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From Slice

Openings: Paulie Gee's, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Bravo ! Go get 'em Paulie.

You have the passion motivatiion, and skills.

I WILL visit next time I'm in "Greenpernt".

From Slice

Coal-Oven Alert: Fired Up, Palm Bay, Florida

I went on my second visit today to "Fired Up", home to the only coal-fired pizza oven in the wilds of Central Florida.

This is a comfortable place, with booths and tables. Most seats have a view of the aforementioned oven. The service is quick and friendly.

My pizza maven son and I ordered the 16" pepperoni pie ($11.99 plus $1.99 for the topping - reasonable).

The pie had a nice char and leopard spotting , but the corniccione and crust were weak and thin, and tasteless. Perhaps the dough needed more time in the refrigerator to rise ?

The pie was swimming in rendered grease from the pepperoni. The tomato sauce was acceptable , but the cheese was forgettable.

I'll visit this place again in a few months, but right now I wouldn't expend the effort/fuel for a pilgrimage (40 miles) anytime soon.

For those who may be visiting East Central Florida soon , these are my own personal pizza picks for this area :

1. DiLorenzo's, Cape Canaveral
2. Baci's , Rockledge
3. Brooklyn Pizza and Pasta, Viera

From Slice

Coal-Oven Alert: Fired Up, Palm Bay, Florida

OK, folks. I made the "pilgrimage" to "All Fired Up" this Saturday with my wife and mother-in-law.

I'm a nice guy (really). So , I want to give this joint a second chance.

First off, the restaurant was jammed with 5 little girl soccer teams. The din was amazing and all-consuming. I give the pizzaiolos credit for being able to concentrate and do their jobs.

We ordered a "garbage pie" : large pizza with onion , pepper, half-pepperoni, and half sausage. Hey, I had guests who ordered to suit their palates.

Yes, there is a coal-fired oven. Yes, the pizza was nicely charred and "leopard-spotted". The corniccione was weak tho...

I saw the dough balls being carried from the coolers. They looked perfect. The pizzaiolo tossed and stretched the dough until it was almost transparent. The pies baked miraculously quickly !

Except - the dough was tasteless , and the sauce was almost lacking. This was not a great pie.

I am going to give this restaurant a break , and reserve my final judgement until I can get down there at a less busy time .

All the same, I welcome the concept, and the presence of a genuine coal-fired pizza oven in the wilds of Florida. Bravo.

From Slice

My Pizza Oven: Mark Wilkie, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Nice job ! I applaud your effort. Great post, and thanks for sharing.

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From Slice

Openings: Paulie Gee's, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

Bravo ! Go get 'em Paulie.

You have the passion motivatiion, and skills.

I WILL visit next time I'm in "Greenpernt".

From Slice

Coal-Oven Alert: Fired Up, Palm Bay, Florida

I went on my second visit today to "Fired Up", home to the only coal-fired pizza oven in the wilds of Central Florida.

This is a comfortable place, with booths and tables. Most seats have a view of the aforementioned oven. The service is quick and friendly.

My pizza maven son and I ordered the 16" pepperoni pie ($11.99 plus $1.99 for the topping - reasonable).

The pie had a nice char and leopard spotting , but the corniccione and crust were weak and thin, and tasteless. Perhaps the dough needed more time in the refrigerator to rise ?

The pie was swimming in rendered grease from the pepperoni. The tomato sauce was acceptable , but the cheese was forgettable.

I'll visit this place again in a few months, but right now I wouldn't expend the effort/fuel for a pilgrimage (40 miles) anytime soon.

For those who may be visiting East Central Florida soon , these are my own personal pizza picks for this area :

1. DiLorenzo's, Cape Canaveral
2. Baci's , Rockledge
3. Brooklyn Pizza and Pasta, Viera

From Slice

Coal-Oven Alert: Fired Up, Palm Bay, Florida

OK, folks. I made the "pilgrimage" to "All Fired Up" this Saturday with my wife and mother-in-law.

I'm a nice guy (really). So , I want to give this joint a second chance.

First off, the restaurant was jammed with 5 little girl soccer teams. The din was amazing and all-consuming. I give the pizzaiolos credit for being able to concentrate and do their jobs.

We ordered a "garbage pie" : large pizza with onion , pepper, half-pepperoni, and half sausage. Hey, I had guests who ordered to suit their palates.

Yes, there is a coal-fired oven. Yes, the pizza was nicely charred and "leopard-spotted". The corniccione was weak tho...

I saw the dough balls being carried from the coolers. They looked perfect. The pizzaiolo tossed and stretched the dough until it was almost transparent. The pies baked miraculously quickly !

Except - the dough was tasteless , and the sauce was almost lacking. This was not a great pie.

