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Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
I'm definitely in for the trip and would be happy to drive. Pizzamobile leaves from Hoboken so you would just need to take PATH and meet me at the station. Let me know who's in, I have 2-3 spots in the car.
Is It a 'Plain' Slice, a 'Regular' Slice, or Something Else Entirely?
To me, "plain" implies that it lacks something, such as decoration / toppings. Good slices lack nothing, even if they are topped with the simplest of ingredients. Using "plain" is offensive.
"Regular" may be pretty accurate in that it describes a "standard" but it still give me a bad vibe.
If you request a "slice," you're going to get something with cheese and tomato. It's good and it's simple, or "streamlined" as Adam says.
I'm into calling it a "slice."
Sam's Restaurant Pizzaman Retiring, Leaving Pie-Making Duties to Son
Louie's pies are at least as good as his father's. Fear no changes in the pizza or the ambiance, which just may be the tastiest part about Sam's.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Video: 'Naturally Risen' a Fitting Epitaph for Una Pizza Napoletana
I feel kind of dirty after watching that. And yes, Paulie Gee, it did make me cry.
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
I'm definitely in for the trip and would be happy to drive. Pizzamobile leaves from Hoboken so you would just need to take PATH and meet me at the station. Let me know who's in, I have 2-3 spots in the car.
Is It a 'Plain' Slice, a 'Regular' Slice, or Something Else Entirely?
To me, "plain" implies that it lacks something, such as decoration / toppings. Good slices lack nothing, even if they are topped with the simplest of ingredients. Using "plain" is offensive.
"Regular" may be pretty accurate in that it describes a "standard" but it still give me a bad vibe.
If you request a "slice," you're going to get something with cheese and tomato. It's good and it's simple, or "streamlined" as Adam says.
I'm into calling it a "slice."
Sam's Restaurant Pizzaman Retiring, Leaving Pie-Making Duties to Son
Louie's pies are at least as good as his father's. Fear no changes in the pizza or the ambiance, which just may be the tastiest part about Sam's.
An Evening with Paulie Gee, Pizza Madman
I just have a few things to add about the tasting.
Paulie's homemade fiordilatte is outstanding. We found ourselves picking at the mozzarella in between pies and I probably could have eaten a few more pounds of it given the chance. It had that clean and creamy taste with remarkably smooth texture. Everything Paulie put on the pizza was incredibly well thought out and of the highest quality. Whatever brand they were, those tomatoes were fruity and sweet with the perfect hint of acidity. Every piece of meat, vegetable and herb met the same standards.
Paulie's dedication to honing his craft is remarkable and his whole family is on board with the infectious obsession. They have obviously conducted many a tasting. The flare of activity between pies was incredible: Paulie headed to the prep table immediately after each pie tasting to assemble the next; Michael would be stoking the fire in preparation for Paulie's next specimen; Mary Ann had the pizza peel clean and ready for action. This left me and Adam to do our best to keep up and not miss any crucial steps in the process. Master Gee even showed us all the tips and tricks he has picked up from pizzaioli he admires. His pizzeria, whenever and wherever it blesses us with its presence, will be a true temple to the simple elegance of Paulie's influences (ie all the pizzerias Slicers know and love).
As good as his pizza is, Paulie continues to tweak his recipes in search of the perfect combination. One batch of Paulie's cheese even had a bit of milk added to the curd, which he heard has the affect of softening the texture of the mozzarella. The man will try anything in an effort to further his product.
That's dedication. That's Paulie Gee (and family).
Ray's Real Pizza Moves to Jersey
The truth hammer scores again. You can check out the proof at the New York Historical Society, which has phone books and business directories dating back to the 1800s. Ralph Cuomo missed the 1959 deadline, so Ray's on Prince Street didn't make it in until the following year. Interestingly enough, 31 Prince (two storefronts west of Ray's) used to be a Ray's Luncheonette back in the 1930s. In fact, it was one of ten or so Ray's Luncheonettes. As far as I know, none of them claimed to be famous or original.
Ed Levine's Questionable Pizza Practices: Do You Leave Your Pies Out Overnight? For Two Nights?
I do this all the time and live to tell about it.
Slice vs. Vice II: Grimaldi's Ain't That Old
The owners at Patsy's claim that Patsy Lancieri never worked at Lombardi's. They say he came directly from Naples to East Harlem to open shop in 1933. If that's true, it severs the Lombardi's relationship. Patsy Grimaldi, however, is Lancieri's nephew and he worked at Patsy's (E. Harlem) in his early teens. Rumor has it he went on to learn more pizza technique at Totonno's in Coney Island (Anthony "Totonno" Pero worked at Lombardi's). Patsy Grimaldi opened a Patsy's under the Brooklyn Bridge in 1990 but changed the name within a few years as a result of confusion between the other eateries with the same name (sound familiar?) Grimaldi's is awesome but people incorrectly jump to the conclusion that it must be one of the city's oldest pizzerias. The age of a pizzeria doesn't necessarily indicate to the quality of its pies, so Grimaldi's shouldn't fall in anyone's mind just because it isn't a century old.
