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Adam Kuban

Adam Kuban

editor emeritus

Adam Kuban is the founder of Slice, where he has been writing about pizza since 2003. He also founded A Hamburger Today, but burgers don't really do much for him these days. You'll find Adam primarily on Slice, where he writes a weekly NYC pizza review, blogs about pizza miscellany, and does twisted things to pizza in his monthly Home Slice feature.

Here is Adam's list of top pizza spots in NYC. To narrow it down further, here's his "Great 8" at the moment.

  • Website
  • Location: Astoria, Queens, NYC
  • Favorite foods: pizza, bagels, dim sum, sushi, Japanese curry rice, cha siu bao
  • Last bite on earth: Some White Castle sliders (plain and cheese), a supreme pizza from Maria's Pizza in Milwaukee, oysters on the beach in Cancale, France.

Quick Game Day Appetizer: Garlic-Knot Monkey Bread

I've got to thank Kenji for this idea. He suggested a garlic-knot monkey bread as a Home Slice topic, saying it might be good to do before the big game on Sunday. The byword here is EASY. This is almost a twist-and-dump thing. You could make your own dough for this (here's a suitable recipe), but I just used store-bought pizza dough from the freezer section. You'll need 2 pounds. (Most store-bought pizza doughs I've seen come in 1-pound portions, often 2 to a package.) More

Paulie Gee to Open a Baltimore Location with 'Pizzablogger'

Popular Brooklyn pizzeria Paulie Gee's will open a branch in Baltimore in 2013, Slice has learned. Paul Giannone, whose transformation from IT manager to renowned pizza-maker is well-documented on this site (among many other places), is partnering with Baltimore local "Pizzablogger" (who asked to remain anonymous), at what will be called Paulie Gee's Hampden. More

Gift Guide: For the Pizza-Maker

Some of these are stocking-stuffers, some are pretty pricey, but most are somewhere in between. What they all have in common is that I have turned to these products again and again in my own pizza-making life. I hope your pizza obsessive—novice or veteran—appreciates them as much as I do. More

Pizza Is...

The slap of the dough on the table
More than the words on a label
Tomato sauce, cheese
Napkins and grease
A whole pie or more if you're able More

Pizza Obsessives: Mike Senese of 'Catch It Keep It'

That's funny, because I heard someone giving Maggie Hoffman's name at the host stand to check on wait times. I wondered if it was Maggie from SE. Pinged her on Twitter and it turns out it was. She must have been there with Ed, etc. I usually grab a half-pint of beer at Brauerij Lane then book it home. Gotta get the kid in the bath by 6:30.

Pizza Obsessives: Mike Senese of 'Catch It Keep It'

Oh, man. Was that Sunday night? Was he in at the very start of service?

My Pie Monday: Squash Blossom Pizza, Potato Pie, and More!

@Kengk: Hahahaha. Feral pig from Florida. Would make a helluva pie name.

@Dan: Loving the form factor of that rectangular 'tater pizza.

@Rockyraccoon: I'm seconding the call for more info on your pizza-forge oven. That pizza looks excellent.

@Billgraney: That pan pizza is making me hungry. Really good-lookin' pie.

Ask the Critic: Are Cronuts Worth the Line?

@deliciouslymeta: Thanks for the intel! I haven't had a DKA. Carey makes a good case for it. I usually don't get down that far in Manhattan, but it is right off the C/E, so I can run there on lunch break easily. CHEERS!

Ask the Critic: Are Cronuts Worth the Line?

Is there a separate CRONUT line? Like, if I go for a DKA, do I have to wait in line with all the cronut douchenozzles to get it? Or is there like a Shake Shake B-line for those hosebags?

Gadgets: Hot Logic Mini

I'm kind of intrigued. I hate using the microwave or toaster oven at work b/c then I have to inevitably endure the small talk from coworkers about whatever it is I'm cooking. I'd just have to hid this thing behind a plant or something on my desk so it didn't attract attention there.

Pizza Styles Worldwide

@cpd007: Thank you for the thorough response. This helps.

Regarding calling it "tavern cut" -- I guess that's the same way when you call NYC pizza "thin crust." Here, it is just "pizza," so I understand what you mean. If you were to call something here in NYC "thin crust," it would conjure up VERY VERY THIN CRUST pizza, which may be more along the lines of Chicago's thin crust. I had such a pizza a few weeks ago. Very good, but probably not in the leagues of Villa Nova, etc.

