ask, aren’t you?’”

She leaned in speaking urgently “Yes! Do you see now, Scholar? The risk I take in trusting you? Do you understand what is at stake?”

Chapter Two

Anthony Panariello Leave a comment

Caldren’s first instinct was to run. He edged back towards the trees quietly hoping he wasn’t noticed. His food and all his equipment were still by the fire however including his knife. Not that I’d be able to do much with that, he thought to himself but maybe if I hide whoever this person is would just leave. They hadn’t reacted to his presence yet so he crouched behind some trees to get a better look.

He took a few steadying breaths, then edged around a tree for a better look. Whoever it was, their back was to them and Caldren couldn’t quite make out what they were doing. Once the panic subsided he found that he missed a bunch of small details in those first few seconds. Instead of some bandit or imperial this was a slight woman with flaxen hair pulled back into a tight braid. She was wearing what looked like a uniform, but not one that he’d ever seen before. Once the thundering of his heart subsided he could just make out that she was humming to herself. She has the air of someone who was patiently waiting and Caldren was really hoping it wasn’t for him.

Caldren shrunk back a bit further behind the trees trying to decide what to do. She didn’t seem armed so he probably wasn’t in danger of physical violence unless there were others hiding about. He peered into the lengthening shadows trying to discern if there was anyone there but as far as he could tell they were alone on this ridge. The temperature was starting to drop and the rational part of his brain started lecturing him on the dangers of cold exposure and wild animals. Then the emotional part of his brain started getting indignant that he’d let someone half his size take his fire and food and demanded he march in there and take it back. Caldren told them both to calm down and that they all needed to work together to form a rational plan.

Caldren rubbed his face running his hands through his beard. Muttering under his breath that he needed to stop talking to himself so much. Not that he had a choice as he had been alone for almost a month. He felt a sudden longing to go to the fire, if at least to have someone to talk with to help alleviate the loneliness he’d been enduring. He looked over again and she hadn’t moved from her spot seeming content to wait for however long it took.

Caldren cast his gaze around and found a rock that was passable sharp and palmed it. If this turned violent at least he’d have something to defend himself with. He took a stilling breath then quietly circled around the clearing until he was facing his visitor. She still was staring into the fire and hadn’t seemed to notice him. She was younger than he initially though and had fair skin with a light crop of freckles on her cheeks with green eyes which were fixated on the fire which was now burning a bit brighter and giving off waves of heat into the cool night air. After staring for a bit rom his hiding place he started as he realize the first wasn’t shimmering, it was her.

This is definitely getting a lot weirder, he thought to himself. What if she’s some sort of vengeful ghost that I angered in some way and she’s here to haunt me until I go crazy and fling myself from this ridge? Shaking his head to clear out that thought he mentally chided himself “Ghosts aren’t real, there has to be a rational explanation for this. Maybe it’s a trick of the mountain light or something”. He stood there for what felt like a long time trying to come to a decision on what to do. Currently his cowardice was winning, as usual, and he just crouched there in the dark and cold watching someone else enjoy the fire he worked so hard to build.

As he was wrestling with his choices the girl moved for the first time and looked right into the woods where he was hiding. The corner of her lips turned up a bit and she called out “It has to be cold out there. Please, come sit by the fire I mean you no harm” then she waved to a log on the opposite end of the fire, inviting him to come sit.

Caldren sheepishly came out of the woods and walked slowly over to the log ready to bolt like a spooked deer at the very first sign of danger. She didn’t say anything as she tracked him moving to sit across from her. She didn’t seem dangerous but that didn’t mean she wasn’t. She gave him an encouraging smile and waved again to the log. “Please, sit. The night grows cold and things stir in the woods. You shouldn’t be in the darkness on this eve”

Caldren was intrigued by her very formal way of speaking and his curiosity won out over his fear and he finally sat down heavily on the log as his adrenaline ran out and his legs just gave out. He noticed that the fire seemed larger than when he left which was odd as he didn’t collect enough wood to fuel a fire that big. He looked across the fire at the girl and he noticed that the shimmering was less pronounced up close but it was still there It was as if she was made of light somehow. Some sparks flew off from the fire and seemed to go through her which Caldren found fascinating. The silence wore on as Caldren tried to make sense of what he was seeing but she didn’t say anything just looked at him expectantly.

