Hey guys lets talk PIZZA!!! In case you haven't heard, NYC is known for some of the best pizza spots around (it must be the water). To keep this "story" short and sweet, I am going to recommend 3 "Must Try" Pizzerias in Brooklyn for Neapolitan style pies. What is a Neapolitan pizza you ask? Great question.
Neapolitan Pizza's main ingredients include:
- Pizza Dough- Type O or OO tender wheat flour, Natural yeast, Sour dough, or Brewer's yeast, Sea Salt, & Water
- Tomatoes-San Marzano (grown on the volcanic plains to the south of Mount Vesuvius)
- Mozzarella- Bufala Campana (Made with the milk from water buffalo raised in the marshlands of Campania & Lazio in a semi-wild state)
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Toppings (Optional)
Note: The pizza must be baked 60-90 seconds in a 485C (905F) stone oven with oak-wood fire
Enough Yapping, let's get to it. 1st on the list is a local favorite of mine right in Greenpoint called Paulie Gee's. Once you enter the barn style wooden doors, you enter a rustic and quaint environment that makes you reminisce of the good old days. Your eyes will immediately be drawn to their beautiful wood-fired forno oven from Naples.
The man in the hat is the owner Paulie. He can be seen kneading the dough or walking around and talking to all of the customers to make sure that they are enjoying their food.
A must try pie there is the "Hellboy." This pie has fresh mozzarella, Italian tomatoes, Parmigiano Reggiano, Berkshire Soprressata Picante, and "Mike's Hot Honey." This pie has savory and sweetness all packed into one.
2nd on the list is a Brooklyn classic found in the Coney Island section of Brooklyn near the Atlantic Ocean...Totonno's.
Totonno's has been serving the Coney Island area since 1924 and is now in its 3rd generation of a being a family owned business. They serve only pies made fresh from the very best ingredients. Their coal oven imparts a peppery charred note with a crunchy crust. Pair it with a local Brooklyn Lager and you are in for a real treat.
Shown above is the Tottono Margarita Pie...a true "classic."
3rd on the list is Juliana's found in the Downtown Brooklyn area on Old Fulton Street...the same block as the famous Grimaldi's located near the Brooklyn Bridge. Juliana's is now located where the original Grimaldi's was located. Patsy Grimaldi wanted to retire and sold the name of the pizzeria. The new Grimaldi owners wanted more room and moved right next door. Then is was franchised out. Patsy Grimaldi wanted to get out of retirement and start working again, but the Grimaldi name was unavailable so Julian's opened in the original location of Grimaldi's. Confused yet?...
As you can see Juliana's pies are meant for great toppings. The meatballs are made in-house and make for an excellent topping on this Neapolitan pie. The pictures don't really do it justice...you have to go out and try it for yourself.
Well, I hope you enjoyed learning about some Brooklyn Neapolitan Pizzerias. This is only a small list. New places are constantly opening up in "Hip" Brooklyn and it's hard to keep up. Expect long lines for each of the places I mentioned, but I promise it will be worth the wait. Until next time...Mangia!