passion4pizza’s Profile
Recent Comments
Dear Slice: 'Barring Di Fara, Where Should I Go for Pizza on My NYC Visit?'
I'd have to agree with Sean. The DiFara experience is worth the trip. DiFara's probably isn't my favorite pizza (here I go - not succumbing to 'groupthink'), but Dom is probably my favorite pizzaiolo.
And when you tell people you had pizza in New York and someone raises the eyebrow and asks, "but did you go to DiFara?" your response can be a Gary-Cooperish "yup."
Pizza Bike Ride This Sunday to Di Fara, L&B Spumoni Gardens
@pizzaexpert: Sorry, dude. That title goes to my Lillian.
Adam - you look so eye-talian in that pic!
Sorry we won't be able to do this ride, but maybe in the Spring?
And while we're on the subject of pizza in Brooklyn, has there been any word on Totonno's reopening? Although I'd be reticent to ride a bike into Coney Island.
Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'
We're pretty much with you, Adam. I like Sally's best overall, Lil digs Modern's tomato pie, but Sally's mozz. We agree that Pepe's is third. Still, we'd be happy with any of the three on any given day.
See more comments by passion4pizza »
Recent Posts
passion4pizza hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
passion4pizza hasn't favorited a post yet.
Recent Polls
passion4pizza hasn't answered any polls yet.
Recent Quizzes
passion4pizza hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Pizza Madness 2009: Los Angeles — Pizzeria Mozza and Antica Pizzeria
Thank you, thank you for this review! Lil and I will be living in Huntington Beach, CA for the month of January, and even though Antica is about an hour away and Mozza even more, I really needed to know that we'll be able to find some decent pizza somewhere. When we lived in L.A. in the eighties, there was nada.
We should probably hook up with pizzafreak and L.A. Pizza Maven before we travel...
Dear Slice: 'Barring Di Fara, Where Should I Go for Pizza on My NYC Visit?'
I'd have to agree with Sean. The DiFara experience is worth the trip. DiFara's probably isn't my favorite pizza (here I go - not succumbing to 'groupthink'), but Dom is probably my favorite pizzaiolo.
And when you tell people you had pizza in New York and someone raises the eyebrow and asks, "but did you go to DiFara?" your response can be a Gary-Cooperish "yup."
Pizza Bike Ride This Sunday to Di Fara, L&B Spumoni Gardens
@pizzaexpert: Sorry, dude. That title goes to my Lillian.
Adam - you look so eye-talian in that pic!
Sorry we won't be able to do this ride, but maybe in the Spring?
And while we're on the subject of pizza in Brooklyn, has there been any word on Totonno's reopening? Although I'd be reticent to ride a bike into Coney Island.
Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'
We're pretty much with you, Adam. I like Sally's best overall, Lil digs Modern's tomato pie, but Sally's mozz. We agree that Pepe's is third. Still, we'd be happy with any of the three on any given day.
In Which I Find Margherita Pizzas Boring
One of the few benefits of living on LawnGuyland is we can get enough soil to grow basil the proper way.
@pizzablogger: I had to stare at GMAFB for a full thirty seconds before its meaning came to me. I've been out of Brooklyn too long.
In Which I Find Margherita Pizzas Boring
Pizzablogger:
Have you ever played opera to your basil plants or talked to your dough late in the evening? What an effing mess this all is!
Should we start calling you "The Yeast Whisperer?"
-Cary
In Which I Find Margherita Pizzas Boring
Wow, Adam; possibly the best post I've read on Slice from an honest journalism/courage point of view. Bravo.
Of course I don't agree with everything (I'm no fan of toppings in general), and like many who are commenting, I think you're at some level of pizza overload, but most of what you say is spot on.
Having said that, what you've written makes me more eager than ever to taste the Rosa pizza at Chris Bianco's - which will be next month - Lil and I will be doing a cross country motor-home pizza tour!
Openings: Paulie Gee's, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Paulie, we are excited beyond belief at this news! MAZEL TOV!
Ohboy - we'll finally get to taste those Paulie Gee pizzas, and without going to Joisey...
Hope you can open up before December - Lil and I are going to the west coast for December and January. Either way, Greenpoint Avenue is on our agenda, and we expect to be regulars.