“Who are you?” He ventured

“My name is Imogen, thank you for sharing your fire this evening scholar”

“You’re welcome” he replied then what she said seemed to register “Wait, how do you know that I’m a scholar? What else do you know about me?” He asked hesitantly as the fear that he took so long to suppress started bubbling to the surface again. She stared into the fire for a few minutes then looked up to meet Caldren’s eyes.

“I miss a good fire on a cold night – the heat soaking into your bones to drive away the cold. I miss mostly the camaraderie of friends around a fire as the wine is passed around and stories are shared getting more outrageous as the wineskin is emptied” she turned back to the fire with a wistful look on her face. Caldren was taken aback by the switch in tone from her initial speech and just stared at her unable to form any cogent questions.

She sighed and looked back up from the fire “To answer your question, scholar I’ve been watching you since you entered the pass. Instead of those men with their swords and their avarice you came with only a book, so it wasn’t hard to determine that you came seeking knowledge. You’ve been here for weeks when other men gave up after a few days so I ask you what you are seeking here”

Out of habit Caldren started running through his usual lies and half truths but something about his guest seemed to want to draw out the truth and since he was already out here in the middle of nowhere there didn’t seem to be any reason to pretend anymore.

“I seek Temerith” he said quietly

She tilted her head and considered him. Caldren felt stripped bare by the look as she seemed to be seeking way to see inside of him. The fire crackled into the cold night as the silence dragged on. They sat opposite each other and the tension built but Caldren was afraid to say anything f that might cause her to leave.

“Why?” She asked leaning closer to the fire. “A Promise I made” he said softly. She seemed to consider this for a moment then replied “Who did you make this promise to?”

Caldren stared at the ground as the memories of that terrible night, long pushed down started to rise to the surface. He struggled with himself for a moment trying to get his emotions under control. Angrily wiping away his tears he couldn’t meet her eyes or bring himself to relive that night. He simply shook his head and said “I made a promise to someone who meant the world to me and that’s why I’m out here in the middle of nowhere talking to someone who I’m not entirely sure isn’t a figment of my imagination. What are you? You aren’t really here I can see the fire smoke going through you” the anger he was feeling at reliving the night his mother was taken from him was bleeding into the conversation but if Imogen was bothered by it, she didn’t show it.

She held his gaze for a long moment, then sighed. “I… am not what I once was.”
She spread her fingers. A faint shimmer of light danced along her skin, slipping between the flickering firelight. “I am a Lucent.”

“What is that?” Caldren asked. He’d never heard the term nor read it any of his books. She raised her eyebrows with a shocked expression and said “Surely you know of us? Has all knowledge of this place been destroyed?”

“If you mean Temerith, then yes. The empire has done a very thorough job in removing all traces of this place or any reference to magic” He very pointedly did not bring up his part in that effort, small as it was. “In fact most people believe this place to be a myth” The expression on her face turned from one of surprise to one of true sorrow “A myth? How long has it been? I sometimes have trouble with the flow of time” Caldren did some quick math in his head using historical records from the time and gave her his best guess “I’d say approximately five hundred years give or take a decade”

Imogen let out a gasp. She sat there quietly and to Caldren she seemed to be trying to come to terms with what he just told her. He wasn’t sure what she was or why she was here but he felt like she might have the answers that he really needed so instead of pestering her with questions he simply patiently waited for her to speak again. There were a mix of emotions playing across her face but the final one seemed to be a determined look like she had made a decision.

“Has it truly been five hundred years Scholar? She asked quietly. He nodded and she continued “Again, I am a Lucent – a being created to be responsible for managing the great library. Once there were many of us but I am the last. I am.. alone” she paused, hugging herself, as if the weight of that statement was almost too much to bear.

Caldren wanted to shoot out of his seat in excitement. Temerith was real – he was speaking with someone from the library. One of the beings of legends and most importantly she knows where the library is! He held himself back however as the aura of sadness around the girl seemed to have a physical presence. He knew, even in his excitement, that she needed time to process what she was feeling having been there that night many years back when his life was ripped apart.

