Pizza My Mind: Power Man Ankit Nayal Plows Through Ku Pizza, VSports, and Annie’s

With the 2016 Pizza Cup at its climax – Annie’s and Bottega square off in this year’s finals – we continue to query Beijingers from all walks of life on their pizza preferences with our Pizza My Mind series.

For this edition, we sit down with Ankit Nayal, professional bodybuilder and personal trainer at B Active Fitness. And although protein shakes and fare offered up by TRIBE Nutrition tend to dictate his post workout recovery, pizza, it seems, never strays too far from this fitness guru’s mind.

When you need to pack in the carbs
Ku Pizza, and it’s been a go-to since my days at UIBE – as it was the closest pizza place next to campus. When I’m feeling hungry – and it’s worth noting: according to serving sizes, I’m actually a family of four – I'll get two humongous pizzas and literally stack’em on top of each other (toppings facing inwards). Imagine, a calzone of sorts, except the pizzas need to be lined up perfectly on top of each other, otherwise the whole thing will fall apart.

When you feel like something different
Although I don’t venture to Gongti that often, VSports – which isn’t too far from where I work (in Sanlitun Soho) – offers something fresh almost every time. For example, their Peking duck pizza is so different from any other pizza I’ve tried, moreover it’s a slice of the city we live in – I mean, it (Peking duck) is the first thing people try when they come to Beijing.

The last time I went to VSports, which was actually a few days ago, I found out about their XXL burger challenge. That’s something I’ll probably attempt later (maybe when the Beijinger holds the next Burger Cup).

For home delivery when you're too lazy to make dinner
Man, it’s got to be Annie’s. I typically look for the best deals I can find – many times it’s pizzas that are listed for half price. However, I definitely consider myself a meat lover when it comes to my choice of pizzas; therefore, Annie’s Pizza is what I usually go with.

Still haven't voted in the 2016 Pizza Cup final between Annie's and Bottega? Well, what are you waiting for? You only have until Sunday to push your favorite pie through!

Photo courtesy of Ankit Nayal