Village Voice Responds to the Slice 'Flame'
@foolishpoolish: I agree with you completely -- I generally think that VPN is (at best) a heritage museum. Still, it's worthy of note that Pace and his group want to do preservation work. And if I had to choose between a VPN approved pizzeria and Pizza Hut... I'd probably go for the VPN shop.
Village Voice Responds to the Slice 'Flame'
Just to throw another log on this wood-fired commentary, here's a link to the VPN's official Pizza Discipline, also available at our VPN page.
Just thought, if we're gonna talk about "real" Neapolitan pizza, we should refer to the extremists' documentation...
October 13, 2009: Slice's Six-Year Anniversary
Happy Birthday to Slice! Even though you're our second-favorite pizza site, you rule. Looking forward to dancing at your PizzaBarMitzvah in seven more years!
When Is Totonno's Opening? New Projected Date Is Now November
I hope they open before the 20th, so we can celebrate my birthday there... I can't think of a place I'd rather go!
Poor Lawrence - if we didn't keep asking he wouldn't have to keep revising the date...
Jim Leff on an Old-School Slice in Waterbury, Connecticut
1972 - the year I graduated high school... and a great year for pizza. That year it was either Rocco's on Brighton Beach Avenue or Johnny's on Kings Highway & McDonald Ave, or, of course, L&B Spumoni Gahhden! In the seventies, it seemed like all the music sucked and all the pizza was perfect.
Lil and I generally avoid Waterbury, but we may have to go now...
Openings: Nomad Pizza Co., Hopewell, New Jersey
Gentlemen, Lillian and I would like to join you. Paulie, what Saturday night are we talking about? At this point, our only Jersey pizza experience is still DeLorenzo's in Trenton, and good as that was, we need to taste NOMAD and we'd love to do it with other Slicers.
So when are we goin?
If I Could Only Eat at One NYC Pizzeria (Other Than Di Fara), What Would It Be?
@engmcmuffin: Nope, a grandma slice is not the same as a sicilian slice. If I say so myself, we described the difference pretty well at this link...
@pauliegee and mike: for some reason, I have been thinking about New Park since I saw this post in the first place. I've gotta go there really soon... :)
If I Could Only Eat at One NYC Pizzeria (Other Than Di Fara), What Would It Be?
@Sloppy and EngMc: Have I been out of Brooklyn too long? When did L&B start serving Grandma's?
Tony's Pizza Napoletana, San Francisco
While I agree with both of you on the pizza-tossing, didn't Gemigniani also win competitions in Naples for pizza making?
We're pretty eager to get out to SF and taste the pizza... especially after our disappointment at not getting to eat at Cheeseboard (they were closed for vacation) last time we were in Berkeley!
When Is Totonno's Opening? New Projected Date Is Late September, Early October
I went to high school in the neighborhood... now I only go to Coney Island after the season. The pizza is still great, and no crowds! Although I always loved the Cyclone.
Whenever Totonno's opens, why don't a bunch of us pick a time to meet out there?
Lil and are are still kicking ourselves over being too late to sign up for "Pieman's Craft" two years in a row... Somebody please let us know if there's a cancellation...
Leftovers: The Day's Stray Links
Oh my god, that is one bad-looking pizza. And if my appetite wasn't gone because of the picture, pizzablogger's description certainly took it the rest of the way!
Lapp, I can't believe you ate that. Talk about taking one for the team...
Cary
Dear Slice: Have You Even Fallen Off the Pizza Horse?
Of course, we've eaten some baaaad pizza, but Lil takes it in stride, and I laugh.
"Another slice of pizza in America..."
10 Perfect Pizzas
Lil and I tried Collosseo some months ago and really liked several of their pizzas. I'm not sure of the etiquette of putting a link here, but if you want to see the review, it's here: http://www.passion-4-pizza.com/colosseo.html.
Is Gianluca Holding Out on Us?
@Gianluca: Not to get too far off topic, but Mexican CocaCola (and, I believe, Italian Coke) uses sugar rather than high-fructose corn syrup, which is much more pleasant. Kosher-for-Passover Coke too (big difference from CocaCola the rest of the year). I was very tempted to have an O'Doul's (non-alcoholic beer) at Sally's Apizza last week (beer & pizza on a hot day still sounds good after 20 alcohol-free years).