Yes, I have not been to Chicago in ages. With our new baby, I don't know if we will anytime soon. :(

If you do make it to NYC, please email me. I am not hard to find on the internets -- adamkuban AT gee mail dot com. I enjoy having pizza lunches with Slice'rs.

new post opening in astoria ny

I'm sorry, what? Can you rephrase that? What is this place called?

Pizza Styles Worldwide

@Lancaster: Yeah, I think you're right. There's so much variation that there's not really a single "Midwestern" style. Whenever I think of what I personally call "Midwestern," it's basically Chicago thin-crust/cracker-crust. The stuff I got on special trips back to Milwaukee to visit grandparents.

@Traveller: There's a thread somewhere on Pizzamaking.com where they attempt to reverse-engineer Shakey's. I'm not going to google it, but I do recall seeing it there a month or so ago, when I was looking for thin-crust recipes to try.

Pizza Styles Worldwide

@Traveller: That's kind of a Midwest/Upper Midwest thing, seems to be. I've seen it called "tavern cut" or "party cut" in some cases. The funny thing is, I think it's done to make it *easier* to pick up. Since that type of pizza oven does have a lot of cheese on it, a triangular slice would be hard to pick up without the tip slumping. So the smaller pieces, I think, are meant to stand up better to the toppings. Of course, as merstar points out, they don't always.

I guess... there's Alsatian flammekueche. There's the crazy Japanese pizzas with squid and corn. In Brazil, I believe they put ketchup (and maybe mustard) on pizzas. I do believe Sweden has some weird ones.

Pizza with Fresh Clams, Garlic, Mozzarella, Romano, and Basil

As long as you're removing the clams from the shells for your eaters, then good deal. I jumped to the same conclusion TScarborough did in looking at the picture. I gotta say, the places that leave them in the shells, that's a dealbreaker for me. My take on pizza is that I want to be able to shove it in my mouth ASAP. If I have to slow down to shuck clams, then I get HANGRY.

Best Burgers in Milwaukee from 'Milwaukee Magazine'

@Lacey: My family is weird, what can I say. ;)

Best Burgers in Milwaukee from 'Milwaukee Magazine'

I think we actually get them on Saturdays when we're in town. My family likes National Bakery on South 16th Street, and they're closed Sundays. OMG, I just ate a great burger for lunch, but thinking about hot ham and rolls is making me drool again.

Best Burgers in Milwaukee from 'Milwaukee Magazine'

Oh yeah. I'm not too worried about it. I have on my list Balistreri's (per my family) and Zaffiro's (per the internets). Have never been to either. Will just get take out at one or the other or both. Shooting for Zaffiro's. And of course hot ham and rolls on Sunday. Cannot wait.

My Pie Monday: Deep Dish, BLT, Spicy Soppressata and More!

@TXCraig: That makes sense. With fire maintenance, etc. Maybe when you factor in the age of the dough and you have the fire just right. Maybe that's where teh magic happens. I think from what your pies look like, and from what I've had with Mangieri's, only a few people could really tell the difference between a 95% pie and a 99%. I will say there is never a 100% pie; there is always something to strive for.

Best Burgers in Milwaukee from 'Milwaukee Magazine'

WOW! Thanks, Lacey! I totally want to try Nite Owl. I think we get in at a decent time for a quick take-out order. These are all great recs. I have only ever been to Kopp's for burgers and have had George Webb's and Culver's. That is the extent of my Milwaukee burger experience. Have never done Solly's because it's pretty far north (my family is all on the South Side). My aunt USED to love Mazo's, but she's angry at them, so when I'm with her, we don't go there. I'll see if I can try it on my own.

The bad thing that's happening is that my wife is eating no-soy, no-dairy because our baby is allergic to them. So custard is out the window. At least for her. But that means I have to sort of be considerate about how much selfish-eating I can do. Also, my sister is coming in for this reunion with her boyfriend, who is vegan. So pretty much between those two, our "official" family dinners are all going to be pretty lame. I have to do all my exploration eating as take-out/on the side.

My Pie Monday: Deep Dish, BLT, Spicy Soppressata and More!

