... I talked with Ted Fisher [owner of A to Z Produce farm] briefly while he was making pizzas, and he explained that they try to grow and raise everything in the pizza on the premises. Everything from the wheat in the dough to the animals that produced the cheese to the fresh peppers are all within a short reach of the outdoor wood-fired brick oven they built themselves.
They had a surprising amount of pizza options written on a chalk board such as “stinging nettles with shallots cooked in cream, Parmesan, mozzarella” and “Italian sausage (happy pigs), kalamata olives, red onion, fresh mozzarella.” ...
I actually think it doesn't look too bad. the whole "fresh" concept is very appealing to me. Fresh mozzarella, parmesan, wheat from the farm. Sounds good to me...maybe I missed something...
So...do you guys even like pizza? Because - and forgive me for being a pizza "purist" (mwuah-ha-ha) - I think it's more important that the pizza tastes great rather than looks good. It's a place to eat pizza (and an interesting, novel one at that). Not an art museum.
But, for the record, I think this picture does an amazing job of depicting how amazing and generous the ingredients are.
Remember where you're posting. In the mind of most commenters here on Slice this pizza's biggest sin is it's not made in New York. They'll never accept a pie from anywhere else can be good!
Pizza is a beautiful thing because of both its taste and its form, which should be balanced and harmonious. This is especially true in the case of the margherita pizza (really just some bread with a pinch of tomato and a pinch of mozzarella, how boring!) where the ingredients must be in perfect balance to create the proper flavor, appearance, and eating experience. The pictured pizza is completely overloaded with cheese and other stuff, and instead of displaying a nice pattern of white and charred regions, the crust is an unappealing even-brown color. The best pizzas I've ever had came out of my oven. It is it not located in New York.
No, pizza is a beautiful thing because it's delicious. These folks aren't claiming Verace Pizza Napoletana certification. They're providing incredibly fresh ingredients and making pizza. On a farm. In the Midwest.
If you want to complain about the bastardization of pizza, go look up Domino's. Not a family farm that provides what looks to be delicious pizza in an incredibly green and sustainable way.
Ah, greenwashing... nothing fresh or "sustainable" can ever do wrong. Instead, let's just change the subject to Domino's, which has absolutely nothing to do with the thread.
What is wrong with some people? I think this is pretty damn cool -- the family obviously cares about pizza (enough to build a brick oven) and the ingredients are as fresh as possible. It sounds like it would be a real pleasure to sit outside and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Yes, that one looks a little cheese heavy but no one is claiming that this is the next Bianco.
I never cease to be amazed by the odd things that get people worked up online.
To add to my earlier post, when I say it "doesn't look good" I mean that there is too much cheese for this pizza to be balanced from a taste standpoint. I don't care if the pizza is perfectly formed. Case in point: my favorite pizza is Pepe's in New Haven, CT, which makes assemetrical and oblonged shaped pizzas. But the above picture leads me to believe that the pizza is unbalanced and would thus not be a great pizza.
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Sounds like this pizza in Wisconsin is probably the freshest pizza you'll ever eat:
17 Comments:
Looks like more of a mess than a margherita pizza.
Luther at 10:26PM on 04/30/08
It does indeed look unappetizing, particularly in a farm context.
redfish at 10:45PM on 04/30/08
I like the idea, but the pizza itself looks like it needs some work.
JBarry713 at 11:47PM on 04/30/08
I actually think it doesn't look too bad. the whole "fresh" concept is very appealing to me. Fresh mozzarella, parmesan, wheat from the farm. Sounds good to me...maybe I missed something...
luswim06 at 11:49PM on 04/30/08
So...do you guys even like pizza? Because - and forgive me for being a pizza "purist" (mwuah-ha-ha) - I think it's more important that the pizza tastes great rather than looks good. It's a place to eat pizza (and an interesting, novel one at that). Not an art museum.
But, for the record, I think this picture does an amazing job of depicting how amazing and generous the ingredients are.
Amberistheawesomest at 12:02AM on 05/01/08
Amberistheawesomest:
Remember where you're posting. In the mind of most commenters here on Slice this pizza's biggest sin is it's not made in New York. They'll never accept a pie from anywhere else can be good!
deeoh1 at 7:57AM on 05/01/08
@deeoh1: That's not entirely true. There are a number of pizzerias outside New York that get the nod.
@Amberistheawesomest: I think you're right re: the "art museum" comment. I don't think the pizza above looks that bad.
Adam Kuban at 9:05AM on 05/01/08
Pizza is a beautiful thing because of both its taste and its form, which should be balanced and harmonious. This is especially true in the case of the margherita pizza (really just some bread with a pinch of tomato and a pinch of mozzarella, how boring!) where the ingredients must be in perfect balance to create the proper flavor, appearance, and eating experience. The pictured pizza is completely overloaded with cheese and other stuff, and instead of displaying a nice pattern of white and charred regions, the crust is an unappealing even-brown color. The best pizzas I've ever had came out of my oven. It is it not located in New York.
Luther at 9:59AM on 05/01/08
No, pizza is a beautiful thing because it's delicious. These folks aren't claiming Verace Pizza Napoletana certification. They're providing incredibly fresh ingredients and making pizza. On a farm. In the Midwest.
If you want to complain about the bastardization of pizza, go look up Domino's. Not a family farm that provides what looks to be delicious pizza in an incredibly green and sustainable way.
Richg at 11:34AM on 05/01/08
Ah, greenwashing... nothing fresh or "sustainable" can ever do wrong. Instead, let's just change the subject to Domino's, which has absolutely nothing to do with the thread.
Luther at 11:42AM on 05/01/08
Too much cheese but the crust actually looks pretty good.
bobbob at 11:58AM on 05/01/08
@bobbob: "Too much cheese" is not enough in Wisconsin!
Adam Kuban at 12:16PM on 05/01/08
What is wrong with some people? I think this is pretty damn cool -- the family obviously cares about pizza (enough to build a brick oven) and the ingredients are as fresh as possible. It sounds like it would be a real pleasure to sit outside and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Yes, that one looks a little cheese heavy but no one is claiming that this is the next Bianco.
I never cease to be amazed by the odd things that get people worked up online.
sloppy at 2:55PM on 05/01/08
I'm with you, Sloppy.
Adam Kuban at 3:38PM on 05/01/08
It's made with love. That's all I need.
Haters sit down!
Prairie at 3:59PM on 05/01/08
Three words: Food Eating Contest.
fritesandfries at 12:34PM on 05/02/08
To add to my earlier post, when I say it "doesn't look good" I mean that there is too much cheese for this pizza to be balanced from a taste standpoint. I don't care if the pizza is perfectly formed. Case in point: my favorite pizza is Pepe's in New Haven, CT, which makes assemetrical and oblonged shaped pizzas. But the above picture leads me to believe that the pizza is unbalanced and would thus not be a great pizza.
JBarry713 at 8:00PM on 05/02/08