Closing her eyes, she spoke again “Once, I was alive. I was orphaned as a child by the wasting and took to begging and stealing to survive until a passing templar caught me trying to rob him on the road. He was a kind man who served the God of compassion so instead of punishment he took me here since he frequented the library and knew they always had a need for servants. They took me in and I worked in the library as one of its clerks. While it was hard work I felt like I had finally found a family after all that time alone.” Her wistful expression fled her face and something bleak replaced it. Then one morning I started coughing up blood and was swiftly brought into isolation away from my new found family. In a cruel twist of fate the wasting that had remained in my system dormant suddenly started to spread. The prognosis was grim and that’s when they came to me”

She paused to collect her thoughts then continued “They explained that the wasting was a disease created by magic and as such their healers were unable to purge it from me. They asked me if I wanted to become a Lucent. They explained it was completely voluntary and painless. They would transfer all my memories from my failing body into the beings of light who manage the library. The only restriction was that I couldn’t leave Aethervale and had to follow a set of rules that governed access to the information. I would still be me – I would have the same thoughts and emotions but I would be a soul trapped in an immortal construct of magic.”

Caldren just stared at her as he tried to take in all that information. The soul was inviolate, even the darkest of magics couldn’t strip you of it unless you allowed it. To be trapped fully aware in a place for eons, how does one remain sane? Who would make that choice?

She must have read the expression on his face because she grew angry and pointed at him saying “I had just found my family, scholar and I couldn’t lose them again. I knew I would likely watch them grow old and die but I could have that time with them, so the choice for me was easy” She turned away and said with disgust “Then the emperor’s hounds came and killed them all anyway and there wasn’t anything I could do to protect them. They somehow had a way of harming us as well – swords of an oily metal streaked with red.”

“Arcinium blades” Caldren breathed – the fabled captains of the empire carried these swords and something about the properties of the metal interfered with magic effectively negating it. He could see how striking beings like Imogen would destroy them. “How did you survive?” Caldren asked, his voice hushed in awe.

Imogen’s eyes belied the anger she was feeling and she grounded out her reply “I hid, scholar. Not just myself I hid the entire library. When the hounds and their masters reached the library proper they just found empty rooms. That was the failsafe and it could only be triggered by a Lucent as we were bound to the laws of the library and to protect it. It was my duty as the only remaining Lucent to activate the failsafe and pull the entire library through the veil into the resonance.”

“The Resonance?” Caldren asked

“Have we truly lost so much knowledge that even the fundamentals are lost to time?” She asked sadly. “The resonance, scholar, is the place where magic resides and the veil is what separates that raw chaos of magic from this world, do you understand?”

“I don’t understand much of anything you’ve said since I sat down here” he said shrugging apologetically.

“Would you like to learn?” She asked.

AI – Text to Image Generation Tools

Anthony Panariello Leave a comment

One of the first things I explored in the realm of AI was text to image generation. It wasn’t my first interaction with this type of AI – I had checked out Firefly on my work account to generate a few things and even used Midjourney when it was first introduced. I wasn’t impressed really with either tool at the time and shelved the idea of using them for any real work. Two years later as I started really leaning into learning AI I decided to revisit the major text to image tools to see how far they’ve come along. To test them out I decided to feed them straight descriptions of some of the characters in the story/book I was writing. I created a prompt for each one and fed the identical prompt into each image generator.

The first thing I noticed was they really didn’t like making unattractive people. Even if the prompt specified that a person was older some models kicked out images of people in their 20’s. Even the old weathered warrior looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ. I know I could have tinkered with the prompt and really pushed it to the image I wanted but for this experience I wanted to use the straight descriptions from the book.

The tools I used for this were DallE3, MidJourney and Adobe Firefly. I know adobe is all about cutting edge design but their tool failed on almost every prompt. It ignored critical details in the prompt like ages, scarring, hairstyles, etc. and basically served up whatever it thought was close. Coming in second was DallE which tended to spit out anime leaning images (although to be fair, I did this before I learned how to craft hyper specific image prompts) and also couldn’t seem to handle more specific prompting. The clear winner was MidJourney – it came the closest on each character and the quality of it’s output was actually inspiring to me as it was how I viewed some of these characters in my head.

