Pizza type by region?

RE: Pizza type by region? (leethebard)

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 17:37:00 GMT

Wow...my mind must have some taste buds...when it comes to pizza, I can tell a quality pie from a poor one...even from real Italiam places.My mind would go crazy(worse than normal) if I gave it fast food pizza!!!

RE: Pizza type by region? (Davydd)

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:25:10 GMT

That's the second time the NYC water thing came up in this thread alone. As I said before, now that ingredients are available everywhere, techniques are well known and woodfired ovens are getting to be pretty much the norm everywhere, New York exclusivity is threatened. So they fall back on a ridiculous assumption about the water. I wouldn't be surprised if they have to filter their water anyway as it is a quite common need to preserve kitchen equipment in restaurants. It is more the norm than not. Criminy I could say Minnesota pizza is better because of the sky blue waters and better wood for the oven.

Maybe there are regional NYC variations that no one bothers to adopt elsewhere. I have yet to have found or heard about a woodfired pizza joint that will burn crust like Frank Pepe's in New Haven, CT for instance. Of course a lot of the taste exists in the mind as well.

RE: Pizza type by region? (porkbeaks)

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:48:30 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by njkim

but you can't pipe in the NYC water, which is key in the taste of the dough.

There is a pizza place near the Santa Monica/LA area that broke down what was in the water in NY and remade it in CA. It was surprisingly good. I think it was called Johnny's

As I've said many times before, everyone is entitled to their own opinion but, as far as this NYC water/pizza dough thing, my opinion is that it's just another urban legend, and is (in reality) just so much bs. pb

RE: Pizza type by region? (njkim)

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 13:30:52 GMT

but you can't pipe in the NYC water, which is key in the taste of the dough.

There is a pizza place near the Santa Monica/LA area that broke down what was in the water in NY and remade it in CA. It was surprisingly good. I think it was called Johnny's

RE: Pizza type by region? (leethebard)

Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:07:18 GMT

Remember,the pizza people in Mystic Pizza, in Mystic connecticut, were Greek!

RE: Pizza type by region? (Slim Strummer)

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 22:18:25 GMT

That list mentioned somethint called New England Greek Style? Who knew? I will say that most of the neighborhood pizza joints here are run by Greeks. But I didn't know it was a separate style! My palate is so unsophisticated...My wife even pointed out at dinner tonight that the pie we were devouring was "greek style". I didn't question it, I just thought it was some phrase she picked up somewhere along the line--some nonsensical comment just because the joint was run by Greeks. Now I know.

RE: Pizza type by region? (JHartel)

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 21:10:13 GMT

That's a cool list! Thanks for sharing.. I personally LOVE the NY pizz with thin crust, never heard of the Neaopolitan (yet)

RE: Pizza type by region? (Davydd)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 22:32:26 GMT

I did check out a Neapolitan style pizza place using a wood fired oven in Wayzata, Minnesota. Photos and report are here.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=21832

This style of pizza is springing up across the country from what I can tell. I think it surpassed the pizzas I had over the holidays in Washington DC at Pizzeria Paradiso and 2 Amys.

http://www.roadfood.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=24148

RE: Pizza type by region? (leethebard)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:39:12 GMT

NOW THAT SOUNDS INTERESTING!

RE: Pizza type by region? (brookquarry)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 16:35:18 GMT

FWIW Old Forge pizza - which I first heard of on Roadfood, even though I live ony an hour and a half away-
was a revelation to me.

From the rectangular shape (its referred to as a tray of pizza) to the unusual mixture of cheeses in the topping, to (especially) the onions baked into the dough, it is a differant (and quite tasty) experience from other east coast pizzas I've had,

if you've not tried it you are missing a truly distinctive regional style.

RE: Pizza type by region? (Scorereader)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:40:20 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Davydd

I think I first read it in a thread here in Roadfood.com that pizza was invented in Gary, Indiana. But I surmise since they used Lake Michigan water they lost out to New York in the history of pizza.

I was hoping you'd catch that reference

RE: Pizza type by region? (Davydd)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:34:58 GMT

I think I first read it in a thread here in Roadfood.com that pizza was invented in Gary, Indiana. But I surmise since they used Lake Michigan water they lost out to New York in the history of pizza.

