What’s a 35-year old woman with a college degree in communications doing running a pizza joint? It turns out the owner of Red Sauce Pizza, which opened in October 2015 in space formerly occupied by Bob’s Rocket Pizza on 42nd Avenue, is no stranger to the food service business; she has vast experience in pizza-making and a fondness for meat. This combo comes together with aplomb at her remodeled, sparkling clean and cozy eatery.
“I love meat, especially smoked meat,” said Red Sauce owner, Shardell Dues, who learned the trade at her most recent position in the meat department of New Season’s Concordia store. A 20-year Portlander, Shardell also spent many years during college and after graduation working in and managing various pizza restaurants in Vancouver, Washington, and Portland, including the acclaimed Apizza Scholls.
Shardell uses her skills in sausage-making, meat cutting, and smoking to create soul-satisfying toppings for her hand-stretched pizza dough which, due to its pre-fermenting process, yields sublime, flavor-rich crust sporting caramelized crispiness on the outside, with plenty of moist chewiness inside.
While using only top-quality ingredients in her pies and calzones, Shardell is making every effort to provide affordable price points. An example is her 16-inch large cheese pizza for just $15.
“We talked to many people in the neighborhood before we opened, and we heard that expense was an issue. With our goal of being a simple, quality neighborhood restaurant, we wanted to meet that request,” Shardell said. She aims to provide a meal for two that includes pizza, beer, and salad for a total tab that’s under $40.
Beyond cheese pizza, Red Sauce offers an array of pies with creative combos such as pepperoni with pineapple and jalapeno; pepperoni and house-made chorizo; salami, chili flake, grana and “arooogula;” and another with spinach, goat cheese and red onion. Build-your-own options include toppings such as capicola ham, marinated anchovies (called boquerones), mushrooms, and various cheese choices including a jersey cow ricotta.
The names of each pizza are equally interesting and were named after loyal friends and family who helped Shardell get the restaurant ship-shape. “It’s Me, Nummy” is a nod to her Mom, Elaine, who goes by the nickname Nummy, and who has been supportive every step of the way.
“I didn’t go the crowdfunding route, because I think that should be used for emergencies,” said Shardell. “So I put up a Facebook post about what I was doing, and friends and family jumped in to help. In addition to feeding them plenty of pizza during our remodeling period, I named my pizzas after them.”
For passers-by who wonder if the upside-down sign proclaiming “PIZZA” is a mistake, it is not.
“I found the old sign in the storage area, and thought it was a brilliant marketing tool, so I called Bob Cassidy, the original owner of Bob’s Rocket Pizza, and asked him if we could use it. He was thrilled,” said Shardell.
Bob corroborated her marketing theory. “He told me putting the sign upside down was very purposeful when he opened the store. People noticed it, so they noticed the restaurant.”
With expanded seating, fresh flowers on the leather-wrapped register counter, and a burst of cobalt blue on the wall behind it, those who enter will find a welcoming ambiance for the culinary adventure offered by the area’s new pizza spot.
Red Sauce is located at 4935 NE 42nd Ave. and open Wednesday through Sunday from 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Look for hours, days, and offerings to expand over the next few months. The restaurant also serves beer and wine. To encourage neighborhood walk-ins, Red Sauce does not take reservations. For more information visit www.redsaucepizza.com or call (503) 288-4899.