@TXCraig1: Interesting info on variations on bake time–temperature spectrum. Do you find there's sort of an optimum window of time when your oven conditions are just right to do your 50- to 55-second pies? If so, how long does that window last? I remember Anthony Mangieri talking about this once or twice. That there's a certain point in the night for him when his oven is *just right* and he knows he's making the kind of pizza he's truly capable of making. And that before and after that window, it's still _good_ pizza, and maybe the general public won't be able to tell the difference, but for him personally, he knows when he's nailed it. I always found that to be interesting and am finally truly beginning to possibly understand that concept. Anyway, beautiful pie as always. But ... ADD MORE SUPERSOD! ;)

My Pie Monday: Deep Dish, BLT, Spicy Soppressata and More!

@Amusebouche1: The combo of your fig pizza is really calling to me right now. Sounds good.

@Dan: Classic combo. One of my favorites. Nice work on shaping that thing.

@Cookerman: I think that's half the reason I love making pan pies like the Detroit pizzas or now bar pies. They don't rely on the stone/steel for cooking, and so you can sort of time-shift when you do the work.

@Pizza80: What's the crust?

@myperfectpizza: What's your cooking set-up? (Sorry if you've answered this in past MPMs. My memory is hazy these days.)

Best Burgers in Milwaukee from 'Milwaukee Magazine'

@Lacey: If you're getting comment notification on this ... I'm heading to Milwaukee area for some family stuff in July. Staying in Brookfield. Anything in/near Brookfield I can't miss?

Overall Milwaukee area: If I had to do one old-school Milwaukee burger, where should I go? Preferably something I can just be in and out with. (We'll have a baby in tow, and I'll probably have to do take-out.)

Milwaukee: Diner Burgers Shine at North Avenue Grill

This burger looks fantastic. Bookmarking.

Milwaukee: Burgers on the Riverwalk at John Hawk's Pub

I'd hit that burger. Thanks for the intel.

Combing through the AHT Milwaukee reviews for burger recs. Heading your way in July. Don't know how many I'll be able to get to, but I'm making a map anyway!

Recipe: Wite Kastle Klones

@Pigwiggle: I haven't tried it with Vienna sausages or beef bone marrow. If you try these methods, let us know how it turns out!

What do you top your burgers with?

Raw onion, pickle, mustard.

The Pizza Lab: Is The New KettlePizza Short Model Worth The Upgrade?

@Alessio: That's exactly what I was saying above! At some point, anything north of $300 starts to feel like you could have just saved that money for a real WFO option. And if you start buying $200 iterations of the same thing (or new accessories/upgrades), you could end up spending as much or almost as much as one of the lower-priced WFO options. I think that's why I appreciate Kenji testing the iterations of this thing. Like IMROLLIN says, once Kenji says it's good enough out of the box, that's when it's time to pull the trigger.

I, too, enjyed the comments here. I know it can get frustrating as a reader. I feel, too, that I can read frustration in Kenji and Scott123's comments. But here, I think they have reached some sort of understanding/middle ground... FOR NOW... HAHAHAHAHAHAAH

Seriously, though. Great post/comments.

Nunzio's, a Classic Slice on Staten Island

EVERYONE: I should mention here that Salvatore's of SoHo has since closed. Quite a while ago by this point, but if you've gotten this far into the comments, don't bother.

Pizza Is...

The slap of the dough on the table
More than the words on a label
Tomato sauce, cheese
Napkins and grease
A whole pie or more if you're able More

Bread Baking: Cocktail Rye Bread

In our house, cocktail rye was typically served as the base for chopped chicken livers or cream cheese, always served open-faced, kind of like the untoasted rye version of crostini. The smaller size of the loaf always made it seem fancier to me. More

Brooklyn: Everything On The Menu at Best Pizza

Opened just over a year ago, Best Pizza has fast become one of our favorite pizzerias in New York, and yeah, it's mostly because they serve some of the tastiest by-the-slice stuff around. Since opening the shop, the menu has expanded ever-so-slightly to include sandwiches and a single salad. But man, oh man what good sandwiches those are. Check out everything they've got on the menu. More

Bread Baking: Fast Buttery Buns

Bread snob that I am, there are times when all I need is something simple. Something that can be made quickly. But even when I'm in a hurry, I'd prefer that the resulting bread isn't completely bland. Sometimes that means I'm a little more generous with flavor enhancers. Like butter! Just a little extra. Y'all. More

What to Expect at a Neapolitan Pizzeria

Things I've overheard in a Neapolitan pizzeria lately:

  • "Oh, wow, there's not that much cheese on this."
  • "They're pretty small. You could probably eat one yourself." (Waitress to customer.)
  • "You can't really pick it up."