@Pizzablogger: Pellegrino is a great choice; either the Limonata or the plain. We used to buy cases of it at Costco, but haven't lately. We'll get some before we make more pizza. Also wondering how the Jarritos tamarind soda would work...
Is Gianluca Holding Out on Us?
So what's the best pizza beverage for those of us who don't imbibe alcohol (neither Lil nor I do)?
A recent piece mentioned Pennsylvania Dutch root beer - that's pretty good. For something I can actually get my hands on, diet Barq's does nicely -- a nice nose and excellent bouquet!
Video: "Which Way to Paulie Gee's?"
Pizzablogger - nice video work, especially for a first attempt! Watched it twice, then I had to eat.
Paulie Gee - I am practicing the patience you recently counseled, and Lillian tells me that whining wouldn't get us to your house any sooner anyway. It all looks great as usual - and if you do go commercial, we will be there for the opening!
East Harlem Patsy's to Celebrate 76th Anniversary with 60-Cent Pizza, 90-Cent Steak
Hey, we just called ahead -- and we were told that they're not taking reservations for that day! We think they should, given last years fracas... but who are we to say?
Pizza Bike Ride This Sunday to Di Fara, L&B Spumoni Gardens
@famdoc: I'm not the organizer of this ride. It's something I saw on Twitter and then highlighted here on Slice. Not sure how many people are going on it. I think this is sort of a self-organizing, spontaneous, organic happening. I also don't know what the pace will be.
That said, I do know I won't be able to make it. I have a boatload of work to finish tomorrow, have to visit a friend in the hospital, and have developed a "saddle sore" that I have to let rest. :(
Pizza Bike Ride This Sunday to Di Fara, L&B Spumoni Gardens
Weather forecast looks great for Sunday.
Is the ride still on?
How many can we expect?
As a recreational rider, I'd like to keep a comfortable pace, not a racing pace. What do you estimate the entire on-bike time to be?
Pizza Madness 2009: Los Angeles — Pizzeria Mozza and Antica Pizzeria
@egadman: Yeah. For some reason lately, I've been seeing a lot of chatter about the interrobang on Twitter.
Pizza Madness 2009: Los Angeles — Pizzeria Mozza and Antica Pizzeria
interrobang‽ what‽ greatest. punctuation. mark. ever.
Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'
Adam out of respect for the Wooster St legacy I kept Pepe's at #3 because of the respect issue and because there are other pies Like the Clam which are out of this world. But I observed other people cutting into their pies and everyone was having the same issue and looked upset that it was taking so much work to eat their pies.....
the slice when you would pick it up would stay straight that's how tough the actual crust has been coming out of the oven lately at both locations.
I've eaten Pizza in quite a few cities and I've followed the GQ Pizza Article on a few of the Detroit pizzeria's since I have family on my wife's side who live out that way.
I really enjoyed buddy's pizza and actually found photos on my cell phone that I sent in. Way different pizza squares and such....
But back to New Haven, for the health conscious Pizza eater up the road about 4 miles up on Whitney ave in Hamden there is Olde World Pizza they do lo carb and even wheat pizza. It's not coal oven but it's pretty good stuff as well.
I haven't eaten yet at the new Yonkers location or the Mohegan Sun for Pepe's but once they went to 7 days a week and opening up at 11:30am something has changed, you need more staff, different people making the pizza and it's just different at Pepe's right now...
I should send them an email because I'm asked all the time 6'3 300lbs which of the big 5 is the best and I tell anyone depends on what you like on it. Sausage hands down is Zupps...... Modern is bigger in seating capacity, very thin Apizza...But they have won best pizza in the Advocate for the past 7 years....Ballot stuffing who knows..... But everyone I know loves Modern. The one thing I do love in regards to the peperoni used at Sallys and Pepe's is that it's cut off the stick.....It doesn't get any better than that......
Then you have to go down the block on Wooster for Italian Ice at Libby's.
Libby's has a new location in North Haven right down the street from me.