I know there’s other tools out there but I settled on the ‘big 3’ for this comparison so without further ado here’s the output from each tool for the major characters (so far)

After I got these results I did a deep dive into prompt crafting for images and got a lot better at directing the tools to produce what I wanted. I didn’t get a chance to go back and recreate all these characters but here’s some random images from the book that I created using these advanced prompts

Steamed Pizza (Pizza Gourmet)

Anthony Panariello Leave a comment

Steamed pizza is one of the most unusual and under-the-radar styles of pizza out there, a method that flips the traditional idea of a crispy, blistered crust on its head in favor of something softer, almost pillowy. While most pizzas are baked in blazing-hot ovens, fried in oil, or even grilled over an open flame, steamed pizza is cooked using steam, resulting in a completely different texture and eating experience. Instead of the charred, crunchy bite you’d expect from a Neapolitan or New York slice, steamed pizza is all about softness, with a light, fluffy dough that feels almost cloud-like, yet still structured enough to hold up to toppings.

The origins of steamed pizza are difficult to pinpoint, as steaming isn’t a common technique in traditional Italian pizza-making. However, it’s not entirely unheard of, particularly in places where steaming is already a popular cooking method. In China and parts of Southeast Asia, for example, steamed buns like baozi and mantou share similarities with steamed pizza dough in terms of texture. Some variations of steamed pizza are also seen in certain regional Chinese street foods, where dough is steamed before being topped with ingredients, creating a unique fusion of pizza and dumpling-like softness.

The most well-known version of steamed pizza in the United States comes from Connecticut, where a small pizzeria called American Steamed Cheeseburgers in Meriden became famous for steaming not just their cheeseburgers but also their pizzas. Using a special steaming oven, the dough is gently cooked with steam instead of direct heat, allowing it to rise and cook evenly without forming a crispy crust. Instead of bubbling, browned mozzarella, the cheese melts into an ultra-creamy, almost fondue-like consistency that blends into the sauce in a way that’s completely different from the gooey pull of a traditional baked pizza.

The process of steaming changes not just the texture but also the overall balance of flavors. Without the caramelization that comes from high-temperature baking, the flavors of the ingredients remain purer, with a slightly more delicate taste. The tomato sauce, for example, stays bright and tangy rather than developing the deeper, jammy flavors that baking produces. The cheese, instead of forming a browned crust, turns into a smooth, velvety layer that melts into the dough rather than sitting on top of it. Toppings, depending on how they are applied, either steam along with the pizza or are added after cooking to maintain their freshness and crunch.

While steamed pizza remains a novelty, it has started to gain attention from food experimenters looking for new ways to reimagine pizza. Some home cooks and chefs have adapted the method using bamboo steamers, stovetop steam ovens, or even pressure cookers, experimenting with different dough hydration levels and steaming times to perfect the texture. Certain styles of Chicago deep-dish and Detroit-style pizza also incorporate an element of steaming, though unintentionally—because of their deep pans and thick layers of sauce and cheese, the dough often partially steams as it bakes, creating a fluffier interior beneath the crispy edges.

Though it may not have the widespread appeal of a crispy, fire-kissed Neapolitan or a classic New York slice, steamed pizza is an intriguing example of how pizza-making can evolve beyond the traditional oven. It offers a softer, almost comforting take on pizza, one where the emphasis is on lightness, tenderness, and melt-in-your-mouth textures rather than crunch. Whether it remains a niche curiosity or catches on as a legitimate pizza trend, one thing is certain—steamed pizza is proof that there’s always room for innovation in the pizza world.

Dessert Pizza (Nutella)

Anthony Panariello Leave a comment

Nutella dessert pizza is the kind of indulgence that feels almost too good to be true, a perfect fusion of crispy, chewy pizza dough and rich, velvety chocolate-hazelnut spread. While it may seem like a modern Instagram-worthy creation, its roots can be traced back to Italy, where simple, dough-based desserts have long been a staple. Italians have always had a knack for transforming pizza into a sweet treat, whether through zeppole, bomboloni, or even fried pizza dusted with sugar. When Nutella entered the scene in the 1960s, it was only a matter of time before it became a natural companion to warm, freshly baked pizza crust. The combination is both effortless and irresistible, taking something already beloved and making it even more decadent.

