Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (ken8038)

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:48:00 GMT

I think I posted about this in another thread too, but since this thread has returned, I'm adding that the Hazleton Connection booth (which sold Senape's Pizza among other Hazleton goodies) at the Allentown Farmers Market closed several months ago. One of the other booth operators told me they were doing an OK business, but not enough to cover a rent increase which was included in thier lease renewal.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (Samsquantch)

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 10:54:22 GMT

Aww...that is a shame about Pines.....it was a great historic diner......especially sentimental to me, as it is where I had breakfast the day after I managed to escape from New York City on 9/11......on my cross country drive back home to Los Angeles.....it was just so comforting after that awful day.....made the world seem normal again...

As for Senapes.....nothing like it!!!....and I mean that is a positive way....wonder if they ship.....Im going to check now!

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (STGABE59)

Sat, 03 Nov 2012 13:20:09 GMT

Not only did The Pines close-the building was demolished a few weeks later. Car lot now.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (Mosca)

Thu, 30 Dec 2010 10:07:55 GMT

I want to add, The Knotty Pine was mentioned in this thread... it closed about a month ago, the owners retired.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (RubyRose)

Wed, 29 Dec 2010 23:30:56 GMT

Just a quick update to let you know that there is a new booth in the Fairgrounds Farmers' Market in Allentown, PA called "The Hazleton Connection". The market was jammed the day I went so I didn't get a close look at all their offerings but I did see Senape's pizza, Hazle Park hot dogs and other meats and Victoria's chocolates. Stay tuned for a more complete list after my next visit.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (HPlatz)

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:04:56 GMT

Had to revisit this thread, for today I had the chance to hit up the Senapes Bakery in Hazleton. I grew up 30 miles south (or so) of the place and have eaten the Pitz many times but this was my first trip to the bakery. I was the wheel man on a trip to the Swiftwater area with another guy and this took us right past Hazleton so there was no passing up this opportunity.

First of all, Hazleton is still snowed in, pretty badly. Having lived 20-ish years of my life in this area, I don't recall seeing so much snow. The town has front loaders still roaming the streets, trying to clear a storm from last Thursday. Huge pile of snow at every intersection. Most people know enough to creep up to these intersections and wait/yield. Not much trouble there. Parking was a mess, these streets are maybe 14 feet wide and two-way. Snow encroachment made it daunting. I got lucky and got right in front. A man with Virginia plates was leaving, said he was heading home...had a box which contained what I counted eight boxes of Pitz and assorted baked goods. I went in and grabbed three boxes of Pitz ($6.50@) and we were on our way.

The Pitz comes 12 to a box, and it hardly seems enough. It should be re-labeled as CRACK COCAINE. I think it's the oil and the parmesan that makes this stuff so irresistable. I left the pie in the car, had some business to do in Swiftwater for maybe 90 minutes. Got back in the car and of course it smelled like the bakery. Needless to say, the CRACK PIPE was fired up again and I wolfed down another three pieces before I got back down to the 80/81 split.

This stuff is freakin dangerous to your health, but what a way to go. I am glad I do not live near Hazleton anymore or I would be 400 pounds. LONG LIVE SENAPES!

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (yuppicide)

Tue, 26 May 2009 19:02:24 GMT

Reminds me of nothing from a supermarket. I would choose Senape's 100% of the time over supermarket any day. It's just far.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (Mosca)

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 08:16:47 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by MSG

Reminds me of the frozen pizzas in my local grocery store. Is it edible....

Some would say yes, some would say no!

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (yuppicide)

Fri, 05 Dec 2008 23:13:13 GMT

I ordered 10 boxes of Senape's and am making the 2.3 hour drive from New Jersey this Saturday. Can't freakin wait.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (MSG)

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:46:42 GMT

Reminds me of the frozen pizzas in my local grocery store. Is it edible....

