Crawling Along: #ChevyPizzaCrawl An Amazing Experience

On Saturday, April 24, I was fortunate enough to be part of an experience known as #ChevyPizzaCrawl.  For those who don't indulge in social media that often, many businesses are starting to partner with one another in unique ways to try and drive their message home in an unobstrusive way.

Earlier this year, Chevrolet partnered with @LionCountry on #ChevyROAR, where several mommy and lifestyle bloggers including @McMommyLive, @TheTinyJEWELBox, @amandastewart and @vicequeenmaria drove around Lion Country Safari in several Chevy vehicles.  The bloggers tweeted during their experience and blogged about it afterwards.

As good as that partnership was, Chevy raised the bar when Stephanie Camargo AKA @midtownchica, who works on Chevrolet's account at the Axis Agency, invited Craig Agranoff AKA @lapp, who handles WorstPizza.com, to create the #ChevyPizzaCrawl.  The first one took place in Palm Beach County and combined five cars with five great restaurants chosen by Craig.  Due to its overwhelming success, Chevy decided to go for Round 2, but this time in Broward County.

Both my wife and I were lucky enough to be chosen in the group of 20 people to participate.  The five vehicles we were invited to test-drive (or ride in when it wasn't our turn to drive) by Ed Morse Sawgrass Chevolet in Sunrise were the Chevy Camaro, Corvette, Equinox, Malibu and Tahoe.

Meanwhile, Craig's itinerary of Pizza would take us to Davie, two stops in Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and Coral Springs.  The word of advice that returning veterans of the first crawl like @jarret23 gave us was simply "PACE YOURSELF - THERE'S FIVE RESTAURANTS!  In exchange for driving and eating, all we were asked to do was tweet using #ChevyPizzaCrawl during the entire event. What a deal!

We started the day in the Camaro, riding over to Antonio's Pizza-Rant in Davie just east of 136 Avenue in the Publix Plaza.  Since it was such a short ride, the driver made a right on State Road 84 and drove down to Weston Road before back-tracking.  The car handled very nicely and, while it's not one I would own at this point in my life, I can see why so many like the Camaro. 

If you click on the website that I linked to their name, it has a very old school feel to it.  That's how this place felt.  It had a very cookie-cutter feel to it.  Don't get me wrong - the wait staff was friendly, and I actually enjoyed the combination of cheese, crust and sauce at this place; however, it was very similar to many pizza places I've been in before.  I don't know that I would go out of my way to go there again.

For the trip to @PizzaFusionFTL, my wife and I rode over in the Malibu.  I was surprised at how much I liked this vehicle.  Among other things, the Dual DVD screens in the back were an unexpected feature.  Our driver managed to miss the exit on I-95 that @TheReal_OnStar gave us.  When we turned around and went back north, they sent us up Griffin east to Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and the words "You have reached your destination" were said.  Of course, we were nowhere near the restaurant yet, as it's up on Sunrise Boulevard at the Federal Highway northern curve.

When we finally got there, the @PizzaFusion crew had four pies waiting for us.  Known for their organic offerings, I enjoyed the slice I had.  Although several didn't like the Honest Tea we were given, I did in fact enjoy the pomegranate.  All told, its their unique menu and organic flair that make this location memorable.

The third stop was @SlicePizzeria, which came highly recommended by @BeahBunnie.  Located in Fort Lauderdale on SE 1st Street just west of Federal Highway and South of Broward Boulevard, I commandeered the Tahoe for my test-drive turn.  As I currently drive a similar car, this was one I really liked.  It handled very well and the "step-bar" that goes down when you first get into the car is a nice touch.

At Slice, the crew there REALLY got into it and raised the game an entire notch.  Most places typically provide pizza and soda as part of the visit.  Slice provided the following: Pizza, Garlic Knots, Sodas, ICEEs, T-Shirts and a half-stamped lunch card.  The pizza itself was delicious, but what I will remember about this place more was how accommodating they were.  As I have many friends who work or live within two blocks of this restaurant, you can rest assured I will let them know about this amazing find.

Stop #4 would be Amici's Restaurant in Coconut Creek, and it was Sara's turn to drive - she chose the Corvette Grand Sport.  I can admit it now - instead of going Broward Blvd to 95 to Hillsboro Blvd, Sara and I figured how many times in our life are we going to be in a Corvette?  We took the LONG way.  Las Olas Blvd to A1A to Commercial Blvd to Bayview Drive to Cypress Creek Road to 95 to Hillsboro. 

The beach was bustling and we did end up getting stopped by the Commercial Blvd. drawbridge.  The car handled like a dream, and we finally made it over to @AmicisPizzeria about 15 minutes after everyone else.  We were actually familiar with this place because a teacher Sara works with orders from there all the time.  They are located in the plaza next to the Publix Plaza at the SW corner of Lyons and Hillsboro.

Amici's seemed to also understand, like Slice, that the way to our hearts was through free stuff.  In addition to the pizza (which was very tasty and had a delicious pizza sauce) and soda, they gave us each free meatballs, free tiramisu, and a bottle of wine to take home with us.  The Aqueduct Race Track sign hanging on the wall in this restaurant, which reminded me of my dad, made me smile the moment I saw it.  I would definitely go back here.

Finally, for stop #5, my wife and I rode in the Equinox over to @SicilianOven of Coral Springs.  I had never even heard of this vehicle until #ChevyPizzaCrawl, but I was most impressed by this one.  Of all five vehicles, the Equinox is the one I could most likely see myself driving in the future.  It seemed like a crossover vehicle and was spacious.

The Siciilian Oven was previously a DiSalvo's restaurant.  Whereas before the place was very nondescript, it is now quite memorable from the wood brick oven to the amazing array of menu items.  Their chicken wings and salad they gave each of us was a nice touch in that I would have never ordered chicken wings here on my own.  They were quite tasty the way they were made.  The Margherita Pizza I had here was probably my favorite pizza of the day.

At the end of stop #5, Stephanie and her team gave out awards and gift certificates for the best tweets, the best photos, best team spirit and other categories.  We then got one more ride in the Equinox and parted our separate ways.

I applaud Chevy for their innovative way of connecting with a group of people who they knew would tweet and talk about them that day and for the foreseeable future.  In addition, I applaud Craig for making an entire event around pizza tasting across a county.  After all, everyone loves pizza!

In conclusion, it was special day my wife and I won't soon forget, and yes - I DID pace myself!