Dear Slice: Where Can We Throw Our Daughter a Make-Your-Own-Pizza Party?
Totonno's on 2nd Ave does pizza parties!
The Pieman's Craft at Una Pizza Napoletana
Great pizza party. I love side-by-side comparisons so dang much.
@Guttergourmet I'm game for Old Forge. In fact, I almost went there yesterday by mistake.
John's Pizzeria, a Familiar Taste
Be kind with the Jersey City location. It's a new oven so you can't judge it as you would a seasoned oven. I tried it a few months back and found it to be so so. When in Jersey City, try La Rustique. It's a wood-fired brick oven that used to be located a block from the new John's but has since moved to 611 Jersey Ave.
John's Pizzeria, a Familiar Taste
Last time I spoke with Mike Frank, the manager at John's of Bleecker, he gave me this ingredient rundown.
"the Flour is General Mills Gold Medal, Full strength, enriched Bromated.... Crushed plum tomatos.... Cheese in Polly-o Whole milk Mozz....... that's about it.... As for toppings, everything is fresh.... the Sausage comes from Florence meat market up the street on Jones.... the Beef from the Meatballs comes from Ottomanellis........ veggies are all delivered daily...... Coal from Pennsylvania ...... that's realy about it..."
I Don't Know What to Make of This
Who are you to use question marks!
Di Fara Attacker Gives Blogs a Bad Name
Don't waste your time getting upset about what this person thinks about DiFara, but get as mad as you want about their decision to omit apostrophes from "its" in the post.
Three Brothers Pizza-Eating Championship
Any intel about the contest at Rocco's in Bay Ridge yesterday?
Password-Protected Pizza Hybrid Available at Peppino's in Bay Ridge
I tried this tonight. It's delicious. They use a wood-fired brick oven and the pizza comes out beautifully.
Mac and Cheese Pizza: Ian's Pizza, Madison, Wisconsin
I've had this slice. Their quesadilla pizza is more exciting. It's for those times you can't decide between quesadilla and pizza; just have both!
Scott's New York Pizza Tours Launches
BrooklynBrownie, I see you are a New Havener. Modern is my favorite! Nice taste buds! See you on the Pizza Bus...
Scott's New York Pizza Tours Launches
Howdy, I'm the guy who runs these tours. There's a $5 discount if you enter the coupon code "ireadslice" on the purchase page. It's good for every bus tour through May!
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
I just got my first comment notification. I am friggin' stoked. Speaking of Nomad. Is everyone set for Saturday 5pm? It's BYO, BTW. Anyone else want to join us? If it's good enough for Mangieri.....
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
@pauliegee LOL, Michael's aviation career began at Pizza and Pasta! Such a perfect combination of two prominent themes!
Wow, Anthony Mangieri visited Nomad too... a friend of mine who grew up in Hopewell a long long time ago keeps telling me what a hick town it used to be, and I assured her it's now quite the culinary mecca
About how often ARE you eating at Nomad, Paulie? I keep trying to get back down there -- enjoy Saturday, I may be visiting Spike Mendelson's burger place in DC
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
@realhound Ah ha, I found that link now. I'm sorry I didn't check out that place long ago. I also noticed that Pizza and Pasta is number 8. When you asked me what my favorite pizza in the area was, I might have forgotten to mention them to you. In addition to very good pizza relative to the other options in Central Jersey, their fresh pasta dishes are very good. I haven't been there in quite a while, so I forgot. I don't know why I stopped going but it's time to go back. I was going there when they still were on Lincoln Blvd. in Middlesex. And the location in Manville has some serious sentimental value. When my son Michael was not much more than two, we visited the place, which is adjacent to the Central Jersey Airport. As we were heading in we saw a small plane taking off and I jokingly said to Michael "Do you want to go up in the plane?". Well, he was not taking no for an answer and spent most of the dinner under the table crying and demanding to go for a spin. It even continued when we went back out to the parking lot. I can still picture him pointing up and crying crying "Up in the plane. Up in the plane". Today Michael is an Air Force Academy graduate and scheduled to head to Del Rio Texas next year for pilot training. To this day I swear that the genesis of his strong desire to fly is rooted in that silly question I asked that evening.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
@realhound Perhaps it was because I couldn't take my eyes off those blonde beauties from Stan's. More likely though it was that there were only 6 places shown and I couldn't find a link to page two. And thanks for pointing out the misspelling. I spotted it after I posted, but since Slice doesn't have a comment editing feature I couldn't correct it. Perhap the next time they do an upgrade, they'll add it now that they've implimented their comment notification function. Is it my imagination or is that not happening?
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
Of course, if the stationary Nomad had been open at that time last year, it would have been #1, hands down.
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
You must have only read the story about yourself back in Feb., Paulie! :)
In the overall survey story, DeLucia's (not DeLuca's) was # 7 in the top ten
http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090203/LIFE09/902030348
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
Congratulations Al. Are you bringing that bambino to Nomad on 10/17?