At its core, Nutella pizza begins just like any other pizza—with a well-made dough. The best versions use a Neapolitan-style crust, light and airy with just the right amount of chew, baked at high temperatures to achieve that signature crispness on the outside while staying soft within. Some variations take inspiration from Roman-style pizza al taglio, using a thicker, more focaccia-like base. The key to a perfect Nutella pizza is achieving a balance between crispness and tenderness, ensuring that the dough can hold up to the weight of the rich chocolate-hazelnut spread without becoming too brittle or too soft. Some recipes call for baking the Nutella directly on the pizza, allowing the heat to melt it into a warm, gooey layer, while others opt for spreading it onto the crust after baking, letting the residual warmth do the work of softening the spread without making it too runny. Either method results in the same outcome: a luscious, chocolatey experience that satisfies any sweet tooth.

While Nutella alone is more than enough to make this dessert shine, the best versions of Nutella pizza incorporate additional toppings that elevate it beyond a simple spread-on-bread combination. Fresh fruit is a popular choice, with bananas adding a creamy, natural sweetness and strawberries or raspberries bringing a tart contrast to the rich chocolate. Blueberries, blackberries, and even thinly sliced pears can be used to enhance the flavor profile, adding a layer of brightness to every bite. For those who crave a bit of crunch, chopped hazelnuts, almonds, or even crushed biscotti provide a delightful contrast in texture, making each slice more dynamic. A dusting of powdered sugar is a classic finishing touch, giving the pizza an elegant, snow-dusted look, while a drizzle of honey or caramel adds an extra level of indulgence. Those looking to take Nutella pizza to the next level often serve it with a scoop of vanilla or hazelnut gelato, allowing the cold creaminess of the ice cream to melt slightly over the warm Nutella, creating a contrast that is nothing short of magical.

Some variations push the decadence even further by stuffing the crust with Nutella, ensuring that every bite is an explosion of melted chocolate. Others experiment with a balance of sweet and salty, adding a pinch of flaky sea salt or even crushed pretzels to enhance the chocolate’s depth. The beauty of Nutella pizza is its versatility—it can be as simple or as extravagant as desired, with endless possibilities for customization. Whether served as a dessert at an Italian trattoria, as a brunch treat at a trendy café, or made at home for a special occasion, it has an undeniable ability to bring joy to any table.

Though Nutella pizza is most commonly associated with Italy, where it appears in pizzerias and bakeries across cities like Naples, Rome, and Milan, it has spread far beyond its origins. It has become a staple in high-end dessert menus, food festivals, and home kitchens worldwide. The appeal is universal—after all, who can resist the combination of warm, fresh-baked dough and rich, chocolate-hazelnut spread? For those looking to recreate it at home, the process is remarkably simple. A basic pizza dough, rolled out and baked until golden, provides the perfect foundation. Once out of the oven, a generous layer of Nutella is spread over the warm crust, melting slightly as it meets the heat. From there, the toppings are limited only by imagination, whether it’s fresh fruit, nuts, powdered sugar, or an extra drizzle of something sweet. The result is a dessert that feels both effortless and luxurious, a perfect way to end a meal or simply indulge in a moment of pure chocolate bliss.

Nutella dessert pizza is more than just a sweet twist on a classic dish—it’s an experience. The contrast between the crispy, slightly chewy crust and the smooth, melted Nutella creates a textural harmony that is instantly satisfying. Whether enjoyed as a shared treat among friends, a romantic dessert for two, or even as a guilty-pleasure snack in the middle of the night, it is the kind of dish that brings instant happiness. It is a reminder that pizza doesn’t always have to be savory, that dough can be a vehicle for something beyond cheese and tomatoes, and that sometimes, the simplest combinations—warm dough and chocolate—can be the most unforgettable.

Goal Update: Visit 10+ Famous Pizza Places

Anthony Panariello Leave a comment

I was at a work conference in Manhattan for a week and decided to seize this opportunity to squeeze in a few more famous pizza places into my year.