I am going to give this restaurant a break , and reserve my final judgement until I can get down there at a less busy time .

All the same, I welcome the concept, and the presence of a genuine coal-fired pizza oven in the wilds of Florida. Bravo.

From Slice

My Pizza Oven: Mark Wilkie, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Nice job ! I applaud your effort. Great post, and thanks for sharing.

From Slice

Thoughts from Di Fara First-Timers

@Paulie You are correct. I just remember my Italian "Nana" - she loved fresh ingredients and her cooking was splendid as a result.

From Slice

Thoughts from Di Fara First-Timers

I appreciate the input/honest reviews. Thank you.

It's kind of obvious that some (majority ?) mentioned Mr. DeMarcos's craftsmanship and attention to detail.

To me, that's the essence of Italian cooking. The freshest and absolutely the best ingredients made with consideration/love for those about to partake.

From Slice

Dom DeMarco Undergoing Minor Oral Surgery; Di Fara Pizza Closed Indefinitely

I wish good health to Mr. DeMarco.

He truly is a paragon of Italian cooking : the freshest ingredients, cooked with love and a fine sense of Italian artisan craftsmanship.

From Slice

Leftovers: The Day's Stray Links

Hmm. I once had a "Papa John's" pizza, years ago. Wasn't bad, but it had no "soul".

Are we celebrating the business genius of selling $4 of ingredients for $12 , or what ? I'm tired of seeing this dude in the TV ads already.

Wait until an Italian establishes a chain and drives these poseurs out of business. Mr. Varasano, please ?

From Slice

'Times' Readers Recommend ...

I concur. The Bizarro's on Wickham Road in Melbourne had rude help, and forgettable pizza. Better pizza joints in Brevard, for sure !

From Slice

Openings: Varasano's Pizzeria, Atlanta

With Jeff's intelligence, attention to detail, and dedication to the spirit of Italian cooking , I trust his restaurant will be a raging success. Atlanta , are you ready for this ?

C

From Slice

Openings: Paulie Gee's, Greenpoint, Brooklyn

congrats paulie G! i'll be sure to hit it up. can i bring my camera?

From Slice

My Pizza Oven: Mark Wilkie, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Great looking oven. I've been working on a Pompeii style oven all summer. I'm amazed at how quickly you've finished yours!

From Slice

My Pizza Oven: Mark Wilkie, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Amazing. I am so jealous I don't even know where to begin. Can I be tacky and ask about how much it cost to build this oven? It would be worth every penny, but I am curious.

Thanks!

From Slice

My Pizza Oven: Mark Wilkie, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

I too am jealous as all get out. The BF is even a stone mason! But we live in a condo community too. Maybe it's time to buy a house. This is something I've wanted forever.

From Slice

My Pizza Oven: Mark Wilkie, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

OMG, this is WONDERFUL! I just want you to know that a pizza oven has been a dream of mine FOREVER. I am an old lady now, but still have hopes. You did a fantastic job. I know about Forno Brovo, wonderful website and helpful. ENJOY your wonderful project - lucky you two found each other, a woman who will cook and a man who will work with her dream.

If I am not too nosey - what was the total cost of the project?

Pizza Lady

From Slice

My Pizza Oven: Mark Wilkie, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Guess what's going in next year where the kids' playset currently is? My 15 year old will do some heavy lifting for me--he loves pizza and homemade bread.

From Slice

My Pizza Oven: Mark Wilkie, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Oh. My. GOD!!!

Must get husband to DO THIS!!

What an amazing and delightful project! Good for them, I bet the neighborhood smells great!

From Slice

My Pizza Oven: Mark Wilkie, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Some people blog their opinions, and some people blog real hard skill and technique to improve lives. Thanks a million, and uh, when are you inviting the neighborhood over?

From Slice

My Pizza Oven: Mark Wilkie, Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn

Beautiful oven!
I was lucky enough to sample the pizza at Paulie Gee's from his outdoor oven and there was nothing better!

From Slice

Thoughts from Di Fara First-Timers

@steamsoldier yeah dude, we've all since your stuff. Remember that time Adam made fun of you for ordering a junky pie?

From Slice

Thoughts from Di Fara First-Timers

Check out my recent visit, I had a much different experience...

From Slice

Thoughts from Di Fara First-Timers

@Laren Great shot of Dom putting some serious love on your square pie.

Ciao,

Paulie Gee

From Slice

Thoughts from Di Fara First-Timers

I hadn't been there either, until recently and Adam was shocked (and admittedly, I was embarrassed.

From Slice

Thoughts from Di Fara First-Timers

@Cincinnatus That's the essence of just about any type of cuisine, no?

