PrintOld Forge, Pennsylvania: The Pizza Capital of the World
A nice little story on CNN about Old Forge, Pennsylvania, and its claim on being the "Pizza Capital of the World":
We head out of Scranton, Pennsylvania, toward Old Forge, population approximately 10,000. In about 10 minutes we're driving down Main Street. I start counting the pizza cafés, as they call them here: Rinaldi's, Brutico's, Arcaro & Genell's, Anthony's, Ghigiarelli's -- 11 on this street alone. Within just a few blocks, there are at least nine more. Even the florist on Main Street is called "Pizzazz."
With a population of 8,798 (June 2006), that's like one pizzeria for every 800 residents. In contrast, New York City (pop. 8,274,527; 2006 census), if you go by the oft-cited 3,000-some pizzerias estimate, would have one pizzeria for every 2,758 residents.
The story still doesn't answer the burning question: What exactly is Old Forge–style pizza? I think there needs to be a Slice field trip.
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10 Comments:
Seems like this is a pretty good explanation:
http://www.stephencooks.com/2005/10/old_forge_white.html
jamesben4 at 2:57PM on 03/26/08
Thanks, Jamesben4! Alaina here in the Slice/Serious Eats offices just reminded me of this one, too:
http://slice.seriouseats.com/archives/2008/01/a-list-of-regional-pizza-styles.html#99926
Adam Kuban at 3:10PM on 03/26/08
It has onions in it. It's different, but isn't bad. It's also sold in, like, half slices.
danielhall at 3:37PM on 03/26/08
I used to live one town over, in Taylor, PA. Hated Old-Forge style pizza and was glad to get back to upstate New York where I could get something better. Still searching for great pizza now that I'm here in San Francisco...
Captainfirst at 12:53AM on 03/27/08
I've heard its the greatest pizza ever. yeah yeah... but I still want to find out. I heard word from some old forge aficionados that teh places to go are "arcaro & genell" and Revellos. My next trip upstate I am going on an old forge food adventure.
jeffsayyes at 5:49PM on 03/29/08
Having eaten it more times than I care to remember, I would warn you that Old Forge pizza is basically Elio's Frozen Pizza. It has at least 3 cheese, including some yellow (american? velveeta? cheddar?) cheese mixed in. It's usually crustless and is served on plastic McDonalds-type trays.
Don't waste your time!
madonofrio at 5:57PM on 03/30/08
^ Ellios = Old Forge Pizza? What did you do for a living? Fire eater? Do you have any taste buds left? The Wyoming Valle which contains the town of Old Forge, host some of the best pizza in the country . I've had pizza in NYC, NJ, Md. Fla. Ca. Nothing comes close. Its not only the square pizza thats great around here we also have the most variety of round pizza. I have friends and relatives all over this country and they all tell me theres nothing like our pizza. Anyone that says contrary are far and few between. Don't take ^ post serious as he must have a pizza shop in NYC.
ou8it at 9:13PM on 04/02/08
Adam- I went last year. You and ed have to investigate. see my report from last august. www.chowhound.com/topics/305174
guttergour at 6:39PM on 04/05/08
I've had Old Forge Pizza before --- you need to go to the right places. Try Old Forge Pizza Express --- they're new but I had it the last time I was in town and it was fantastic. They sell it as a take and bake so you can make it in your home --- nothing like a hot pizza coming out of your oven.
chachi at 10:56PM on 04/05/08
I am researching a paper on Pennsylvania pizzerias inspired by an article I found linked from Slice:
http://www.thetimes-tribune.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15036038&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=418218&rfi=6
I assume--but have not confirmed--that the state's oldest pizzerias are in Philly and Pittsburgh. However, outside these metropolitan areas, my sifting through old city directories in the State Library showed that Hazleton appears to have some of the earliest pizzerias. The three listed in 1948 (under bakeries, not restaurants) are Petruzzi's Home Delivery Pizzeria, Neapolitan Pizzeria and Tas-tee Pizzeria.
brix11 at 11:20PM on 04/09/08