Joe’s Pizza on Broadway.
All the pizza people have a consensus that this is an exemplary NY slice and I was curious to give it a shot. The first thing you notice is the line – this was a random Tuesday in February and it stretched down the block. A quick peek inside showed that there were only a handful of tables and most people were sitting on the benches outside eating their pizza in the cold. I did some quick mental math and saw the line was going to be at least 45 minutes at the pace it was moving at so I did the logical thing and called in an order. I used the time to wander around and poke into some stores that were open and when I came back I walked in an grabbed my pie. However all the benches were taken and there were no seats available inside so I did the needful and ate with the box perched on the trash can outside on the sidewalk. The pizza was good – a perfect balance of sauce and cheese with a crispy crust with zero flop. I wasn’t blown away like some people were (perhaps because I’ve eaten a lot of NY style pizza over the years) but it was a really good slice that is a true representation of NY Style

Score 9.7

Lombardi’s – Little Italy
There are mixed reviews of this place – some state that they used to be great but when the owners changed it all went downhill. I decided that since it’s been there forever and is a landmark it still needed a visit. It’s a quaint place in the heart of little Italy and had the requisite red and white checkered tablecloths and pictures of celebrities who came to eat there. I ordered the margherita style pizza and a root beer (classic pairing) and he brought me a 8 ounce fountain root beer (no free refill signs are all over the place, mind you) so that’s not a great start. If you’re going to charge 4 bucks for a fountain soda make it at least 20 ounces. Then the pizza came out and it was tiny – I re-read the menu and the size of the pizza is mentioned there but 28 bucks for a 12 inch pizza? It also was dry and the sauce was too salty and the cheese was barely there. It’s obvious whoever owns it now is trading on the reputation of the original and is cost cutting wherever possible. If it was 10 bucks I’d have been more charitable – I’ve had NY dollar slices that had more flavor. The fact I was the only one there during prime lunch hour should have been my first clue.

Score 4.7

Rubirosa – Little Italy

This one snuck up on me – I had no idea this place was here but every reddit thread and pizza forum that talked about NYC pizza said this was the go to thin crust spot. It’s a small corner spot in little Italy and when I went they were pretty crowded – I got a spot at the bar and was waffling between the tie dye pizza and classic cheese when the bartender offered up that I could get half and half. I decided to give it a try so i could try both options. The pizza came out and it was huge and the crust was super thin and shattered when you bit into it. The cheese pizza was tasty but I felt like the sauce was a bit one note and the pesto glaze on the tye dye was good but it felt like there was something else in the pesto that gave it an off flavor. I still enjoyed the pizza for what it was – a good example of thin crust pizza. While I was there I noticed a lot of people were actually getting the pasta. If I wasn’t pressed for time and have eaten have a giant pizza I’d have tried some because it looked amazing. Next time I’m in the area I might need to stop in for some.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Anthony Panariello Leave a comment

Ah yes, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, or as I like to call it, What If Breakups Were Even More Emotionally Devastating and Science Made It Worse? Michel Gondry and Charlie Kaufman basically took the universal human experience of heartbreak, ran it through a surrealist blender, and served it up as one of the most painfully beautiful movies ever made. This isn’t your typical rom-com where two quirky people bicker, break up, and then dramatically run through an airport to find each other again. No, this is what happens after the rom-com magic wears off, when love isn’t cute anymore, and the person you once adored now just reminds you of all your worst decisions.

Jim Carrey, in a move that shocked everyone who only knew him as “the guy who talks out of his butt in Ace Ventura,” plays Joel, a sad, introverted man who learns that his impulsive, free-spirited ex-girlfriend Clementine (Kate Winslet in her most chaotic form) has erased him from her memory using a weirdly casual brain procedure. Naturally, like any emotionally wounded man with access to experimental science, he decides to erase her too. But because Kaufman is a diabolical genius, we don’t just watch Joel go through the process—we watch his memories collapse in real time, a dreamlike rollercoaster where moments of love and pain literally melt away as he runs through his own mind, desperately trying to hold on to Clementine even as she disappears before his eyes.

And let’s talk about Winslet’s Clementine for a second, because she’s the ultimate manic pixie dream grenade. She’s not here to “fix” Joel—if anything, she’s just as lost as he is, if not more. She drinks too much, changes her hair color like it’s a mood ring, and makes impulsive decisions she regrets almost immediately. But she’s also brutally honest in a way that cuts through Joel’s passive existence like a knife. “Too many guys think I’m a concept, or I complete them, or I’m gonna make them alive,” she tells him in one of the movie’s many gut-punching moments. “But I’m just a fucked-up girl who’s looking for my own peace of mind.” That’s the magic of Eternal Sunshine—it doesn’t romanticize love; it unpacks it, deconstructs it, and reminds you that even the most passionate relationships come with baggage, misunderstandings, and heartbreak.