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (Scorereader)

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 11:22:09 GMT

There's an italian restaurant/pizza shop called Suglia's in the Schuylkill Mall in Frackville just off of I-81. They make NY Style thin crust pizza. Pretty good. We ended up stopping there both north and south (it's conveniently half way between DC and Syracuse - which is just about time our baby boy needs to be fed) Anyway, it was certainly one of the best slices I've had in PA. (For perspective, you should know that I don't care for Senapes square pizza and other similar PA pizza)

So, yes, I found pizza I liked along I-81. I was wrong. It does exist.

the best part of the Mall, though, is the Gertrude Hawk Chocolate Outlet. Tons of treats for cheap cheap prices.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (firecommander3565)

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:29:22 GMT

I call this "Bakery Pizza" in Chicago. There are a couple of good place to get it, but my favorite is D'Matos on Grand Ave.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (pizza addict )

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:18:48 GMT

Sorry about the typo. I meant to type Senapes pitza crust instead of rust. Anyway I lived in Hazleton for many years and Senapes was on of the pizzas I truly enjoyed when I wasn't eating Vesuvio's Pizza. That is a beautiful tomato pie. Authentic roma tomato taste without all the seasonings, the finest mozzarella money buys and a beautiful crust, golden brown that allows you to fold it nicely while eating.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (pizza addict )

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 10:10:35 GMT

Does Tom or anyone know how to make the Senapes pitza rust or something similar. I love pizza and have tried similar pizzas at home for my wife and daughter. Thanks

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (Mosca)

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:16:40 GMT

the "one post only" is because this thread is one of the top Google returns for the search, "Senapes" (#2 after "pitza.com"); it also comes up if you google "ognir and the night people" (6th result)!

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (ken8038)

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:05:36 GMT

A few comments on this thread that never seems to die:

1) It has an unusually high proportion of "One Post Only" comments. Not sure of the implication of that, but it sure is interesting.

2) As I said in a trip report a couple of months ago, it was this thread that served as inspiration for my own day trip to Hazleton, etc from NJ.

3) I have a friend who is a major fan of 60's Garage Rock. I Found a New Love by Ognir and the Night People is one of his all-time favorites.

4)(and somewhat related to #3), I had never heard of Dave the Rave until I saw this thread a few years ago. Great show!!

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (dufferinnc)

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 18:55:52 GMT

I am a former Hazletonian...Just had a couple of slices of Senape's pitza--I've been wishing for some for YEARS!! I had raved about it to a truck-driving friend from Ahoske, NC (there's a long story that goes along with my raving) and he never forgot it. He surprised me upon his return. He also shared pitza with friends along the way home and found so many others that enjoyed its uniqueness as well. I was searching to see if Senapes has an online store (it should!) when I came across your posts.
The Pines' best-known food is their unique BBQ--nothing like it in any of the pig-pickin' states I have visited or lived in--and it comes in ham (still my 87 year-old mother's favorite)as well as pork and beef. When we went to "hang out" in the 70s, I loved fries with gravy and their birch beer (sadly, no longer on tap.)
I also have fond memories of the rock bands in the area: Richie Molinaro's played at the YMCA often, as well as my brother's band, Nobody's Children aka The Nomads. Just reading these posts has been so nostalgic! Thank you all!

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (Mosca)

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 08:33:45 GMT

Rostas'... the pizza is too sweet for me, but you will never be disappointed by the amount of toppings; best eaten with a fork. Seriously.

Jimmy's hot dogs... outstanding hot dogs.

Knotty Pine is almost closed, maybe it has already shuttered. They were on restricted hours; no breakfast. Great decor, awesome desserts, but hit and miss on many items. I never had a good omelet there, and how hard is it to screw up eggs?

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (reading, pa - guy)

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 22:46:02 GMT

I was born in Hazleton back in 76. I have had the luxury of eating this pitza since i can remember. One box is enough to feed a couple of guys for lunch and it will only set you back about $5.00
You are not going to beat that price and the stuff tastes great. A couple more food places to check out while in Hazleton, PA................ Rostas Cafe, Jimmys hot dogs, and Knotty Pines. The chocolate milkshake at Knotty Pines is one of the best i ever had. The antipasto at Rostas is also on the top of my list. Hazleton is not known for much anymore, but the above mentioned food places make it worth the stop.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (ken8038)

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 10:35:32 GMT

<<Marrone's has made the new edition of Roadfood, plus my beloved Glider Diner in Scranton---about an hour up the road. Thanks Michael and Jane and congrats on the new book!!!>>