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
That was the first and only pizza I had the first ten years of my life. I grew up a block from there and just moved back to the area last year. Just had a baby boy friday night and can't wait till he can eat pizza!! I work in Union and keep hearing about Spirito's.. I'll hit it up in the next week or two.. I'll let you know how it goes..
Ciao
Al
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
I loved their bar style pies Al. I even took a frozen one home. And their old school atmosphere was very cool. It reminded me of Stan's Chitch's in Bound Brook. I wish I had checked the place out long ago. My favorite old time place is Spirito's in Elizabeth. The have very good bar pies, but I go there for their off the hook creamy home made ravioli. And I'm very glad Scott liked my pies. We had a great time. Keep an eye out for www.31daysofpizza.com Day 3 for further details.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
Paulie Gee
well what did you think of that pizza? Scott told me you were making some great pies tonight!
al
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
@pizzalove I'm about to try a cheese pie at Deluca's. Reminds me of Stan's Chitch's in Bound Brook or the old Coal burner in Perth Amboy, Sciorentino's. I'll tweet pie shot shortly. To check the place out I used the excuse that I wanted to go to Kohl's in Hillsborough to take advantage of the 30% off coupon I have. I gotta get a new tablecloth for the National Pizza Month tasting I'm having tomorrow with none other than Mr. 31 Days of Pizza himself Sean Taylor and the lovely Robin Rothman. With bonus attendance by scottspizzatour and surprise guest. This pie's takin' a long friggin' time.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
Not the Al from last night. At Nomad now. The place in raritan is no slice joint. Ask scott from scotts pizza tour about the pizza.
Talk to you soon
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
@pizzalove Now I'm confused. You are not the same Al who was there last night are you?
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
I'm not familiar with Deluca's. It's a very short drive from my house. If there wasn't so much traffic at the Somerville Circle I'd hit them up for a slice on the way home. I'll get there soon. I went looking for your Somerset County Pizza Patrol review to see what you said about the place, I couldn't find it. BTW, are you joining us on the 17th?
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
Ever try Deluca's pizza on first ave in Raritan? One of the best in the entire state. It is like Al Santillo's but better..
Hope to catch up with you soon..
Al
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
I was there last night. Too bad my timing wasn't better. I must had just missed you, realhound. And Sorry I can't go back tonight. I did have the unexpected pleasure of running into Serious Eats contributor Tam and her entourage as those of you who follow Slice on Twitter already know. We are fast turning that place into a Slice slum. They might as well turn the keys over to us by the time we arrive there on the 17th. I think their success is testimony to the lack of quality pizza in Central New Jersey.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
Paulie Gee,
Sorry it took a few days.
I'm in Bridgewater. I'm making a return trip to nomad tonight.
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
Made it to Nomad this evening; got there three minutes before 5, but the staff was welcoming and the late afternoon light streamed in, making the whole interior golden and accenting the beautiful blue of the oven tiles.
By a few minutes after 5, at least a third of the 50 or so seats had been taken, including many at the long communal table that takes up most of the center of the small room. The wind was brisk and only one diner opted to sit at an outside table during the time we were there... space is going to be a challenge as the pizza world beats a path to Nomad's door!
The herb garden and fountain visible from the windows are still vibrant and green and truly add to the feeling of being in a very special place.
The pizzas are nothing less than transcendent... being already familiar with Simply Grazin's excellent pork, I had the spicy sausage pie, in which the tomatoes, caramelized onions and meat married perfectly and in balance with the sublime crust.
No need to look to NY anymore, Jersey pizzaphiles!
Video: 'Naturally Risen' a Fitting Epitaph for Una Pizza Napoletana
@BKNY64 Are you sure that wasn't Tony Gemignani's place? 'Tony's Pizza Napoletana'?
Video: 'Naturally Risen' a Fitting Epitaph for Una Pizza Napoletana
@paulie gee That makes 2 of us
Video: 'Naturally Risen' a Fitting Epitaph for Una Pizza Napoletana
@BKNY64 I don't think so.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Video: 'Naturally Risen' a Fitting Epitaph for Una Pizza Napoletana
That was amazing, yet bittersweet.
My buddy drove by his new place in SF last week and said there was a line of people outside waiting to get in.
Video: 'Naturally Risen' a Fitting Epitaph for Una Pizza Napoletana
such an excellent film.
what happened to him, did he end up going to SF?
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
I know the feeling Al. I'm tempted to head there tonight. What town are you in, BTW?
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
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About ScottWiener
Website: http://www.scottspizzatours.com
Location:
About: I love pizza. I run a New York pizza tour company that takes passengers on a big yellow school bus to four top pizzerias every Sunday.
Favorite foods: sandwiches, chocolate, corned beef, sloppy joes (NJ style), pizza, cake, cookies
Last bite on earth: 7-layer chocolate mousse cake
I feel kind of dirty after watching that. And yes, Paulie Gee, it did make me cry.