I guess that even after the great pizza renaissance of the 2000s, Neapolitan pizza is still new to some folks. And, whatever, that's cools. I just figured I'd try to demystify it a bit if you've never had it.

Update/note: This post is geared toward folks in the U.S. or elsewhere who have never tried Neapolitan, Neapolitan-style, or Neapolitan-inspired pizza. It does not pertain to actual Neapolitan pizza in Naples, Italy.

More

5 Can't-Miss Korean Eating Experiences in Flushing

Visitors to Flushing, Queens might think of the neighborhood as primarily a Chinese food destination, but the world of Korean options is vast and diverse. Our intrepid Flushing explorer Chris Hansen has tracked down massive goat feasts, pork belly cooked on your table, killer Korean barbecue, and more. We asked him to pick his five favorite finds so far; check out his can't-miss Korean eating experiences in Flushing! More

Pizza Obsessives: Frank Pinello of Best Pizza

If you were at Sandwich Fest two weeks back, you most likely picked up an amazingly delicious meatball sub from Best Pizza. After running into Pizza Obsessive alum amusebouche1 at the festival, I couldn't get those hot seat questions out of my mind. Luckily, I was able to find a willing interviewee in pizzaiolo and Best Pizza (reviewed here) owner Frank Pinello. More

Building a Pizzeria: Closing in on Opening up

Building this pizzeria has been a complete whirlwind since June 1, and even as I type this post, my notepad is sitting next to my laptop, yearning for my attention. My apologies to all the Slicer's that have been following along and patiently waiting for my next post, but I should let you know this is very likely my last post before opening day, which is scheduled for... drum roll please, July 5th. More

Grilling: Roasted Corn Relish

I loved how this all came together. The first taste was of sweet and tangy corn, but the sweetness slowly fades, giving way to the heat from the jalapeno and an earthiness from the chili powder and cumin. The "relish" can double as a dip for tortilla chips, salad topping, or taco condiment—it'll add excellent flavor to whatever it touches. More

How to Make Pizza Monkey Bread

Monkey bread. Because kids go ape over it. You know what else they go ape for? Pizza. Let them help you make pizza monkey bread and they'll go positively King Kong in the kitchen. Making this stuff is way easier than making pizza, too, since you don't have to worry about stretching the dough or precise cook times. All you'll need are these recipes for dough and pizza sauce as well as and some Parmesan, mozzarella, and fresh basil. More

Koshary: Feeding a Revolution in Cairo

Liberation requires massive amounts of strength. Without discounting the passion that alone has fueled millions into a weeks-long protest, it is clear that Egyptians also rely on another direct source of energy. And that is a deceptively simple comfort food: koshary, the legendary dish that every Egyptian can both wax poetic on and furiously debate the merits of. More

Cook the Book: Pickled Ginger Peaches

To those of you not familiar with this classic Southern pickle, adding copious amounts of vinegar and sugar to perfectly ripe summer peaches might sound a little strange. But bear with me here—the combination of vinegar, sugar, and a few choice spices turn summer peaches in to a spectacular pickle that can be enjoyed well after peach season is over. More

Bread Baking: Peanut Butter Graham Crackers

While today's graham crackers aren't the same as ones promoted by 19th century diet reformer Sylvester Graham, they're still a relatively healthy option, with lots of fiber from the whole wheat. But that's not why I eat them. As far as I'm concerned, graham crackers are the perfect vehicle for peanut butter. The majority of graham crackers around here disappear under a smear of the stuff. To me, that's the perfect quick and satisfying snack. But why stop at putting peanut butter onto the graham crackers? Why not put some in the crackers as well? More

Where's the Beef?

The beef's right here, suckas! After lots of talk and little action, A Hamburger Today—in a bare-bones, not-much-to-look-at-yet version—is open for business. This is, in restaurant parlance, a soft opening, meaning that we'll be posting here on the down... More

Pizza Girl: Future Technology

Once upon a time, there was no GPS. This was before the "delivery fee" was even a twinkle in the Noid's eye. Cellphones were built like bricks, and pizza delivery dudes were all dudes. And in this land of my pizza-delivery forbears, drivers carried maps made of trees but most carried maps in their heads. I have no idea what technologies are to come and make delivery better, but here are some of my ideas (far-fetched or not) that would be cool. More