Homemade just awesomeness is all I can say. You want any Italian Cookie or Angel Wings, expresso , etc.....It doesn't get any better than Libby's after throwing down.....
Anyone ever wants to do a Pizza throwdown with a Former/Transplanted New Yorker.....
Just drop me a line.....
Enjoy the weekend and holidays everyone...
Pizza Madness 2009: Los Angeles — Pizzeria Mozza and Antica Pizzeria
Hey, passion4pizza, when youre in LA feel free to contact me for any pizza info...MMMM..i think im goin to Antica right about now!
Pizza Madness 2009: Los Angeles — Pizzeria Mozza and Antica Pizzeria
I also didn't know to get my pizza well-done at Antica. I will have to try that next time. Fanks!
Pizza Madness 2009: Los Angeles — Pizzeria Mozza and Antica Pizzeria
Antica is better than Mozza. It's easer to get into, the atmosphere is far more relaxed and, more importantly, the pizza is better.
Pizza Madness 2009: Los Angeles — Pizzeria Mozza and Antica Pizzeria
Hey AK, it was a blast! A 2 pizzeria day is always special...my pleasure providing the taxi service..youd still be on a bus if you had to get to the Marina from BH...Yeah, that cornicine at Mozza is crazy...and yes, i like the Mozza 2 Go when you have the urge but have no res...
Pizza Madness 2009: Los Angeles — Pizzeria Mozza and Antica Pizzeria
Mozza has got a to go arm now that let's you taste their pizza w/o all the madness and waiting. I think it's the way to go.
Dear Slice: 'Barring Di Fara, Where Should I Go for Pizza on My NYC Visit?'
Thanks everyone for all your great feedback, Josh S. here. I will fully admit that I don't know the difference between Naples and Neapolitan so forgive me if I made things confusing. I had narrowed down the list to these 3 based upon proximity to other items that I will be nearby.
As I had mentioned I just don't think that Di Fara is truly and option for me. With my schedule it looks like the only day I could potentially make it, is Monday and well I know they aren't open on Monday or Tuesday.
Based upon everyones recommendations and comments I think I will be choosing Motorino for my choice of pie. While I am all for history, I will be more certainly impressed with the taste of the pie rather than the history. Depending on a couple of factors I might be able to make it to Lombardi's if anything for comparison and completeness.
Dear Slice: 'Barring Di Fara, Where Should I Go for Pizza on My NYC Visit?'
Sorry, when I made my post about Luzzo's I was under the impression that he was going to three pizzerias, not just one.
If you're going to just one of those three I don't think it is a question, Motorino is the best. Only question is Manhattan/Williamsburg location, idk, has there been any consensus on which is better or are they pretty much the same?
Di Fara is definitely worth the trip but he already said he doesn't have time for that. Although if he did that would be the place to go.
Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'
Wow. Thanks for the great intel, offthemeter. Interesting that Pepe's still comes in at No. 3 even from what you say above. Before I got to your ranking, I expected it to be somewhere after Bar or Zuppardi's. It's now clear we'll have to go back and do Bar and Zuppardi's (and re-try Pepe's).
Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'
I want to chime in since I grew up in New York City and now live 10 minutes from the Big 5 Modern, Sally's Pepe's, Zuppardi's and Bar.
Pepe's the last 3 times in the past 2 months and 1 time at the Spot which is the original Pepe's. Their crust I couldn't even cut it with my knife and it was beyond noticeable. 4 times same Original Location and the same experience it's not a coincidence until I read the other posts on here today.
Sallys sauce when you ask for extra sauce is the sweetest of the bunch. The rudeness factor makes me laugh but my wife refuses to eat there and she's a native and lifer of the area. The issue is they can only squeeze in 10 pies into their oven at a time and they take phone orders if you can get through.
Modern is our favorite out of the Big 5 the Italian Bomb is a hearty pie sausage, pep, bacon, onion, red pepper. I'm a Pepperoni guy that's all I need and sometimes just good old Sauce and Grated does me fine as well.
Bar Pizza is made by someone who used to work at Sally's so that's why it gets high marks as a sleeper pizza. I've only had pepperoni and cheese and it was pretty good.
