"When you're new, not a lot is comforting," Alec admits readily. "But there's people around who'll help, if they can."

The question makes Alec laugh, shake his head. "Not that bad, actually. Not quite New York pizza, but it's pretty good. There's a place that does the Chicago style that some people I know like, but that's just a mass of dough and sauce to me. There's a place that's not far that does claybaked flatbread pizza if you like that, and one about a quarter mile or so further that does traditional."