Kimchee Pizza

Posted by Adam Kuban, July 22, 2004 at 11:47 AM

Queens: Home to some great pizza and also to a bunch of different folks from around the globe. Mix the two, and it's only a matter of time before something like kimchee pizza is invented. From the Bayside News:

[Tony] Sala has owned [T.J.’s Pizzeria & Restaurant] at 136-99 Roosevelt Ave. for 15 years. In that time, the neighborhood has shifted from being home to predominantly European immigrants to becoming a Korean and Chinese hub.

To adapt, Sala took a suggestion 12 years ago from the Korean doctor who delivered two of his six children.

“When he heard I had a pizzeria in Flushing, he recommended I sell kim-chee pizza,” Sala said. “I was doing all right, but it helped me do better. Everything helps these days.”

With spicy Korean pickled cabbage on top of a traditional cheese slice, Sala invented a pizza that mixes traditional Italian essence with the robust, fiery flavor of kim-chee.

Since then he has began experimenting with Chinese recipes for his pizzas. His business adviser, James Wu, said the chefs are working on a beef and broccoli recipe. But until it is perfected, Sala remained mum about the future of his ethnic pizza concoctions.

In the past, we've come out squarely against putting pineapples on pizza, but this kimchee pizza thing sounds interesting. Might be worth a visit when we hit up Queens for a Pakistani-pizza story we have planned.

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T.J.'s PIZZERIA & RESTAURANT
Location: 136-99 Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing NY

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Tags: Oddities