New Haven-style pizza, locally known as apizza (, from Neapolitan 'a pizza (IPA: [? 'pit?s(?)]) "the pizza"), is a style of Neapolitan pizza common in and around New Haven, Connecticut. It originated at the Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana and is now served in many other pizza restaurants in the area, most notably Sally's Apizza and Modern Apizza. This geographically limited pizza style has been favorably referenced by national critics.
Video New Haven-style pizza
Characteristics
In a New Haven-style pizzeria, a "plain" pizza is crust, oregano, and tomato sauce with a little bit of grated pecorino romano cheese sprinkled on and does not include Mozzarella. A "plain" New Haven style pizza may also be called a "tomato pie". Mozzarella is considered to be a topping; a customer who wants it must ask for it.
Pepe invented the "white clam pie." Pepe's restaurant used to serve littleneck clams on the half shell at the bar which he eventually decided to put on the pizza. The white clam pie is crust, olive oil, oregano, grated cheese, chopped garlic, and fresh littleneck clams.
What makes New Haven style pizza distinct is its thin, oblong crust, characteristic charring, chewy texture, and limited use of melting cheeses. It tends to be drier and thinner than, but closely related to, traditional New York style pizza. Both styles in turn are close descendants of the original Neapolitan style.
Maps New Haven-style pizza
Cooking and serving methods
New Haven-style pizza is traditionally baked in a coal-fired oven at extremely hot temperatures in excess of 650 °F and is sold whole rather than by the slice.
Availability
Although most commonly available in the New Haven area, New Haven-style pizza has begun to spread to other parts of Connecticut. It has been available in the Italian-American areas of Bridgeport, and other shoreline communities for many years. It is beginning to be served in areas typically not known for large Italian-American populations, including towns in northern and central Connecticut as well as farther away in Hood River, Oregon, Washington, DC, Chicago, Illinois, San Diego, California, West Chester, Pennsylvania, Key West, Florida, Austin, Texas, Farmington Hills, Michigan, Cedar Rapids, IA, Cincinnati, Ohio, San Pedro, Belize , and Tokyo, Japan.
Notable establishments
- Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana
- Modern Apizza
- Sally's Apizza
See also
- Pizza in the United States
- Food portal
References
Further reading
- Shelton, Jim (July 21, 2002). "You say Sally's, I say Pepe's." New Haven Register. Accessed November 2012.
Source of article : Wikipedia