RE: Pizza type by region? (Scorereader)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:26:21 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Davydd

quote:
Originally posted by Scorereader

quote:
Originally posted by Davydd

I think it would be a presumption to think you can not get good pizza west of the Mississippi. There is not a lot of magic in making a pizza as the ingredients can be had everywhere and there are more and more wood fired pizza ovens which I do think make the best pizzas.

but you can't pipe in the NYC water, which is key in the taste of the dough.

I think that is a tired old cliche. Seriously. Maybe up until a decade ago you could rarely find a woodfired pizza shop here in fly over land. Then the best and proper ingredients became extensively known by just about anyone that wanted to do a modicum of research. The gig was up. So, yeah, it must be the water. Water is water. I could say the water I use from 400 foot deep wells in the land of sky blue waters is better than anything New York could come up with.

I never said the water in NYC was great. I said, you can't duplicate NYC pizza because of the water. That had nothing to do with the water being of high quality.

Same is true of the bagels.

You've used that tired old "fly over" cliche a bunch too. I like the mid-west. It's an interesting place to visit and experience. No need to fly over it. Lots of great small towns...big ones too. But, I don't go the the mid-west for NY Pizza. Even if I was told pizza was invented in Gary, Indiana.

RE: Pizza type by region? (Davydd)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 14:29:59 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Scorereader

quote:
Originally posted by Davydd

I think it would be a presumption to think you can not get good pizza west of the Mississippi. There is not a lot of magic in making a pizza as the ingredients can be had everywhere and there are more and more wood fired pizza ovens which I do think make the best pizzas.

but you can't pipe in the NYC water, which is key in the taste of the dough.

I think that is a tired old cliche. Seriously. Maybe up until a decade ago you could rarely find a woodfired pizza shop here in fly over land. Then the best and proper ingredients became extensively known by just about anyone that wanted to do a modicum of research. The gig was up. So, yeah, it must be the water. Water is water. I could say the water I use from 400 foot deep wells in the land of sky blue waters is better than anything New York could come up with.

RE: Pizza type by region? (Scorereader)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:30:11 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Davydd

I think it would be a presumption to think you can not get good pizza west of the Mississippi. There is not a lot of magic in making a pizza as the ingredients can be had everywhere and there are more and more wood fired pizza ovens which I do think make the best pizzas.

but you can't pipe in the NYC water, which is key in the taste of the dough.

RE: Pizza type by region? (Davydd)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:54:31 GMT

UncleVic, I have to agree with leethebard on this based on taste tests of recent. I also think that those shops that go the length to provide a woodfired pizza experience also go further in getting the ingredients right too. I think I may try another woodfired place in the Twin Cities tonight just to see once again.

RE: Pizza type by region? (leethebard)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 06:00:13 GMT

A woodfired stove is NOT just a heat source. Do some research...The smoke also adds flavor too....and the crust cooks with a different texture....There IS a reason for the preference...and no a conveyor belt pizza is indeed inferior...a fast food gimmick that creates an inferior pie

RE: Pizza type by region? (jfitz)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:40:07 GMT

Here's one of those "used to be" places. La Cantina ,Paw Paw,Mi. Pizza was best combo of all we talk about: sauce,sausage,crust[lard was used] and mozzarella.Thats the way it was in 70's. I believe it is still there.

RE: Pizza type by region? (UncleVic)

Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:45:45 GMT

In the last several weeks, It amazes me about everyone that prefers the wood or coal fired pizzas. Hey, IT'S JUST A HEAT SOURCE! It may tweak out a bit hotter then natural gas, but then again I see more and more people praise a conveyor pizza oven also. Wannabe trend setters IMHO. Give me an old fashioned Blodgett gas fired pizza oven and I'll be happy! (Not trying to set a trend, just enjoying a good brick oven pizza or sub).

RE: Pizza type by region? (Big Kahuna Kooks)

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 17:54:47 GMT

Hey brat...i agree a st. louis style pizza takes a little getting used to but i urge you to give it another chance. Imo's is the Dominos of the city, but they truly are great once you get acustomed to the provel.

RE: Pizza type by region? (Clarisse)

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 16:31:03 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by wheregreggeats.com

Has anyone who has ever had a pizza in New Haven (or, NYC) ever had a decent pie west of the Mississippi?

Let's not confuse issues with deep dish Chicago ...