Zuppardi's in West Haven...Their sausage Pie is really good not Coal Oven though and the decor is very old school.... Gives it Character.
1.Modern
2.Sally's
3.Pepe's
4. Zups
5. Bar
Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'
"My experience is also that Pepe's is much more variable than it was when the previous generation was running it and before its expansion, but I have had some remarkably good pizza there recently...."
IMO, I strongly feel that product AND consistency is what makes a great pizzeria. Most pizzerias, either because of lack of ingredient quality, lack of skill sets by the pizzamakers and/or lack of passion are not even capable of making a great pizza to begin with.
A "great" pizzeria is capable of making a great pizza and is driven to get as close to that greatness as often as possible.....which is most of the time.
It sounds like Pepe's is in the process of falling, or has already fallen from greatness, even if it can still crank out a great pizza from time to time. That's really sad to this pizza lover and a situation that hopefully will right itself sooner than later.
Adam, the pic of the Sally's pizzas look delicious BTW. I need to get to New Haven ASAP! --K
Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'
@gustoct: Point noted. I'll have to try Pepe's next time I'm in New Haven to see how the crust fares again. Now that I know how easy/quick it is to get to with a Zipcar, that should be soon.
Just called to verify with Zuppardi's Apizza: They use a gas-fired oven. No coal.
Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'
As a New Haven whose exposure goes back 47 years and who simply won't put up with the treatment at Sally's, I have mainly frequented Pepe's with occasional detours at Modern (as well as other places not as good and some really great ones, alas no longer with us). My experience is also that Pepe's is much more variable than it was when the previous generation was running it and before its expansion, but I have had some remarkably good pizza there recently and disagree with Ed's verdict (of course, I didn't have the pies he had). You get superb pizza more often than not and I haven't had a BAD one. My experience with the Fairfield location has actually been quite good, but I haven't tried the others.
I'll have to try Zuppardi's in West Havenm. Do they have a coal oven?
When Is Totonno's Opening? New Projected Date Is Now November
12 days left in the month
Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'
@jwardell: Went to the Pepe's on Wooster. The big one, not The Spot. We ordered a clam pie and a sausage/mozzarella pie. My main complaint was with the ABSOLUTE TOUGHNESS of the crust. OMG. Jawache after trying a slice of each. Even if it had the most flavorful plain sauce/grated cheese, I'd still have an issue with the crust. Tell me how ordering a plain pie is going to change the crust situation and I may reconsider my assessment on further review.
Dear Slice: 'Heading to NYC, and Pepe's in New Haven'
How can you diss Pepes when you didn't order a plainchees pie to compare it to the others?
I also wonder if you wen to one of its satellite locations which of course are nowhere near the original.
Also head into Reginas in boston (again, the original north end location), get a plain cheese well done.
Openings: Paulie Gee's, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Say for you Cincinnatus.
Thanks,
Paulie Gee
Openings: Paulie Gee's, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Thanks very much for the kind word and support Za Man. I'm lookin' forward to having you stop in.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
Openings: Paulie Gee's, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
good luck paulie i have followed you on slice and flicker . the pictures of the pizzerias you visit are sensational. you are going to do great, i am looking forward to your opening. you can make a living and maintain the love of your craft. keep it simple and honest the public will get it .
In Which I Find Margherita Pizzas Boring
Too much talk, just eat your favorite pizza and enjoy.
Recent Posts
passion4pizza hasn't written a post yet.
Recent Favorites
passion4pizza hasn't favorited a post yet.
Polls
passion4pizza hasn't answered any polls yet.
Quizzes
passion4pizza hasn't taken any quizzes yet.
About passion4pizza
Website: http://www.passion-4-pizza.com
Location: Long Island
About: Pizza fans and webhosts of passion-4-pizza.com
Favorite foods: Pizza
Last bite on earth: Probably Totonno's, or Umberto's grandma pizza
Thank you, thank you for this review! Lil and I will be living in Huntington Beach, CA for the month of January, and even though Antica is about an hour away and Mozza even more, I really needed to know that we'll be able to find some decent pizza somewhere. When we lived in L.A. in the eighties, there was nada.
We should probably hook up with pizzafreak and L.A. Pizza Maven before we travel...