But what really elevates the film is how it turns the inside of Joel’s head into a surrealist funhouse of memories. The cinematography and practical effects make you feel like you’re inside his unraveling mind—books lose their words, faces blur, childhood memories bleed into romantic moments, and the world literally collapses around him. It’s beautiful and terrifying all at once, a visual representation of what it feels like to lose something you didn’t realize you wanted to keep until it was too late.

And yet, for all its existential dread, the film never fully sinks into cynicism. Because as much as it’s about heartbreak, it’s also about the inevitability of love. Even after all the pain, even after wiping each other from their minds, Joel and Clementine still find their way back together. The movie doesn’t promise a happy ending—it just suggests that love, in all its messy, flawed, heartbreaking glory, is worth the risk. And that’s what makes it such a masterpiece.

So yeah, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is less of a movie and more of an emotional lobotomy in the best possible way. It’s the kind of film that leaves you staring at the ceiling at 2 AM, reevaluating every relationship you’ve ever had, and resisting the urge to text your ex. And honestly, what more could you ask for?

Goal Met – Create Sourdough Starter

Anthony Panariello Leave a comment

Remember back during Covid when everyone was making sourdough? I kind of wish I got on that train as keeping this stupid thing alive would have been a lot easier if I was working from home every day and we didn’t go anywhere. Well – getting it started was a huge pain but even remembering to feed it once a day is a bit of a pain as I’m back at work now and don’t have time for baking really.

All that being said – it really does make some great bread once you get it strong enough. You can also use the discard for a lot of things like muffins, pretzels, pizza, and some damn tasty pancakes. So I don’t feel like I’m wasting the discard every time I feed the sourdough.

I did consider coming up with some corny names for my starter like some people did (some of my favorites were Clint Yeastwood or Bread Sheeran) but couldn’t decide which one I liked best so I just put it out of my mind because I had a million other things to do.

I’ve kept it alive for almost two months now so maybe it’s time to give this little guy a name. He’s given me so much deliciousness and get does get better with age.

Maybe Frodough baggins?

Pizza Al Taglio

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If you’ve ever strolled through the streets of Rome, hungry and indecisive, there’s a good chance you’ve been saved by pizza al taglio. This Roman-style pizza—whose name literally means “pizza by the cut”—is the ultimate street food. It’s baked in large rectangular trays, displayed like edible works of art behind glass counters, and cut to order with a pair of scissors before being sold by weight. That’s right—no fixed sizes, no set slices. Just point, pay, and enjoy. It’s casual, customizable, and quintessentially Italian.

Unlike the more famous Neapolitan pizza, which is all about thin, floppy, charred rounds meant to be eaten immediately, pizza al taglio is designed for on-the-go indulgence. The dough is the real star here: a high-hydration, long-fermented masterpiece that bakes up with a crisp, airy bottom and a chewy, cloud-like interior. It’s almost focaccia-like, but with the unmistakable lightness and crispness that makes it pure pizza. This texture is achieved through a slow-rising process, often fermented for up to 72 hours, which develops deep, complex flavors while making it wonderfully digestible.

Pizza al taglio was born in the working-class neighborhoods of Rome in the mid-20th century, when bakers began using large, communal ovens to produce pizza in a way that was efficient, scalable, and—most importantly—affordable. Unlike traditional round pizzas, which required individual attention in a wood-fired oven, pizza al taglio was baked in electric ovens, making it easier to produce in bulk. Over time, it evolved into a beloved staple of Roman street food culture, found in bustling forni (bakeries), dedicated pizza shops, and even gas stations, where it somehow still manages to taste amazing.

One of the most exciting things about pizza al taglio is the sheer variety of toppings. Since it’s baked in large trays, pizzaiolos get creative, covering the dough with anything from classic Margherita-style tomatoes and mozzarella to seasonal vegetables, cured meats, cheeses, and even seafood. Some places lean into gourmet territory, using ingredients like truffle cream, burrata, or zucchini flowers. Others keep it old-school with patate e rosmarino (thinly sliced potatoes and rosemary) or pizza bianca, a simple but addictive combination of olive oil, salt, and crunch. And of course, there’s the Roman legend: pizza rossa, a saucy, cheese-free masterpiece that’s nothing more than slow-simmered tomatoes, olive oil, and a sprinkle of salt, proving that less is sometimes more.