Ciao,

Paulie Gee

From Slice

Dom DeMarco Undergoing Minor Oral Surgery; Di Fara Pizza Closed Indefinitely

My kingdom for a comment editor. I guess I better be more careful in the meantime.

Ciao,

Paulie Gee

From Slice

Dom DeMarco Undergoing Minor Oral Surgery; Di Fara Pizza Closed Indefinitely

I've been to DiFara only twice and I doubt I'll ever go back unless their policy changes. Although I thoroughly enjoy both his slice and his Sicilian, it is simply not worth the hassle. It should be an establishment's responsibility to assure that their customer recieve the pizza in a fair and orderly fashion. They can easily impliment a process to accomplish that, but the obviously have chosen not to. I'm sure they realize that the uncertainty that their non-system has created is in great part responsible for their extreme popularity and have no intention to change it. I do recall hearing something recently about Dom's daughter establishing some kind of order, but it seems like that effort never took hold from the comments I've read about the place since. If and when things change, I'll head back their for their excellent slices, but until then if I want that style of pizza, I'll head to Lucali and get a pie.

Ciao,

Paulie Gee

From Slice

Dom DeMarco Undergoing Minor Oral Surgery; Di Fara Pizza Closed Indefinitely

@cliffyb:

Made the trip out from Manhattan last year, early evening on a weeknight. Waited a full hour for two slices while locals repeatedly cut the line, ordered extra pizzas at the last minute, etc. One of the locals took pity and gave me one of his own piping hot slices, seeing that I was getting totally screwed (and was starving to death!). It was very good pizza, but in no way lives up to the hype you see on message boards. I headed back into the city and picked up a pie at Una Pizza Napoletana (no wait), which was pure pizza bliss. I'd take any of the great NYC pizza institutions, including Grimaldis before heading back out to DF. If you live right near the place, I can understand going back, becoming a regular, etc. But you're not missing much if you don't go.

From Slice

Dom DeMarco Undergoing Minor Oral Surgery; Di Fara Pizza Closed Indefinitely

@cliffyb: as mentioned, only the Grande "Rotondino" Fior-di-latte cheese, which is among three cheeses Dom typically uses including an imported mozzarella di bufala from his hometown outside of Napoli and either freshly grated (as in grated per order) blocks of parmegano-reggiano and/or pecorino romano, and in my opinion the olive oil, could even be remotely construed as "Sysco-esque"....and that Grande Rotondino is very high quality stuff.

This is one of the more expensively topped pizzas, without the need for additional toppings, you are likely to encounter in the pizza world as Dom adds very high quality toppings with the finesse of a sledgehammer. The only thing normal about his pizzas, and I was prepared for it in advance, is his crust. If you go at the right time of the day you will not have to wait that long. As far as the hype, I think only you can decide that. I will say making a trip to DiFara is something anyone with a love for pizza should do once in their life and my short time there is one of the absolute top cherished moments in this dummies pizza eating life.

From Slice

Dom DeMarco Undergoing Minor Oral Surgery; Di Fara Pizza Closed Indefinitely

Adam- I wasn't trying cause a scene. I come in peace. But to hear that people wait up to 3 hours for a pizza makes me wonder. Is it justified, or is it sentimentality/territoriality? For an outsider it seems like a HUGE amount of hype.

From Slice

Dom DeMarco Undergoing Minor Oral Surgery; Di Fara Pizza Closed Indefinitely

@cliffyb: I suspect you're asking this question to stir the pot here—particularly the "Sysco" comment. But if you're sincere, then I apologize for jumping to conclusions and will answer:

The pizza is very good. The wait is very long. Budget at least one hour (on a good trip) and up to three hours (if things are horribly packed and Dom forgets your order).

You are perhaps half correct in assuming locals get served first. What I've seen happen is that people who push to the front and have the brashness of native New Yorkers get their pizza quicker. If you're meek and deferential, your wait will increase accordingly. But it seems to have less to do with Dom favoring locals than just serving whomever's at front. Pizza darwinism, I suppose. That said, I have seen occasions where Dom has served police and firefighters first—seems to be an old-school take-care-of-the-folks-in-uniform thing.

The ingredients: Definitely not Sysco-esque. Maybe the most common mass-market thing he uses is the Grandé aged mozzarella, but even Grandé is widely regarded as the best mass-market pizza cheese.

From Slice

Dom DeMarco Undergoing Minor Oral Surgery; Di Fara Pizza Closed Indefinitely

Forgive me, I've never been there, but is the pizza really that good? From what I've read the wait is very long, plus all the locals get served ahead of everybody else. It also looks like he uses somewhat sysco-ish ingredients and he did get shut down by the health department right? Maybe I'm wrong. Again, I've never actually been there.

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