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A flavorful new pizza place with an Italian-based crust has opened in Cortez.<\/p>\n
In August, Southwest Pizza moved into a remodeled storefront at 1430 E. Main St., around the corner from Thai Cortez.<\/p>\n
Owners Dennis and Barbara Sorrow combined 30 years in the restaurant business to launch their place, which offers carryout or delivery only.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always came back to making pizza. It\u2019s my favorite, like coming home, like family,\u201d said Dennis Sorrow.<\/p>\n
The Sorrows take great pride in using fresh ingredients and creating bursting and savory flavors with specialty pies. Dough is made daily with 80% Italian Caputo flour, and 20% Bluebird flour from Cortez Milling.<\/p>\n
\u201cCaputo is ground really fine. It makes for a smooth dough that cooks up beautifully,\u201d Sorrow said. \u201cCombining the two flours adds nice texture.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sauce is made with fresh tomatoes and spices, then topped with the Italian Villa Frizzoni mozzarella and your favorite toppings. The couple seek locally grown heirloom tomatoes ideal for sauce.<\/p>\n
Specialty pizzas look inviting. The Southwestern has a salsa base, ground beef, black beans, whole corn, diced tomatoes and pepper jack cheese.<\/p>\n
The Firebomb comes with jalape\u00f1os, a splash Frank\u2019s red hot sauce, green chilies, red peppers, green peppers and pepper jack. There is also the Vegged Out, Meat Freak and a breakfast pizza.<\/p>\n
The double-stack conveyor oven cooks multiple pizzas evenly with a firm crust in a timely matter. It has a capacity of 100 pizzas per hour.<\/p>\n
The menu also features baked chicken strips, bread sticks and cheese bread, including bacon cheese bread. They are served with marinara dipping sauce.<\/p>\n
The Sorrows recently relocated to Cortez from Georgia. They were looking for a fresh start in an area with good economic opportunity, Dennis said. They landed at a previously vacant storefront with parking, and did the remodeling themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis whole area is a wonderful place. The community has been very welcoming, and business is picking up,\u201d he said. \u201cWe just hired our first employee.\u201d<\/p>\n