One of the great things about pizza al taglio is that it’s not just a lunch or dinner food. Romans grab a slice for breakfast, a mid-morning snack, or a late-night bite after a few rounds of aperitivi. It’s the kind of food that fits any occasion, from a quick pit stop between sightseeing to a leisurely afternoon spent nibbling and people-watching in a sun-drenched piazza.

Beyond Rome, pizza al taglio has started gaining international fame, with high-end pizzerias and bakeries across Europe and the U.S. replicating its signature texture and style. Some places still stick to tradition, baking their pies in electric ovens just like in Rome, while others experiment with wood-fired or even gas ovens to add different flavor profiles. No matter where you find it, one thing remains constant: pizza al taglio is the perfect balance of crunch, chew, and endless possibility.

So, the next time you’re in Rome—or even in a Roman-inspired pizzeria somewhere far from the Eternal City—skip the full pizza, head to the counter, and order yourself a few scissor-cut slices of pizza al taglio. Whether you go for a classic or an inventive topping, you’ll be biting into a piece of Rome’s culinary soul—one crispy, chewy, perfectly portable square at a time.

Dopamine Detox

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Modern life is a dopamine minefield. Every scroll, like, and notification triggers a tiny hit of pleasure, keeping us hooked in an endless cycle of instant gratification. Dopamine Detox by Thibaut Meurisse is a sharp, no-nonsense guide to breaking free from this cycle and regaining control over focus, motivation, and long-term satisfaction. While many books on productivity and self-discipline tend to throw overwhelming systems at you, this one is refreshingly straightforward: if you want to reclaim your attention and motivation, you need to reset your brain’s relationship with dopamine.

The core idea is simple: our brains are overstimulated. Dopamine, the neurotransmitter responsible for motivation and reward, is constantly being hijacked by modern technology, social media, junk food, and mindless entertainment. The more we indulge in these quick hits of pleasure, the less satisfaction we get from deeper, more meaningful pursuits. Meurisse explains that this is why activities like reading, deep work, or even just sitting with our own thoughts can feel “boring” compared to the instant thrill of a phone screen. Our brains have been trained to seek the easiest, most immediate rewards, making it harder to focus on anything that requires patience and effort.

The solution, according to Meurisse, is a dopamine detox—temporarily eliminating or drastically reducing high-dopamine activities to allow your brain to recalibrate. This isn’t about quitting fun things forever, but rather about resetting your baseline so that you can once again find pleasure in simpler, more fulfilling activities. He suggests cutting out common dopamine-spiking behaviors such as social media, excessive screen time, processed foods, and mindless entertainment, even if just for a short period. The goal isn’t to make life miserable, but to break the habit of constant stimulation and relearn how to enjoy slower, more rewarding experiences.

One of the book’s most interesting insights is that boredom is actually a good sign. In a world where we’re constantly entertained, we’ve lost the ability to just sit with discomfort. But boredom is what fuels creativity, deep thinking, and real personal growth. When you stop numbing yourself with easy distractions, your brain naturally starts seeking out more meaningful forms of engagement. This is why people who undergo a dopamine detox often find themselves reading more, coming up with new ideas, or rediscovering hobbies they once loved but abandoned in favor of endless scrolling.

Meurisse is also realistic about the process. A full detox—going completely cold turkey on all high-dopamine activities—can be tough, and he acknowledges that it’s not always practical. Instead, he offers a flexible approach, encouraging readers to start small by setting boundaries around their most addictive habits. This might mean turning off notifications, setting specific times for social media, or designating certain days as tech-free. The key is to create space for your brain to reset, rather than trying to white-knuckle your way through willpower alone.

Ultimately, Dopamine Detox is less about deprivation and more about intentionality. It’s about training your brain to enjoy life’s slower, more meaningful pleasures rather than chasing an endless cycle of fleeting highs. If you’ve ever felt like your attention span is shrinking, your motivation is fading, or you’re constantly restless and distracted, this book offers a practical way to break free. Meurisse doesn’t promise overnight transformation, but he does provide a clear and actionable strategy for regaining control over your own mind. In a world designed to keep us endlessly stimulated, learning to sit with stillness might just be the most radical thing you can do.