Just this past Friday night, I had pizza that was so good I almost cried! The restaurant is Patsy Grimaldi's. Up until Nov '07, they were only in Phoenix, but now have a restaurant in Tucson (where I went). I had heard good things about them and had their website saved in my favorites folder, thinking when I went up to Phoenix I'd try it out and then saw they opened down here! If your style of pizza is brick oven thin crust, this is THE pizza to try!! I grew up in New York and the first bite transported me home!

RE: Pizza type by region? (Navy_Brat913)

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:41:47 GMT

I grew up military, and have had good pizza all over the country. In Denver, CO it was a local pizzeria. I was too little to have high expectations though, lol. In Norfolk, VA it was Godfathers Pizza (I was even younger, so don't know about that either, lol). In Groton, CT it was a variety of small non-chain pizzerias, the best was run by a greek family who made the sauce, dough and cheese themselves.

In Astoria, OR it was Papa Murphys, a Take & Bake pizza place which to this day is one of my faves. In DC I have not found a favorite, other than the one I make myself. In Ann Arbor, MI, it was a wood fired pizza at Macaroni Grill, topped with pepperoni, roasted garlic, spinach, banana peppers and fresh mozzarella.

I have honestly had only one *bad* style of pizza, and it's St Louis Style. You have to be raised on the cracker-like crust, topped with the Italian version of Velveeta (Provel) in order to even want to pay for something that is to me worse than those $.89 frozen pizzas.

RE: Pizza type by region? (Davydd)

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 14:55:54 GMT

I think it would be a presumption to think you can not get good pizza west of the Mississippi. There is not a lot of magic in making a pizza as the ingredients can be had everywhere and there are more and more wood fired pizza ovens which I do think make the best pizzas. Minneapolis is west of the Mississippi (just barely) and good pizza can be had.

The truth is with travel and knowledge, good food has spread across the country. Even Anthony Bourdain says the best Vietnamese is to be found in Minneapolis/St. Paul. I've read from more than one source that Pizzeria Bianco in Phoenix is top rated. I can't vouch for that since I've never been there.

RE: Pizza type by region? (porkbeaks)

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 13:21:18 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by wheregreggeats.com

Has anyone who has ever had a pizza in New Haven (or, NYC) ever had a decent pie west of the Mississippi?

Let's not confuse issues with deep dish Chicago ...

Personally, I've never experienced great pizza west of the Mississippi but, from what I hear, you would not be disappointed if you sampled the offerings[url='http://www.pizzeriabianco.com/']here[/url],[url='http://apizzascholls.com/']here[/url], or [url='http://www.mozza-la.com/pizzeria/about.cfm']here[/url]. The price might be a tad steep and the wait for a table less than tolerable, but I believe the pie would satisfy. pb

RE: Pizza type by region? (leethebard)

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:39:14 GMT

Sorry...it was years ago...but it was in Glendale..near 52 St(ave??)

RE: Pizza type by region? (tmizerek)

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:33:52 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by leethebard

Once in Phoeniz Arizona..ina pizza place run by 3 men from Bayonne, New Jersey. Some people take New York quality westward.

Do you remember the name of this place?

RE: Pizza type by region? (artphon)

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 12:14:34 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by wheregreggeats.com

Has anyone who has ever had a pizza in New Haven (or, NYC) ever had a decent pie west of the Mississippi?

Let's not confuse issues with deep dish Chicago ...

Yes. Actually, I had a quite wonderful pie last night at La Vecchia in Santa Monica, CA. White pie with both mozarella and romano cheese, topped with shaved white truffle (not a cheap pie, though the chef did come out, unbidden, and shave some extra truffle on it). It was a Neopolitan-style pizza in shape, size, and thinness of crust, but of course it was not cooked in a wood- or coal-burning oven, so it did not have that amazing smoky flavor. But given the topping and crispness of the crust, the overall experience felt as close to eating Pepe's or Modern's white clam pie as I have had outside of New Haven.

RE: Pizza type by region? (wheregreggeats.com)

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:52:44 GMT

Actually I once had a valid slice at a place called New York Pizza(?), upstairs on Main Street in Aspen.

RE: Pizza type by region? (leethebard)

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:46:27 GMT

By the way...can that map be updated???

RE: Pizza type by region? (leethebard)

Sat, 26 Jan 2008 11:45:19 GMT

Once in Phoeniz Arizona..ina pizza place run by 3 men from Bayonne, New Jersey. Some people take New York quality westward.