Hey, thanks for that info. Somehow I missed the fact that there is a new edition. I have the first (1978?), and one or two of the others. I'm due for an upgrade. --Ken

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (aleswench)

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 20:00:47 GMT

Thanks for the advice and info. We have been finding ourselves drawn to PA more and more these days, and I'm sure that in the Spring we'll be drawn even more because of the farms and produce. We'll definitely seek out these marvelous looking pitzas! Yum! Sue

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (stanpnepa)

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 19:53:27 GMT

Marrone's has made the new edition of Roadfood, plus my beloved Glider Diner in Scranton---about an hour up the road. Thanks Michael and Jane and congrats on the new book!!!

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (hipster006)

Mon, 06 Aug 2007 09:58:11 GMT

i was at mattuccis on sat and it was fantastic. this dining room is basicly the same as when i was there with my family as a child in the mid-1950s.same family owning it. there are 2 dining rooms and at times people do go through the kitchen moving from the bar area to another dining room. don't know about making anything you want but that would not surprize me. the menu is extensive and as the muffaletto pizza there are unique items on there as well.they have a meat and cheese appetizer that has a homemade sopeseta(spelling?) which is a home made pepperoni that is unique to this area with many local families making them with their own secret recipies.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (skipsor)

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 21:51:24 GMT

Great thread on Marrone's Girardville PA

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14461&SearchTerms=marrone's

I agree average Italian food in a old bar/cafe opened in 1933 with a different kind of pizza and a unique hot sauce to put on top!

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (HPlatz)

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 17:48:09 GMT

Funny you should mention Mattucci's...the same guy who brought in the Pitz to work the other day hits Mattucci's a couple times a week and is always raving about the place. He's apparently acquainted with the ownership and claims he walks in through the kitchen and orders without benefit of a menu routinely. He claims they'll make you anything you want, whether an offered menu selection or not. I personally have not been to Mattucci's since I was a little kid in the late 60's or early 70's. Good to know it's still grinding it out as a family business.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (hipster006)

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:09:37 GMT

tony's lunch-home of the screamers!!!hamburgers with very hot sauce on them.buy them by the bag and a staple for late night beer drinking events.centiole's has changed considerably after the death of the owner.it is now run by his wife and daughter and most afficiandos say there is a down-ward decline in taste.i eat it rarely and can't tell.one of the original sweet pizzas of the coal-region. another area great stop is mattuccis in mount carmel pa. great family-owned place with tremendous pizzas. a shrimp one that i love and also a muffaletto pizza that i think is the only version!!! their antipasto is also a killer!

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (hipster006)

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 11:00:20 GMT

also............great pictures.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (hipster006)

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:59:15 GMT

ognir(ringo spelled backwards) and the night people were great! richie molinaro and silk were unlistenable and a staple in the ne pa. disco circuit. by the wat-senape's is the best.

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (Mosca)

Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:22:03 GMT

Heyas, HPlatz! Thanks!

I think it's true that Senape's one of those foods that you don't crave, but when it's available you just can't resist it, either. The reason I wrote about it is that it is just so regional; I have never seen its like anywhere else. It isn't great pizza, no; although the ingredients are the same, it is just too unlike what people think of as "pizza". Maybe that's why it is "pitza". But it is good, definitely an unique taste, and worth trying. What I like is the differences among edge slices, with the cheese hardened on the rim, and the soft center slices that are laden with sauce, and the slices that are light sauce and heavy cheese. You don't search them out, but once you start eating them you can't stop.

You can find more about the places you are looking for at http://www.coalregion.com . Look under "top 10 lists", then "Pizza", "Bars", etc. Centiole's, Marrone's, Senape's, Duke's, Gutsie's; they're all in there.

Tom

RE: Senape's Pitza, Hazleton (PA) style, with pics (HPlatz)

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:40:15 GMT

Thanks for the warm welcome. The person who hooked me up with the Senape's and I were getting a big kick out of this site today with the Senape's discussion. Props also to Mosca, the OP who nailed this delicacy perfectly with the photos and descriptions. Hey, many people go through PA at one time or another, so hit these local joints if you can.