Where: Una Pizza Napoletana, 349 East 12th Street, New York NY 10003 (at First Ave.; map) When: 3 p.m., October 11, 2008 (Saturday) Cost: $85 a ticket (available here)
Attention all serious eaters and pizza fanatics: On October 11, Slice founder Adam Kuban and I are going to be hosting a Serious Eats–Slice pizza-tasting and discussion with Anthony Mangieri at Una Pizza Napoletana. This pizza event is a fund-raising benefit and is part of the New York City Wine & Food Festival.
We're going to talk and eat pizza with Mangieri, surely one of the country's great pizzaioli. There will also be coal-fired brick-oven pizza from Totonno's as well as regular gas-oven New York slices to compare and contrast with Mangieri's Neapolitan-style pizza, along with wine, beer, and chocolate.
Bo, I've paid plenty of attention. Mangieri treats all his customers differently. When I got a pizza from him, it had 4 cherry tomatoes on it and he must have not been looking when he put the olive oil on the pizza. When a food critic takes a picture, he gets about 12 to 15. Also, we watched him conveniently serve his friends right away before 5 tables that were seated 20 minutes before them. This is not a coincidence. Go read the customer reviews on an website and you see the same thing. He's got 2 levels of customers, food critics and friends, and then everybody else. Everybody else gets a half assed product while the people that matter to him get his best product. I don't doubt that Mangieri has the ability to make a great pie. He just chooses only to make it for people he likes or people that are going to write an article about him.
I admit I am biased because I have known Anthony ever since I had his pizza in south Jersey, but I know many people who don't know Anthony who love the pizza at Una Pizza Napoletana. I have never counted the cherry tomatoes on my al fileto pizza, but I do find it hard to believe that he skimps on the cherry tomatoes depending on whether he knows you or not.
Anyway, I hope, benlee, that you come to the event.
sorry Ed, I won't be there. I bought your book and it was great. I've used it to seek out some real gems in the tri-state area. My personal favorite is Delorenzo's. My sister lives near Una Pizza Napoletana. But whenever I'm visiting, I prefer Luzzos. Keep up the good work. You are one of my favorite food critics out there.
well, I can't account for other peoples taste in pizza. I guess that's one of the great things about pizza: a great pie is defined differently by each individual's own experiences. I can however speak for myself: Pizza is my favorite food and Mr. Mangieri makes the best pizza I've ever had. For me, it completely redefined what I knew as pizza. I got my tickets the first night I saw them out and I'm really excited about the lunch. When it was first announced that it was being held on a thrusday, I bought the tickets fully understanding I was going to be calling out sick that day. It being held on a Saturday just makes it that much better. Good food, good cause, grab the tickets while they last.
I am SO there. I think some good comparisons for discussion might be Luzzo's from around the corner. Also a round and square pie from Artichoke on 14th street might make for an interesting conversation.
I'm coming up from DC for this. I've been to Una and enjoyed it but not sure it's twice as good (as priced) as others. But I love a good pie and think this will be fun. See you there.
Would be cool to meet you guys, but I'm out of town.
Honestly, I wasn't happy at Una. The margharita didn't really taste- top of the line ingredients or not. It's weird, but I've got to say that whatever I could get at Una, I could probably get better at No.28.
I feel like I need to give the place a second chance, though. I need to go with a friend, order two pies, not margaritas, and try to figure this out. Perhaps I like the American style pizza. I could be happy at Patsy's or Sal and Carmine's.
I was a 28 fan for a while, but since Salvatore and his brother Luigi left the pie has gone downhill.. I've since treied Una's Margherita and liked it very much. I wish he offered it with a choice of bufala or my preference, fior di latte. Perhaps on 10/11 he'll make the option available.
Interesting. I haven't been at 28 in 6 months, and the last pie I had was good, better than my outing at Una. Who knows, I'll probably end up giving both of them another go to re-evaulate things.
I have a friend who ate there with me when Salvatore was still there, then he went back a year ago and didn't like it. About a week ago and he called me from the place and said that it was as good as the first time. I went about a month ago and was dissatisfied. Perhaps it's just a consistancy issue. Giving them both a go sounds like an excellent idea.
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18 Comments:
great cause. great location. great people.
hey, why 3 PM? Some of us have to work to pay for out pizza habit.
any chance of a 5 PM start?
famdoc at 8:36PM on 07/14/08
oh lord. i guess i HAVE to come.
Prairie at 12:30AM on 07/15/08
Wow, that sounds totally awesome. But I'm with famdoc... 3pm on a Thursday? I know that's work hours for you guys and this is work... but =P
feistyfoodie at 12:38AM on 07/15/08
Famdoc and feistyfoodie, we had the date wrong in the post. It is Saturday, October 11th. I hope we see you there.
Ed Levine at 6:07AM on 07/15/08
I wonder if I went, if Mangieri would actually put some effort into making the pie. It seems he only makes good pizza when Ed Levine is there.
benlee at 1:00PM on 07/16/08
I think if you went and paid attention, you might learn something about good pizza.
BoRaynolds at 9:31AM on 07/17/08
Bo, I've paid plenty of attention. Mangieri treats all his customers differently. When I got a pizza from him, it had 4 cherry tomatoes on it and he must have not been looking when he put the olive oil on the pizza. When a food critic takes a picture, he gets about 12 to 15. Also, we watched him conveniently serve his friends right away before 5 tables that were seated 20 minutes before them. This is not a coincidence. Go read the customer reviews on an website and you see the same thing. He's got 2 levels of customers, food critics and friends, and then everybody else. Everybody else gets a half assed product while the people that matter to him get his best product. I don't doubt that Mangieri has the ability to make a great pie. He just chooses only to make it for people he likes or people that are going to write an article about him.
benlee at 2:05PM on 07/17/08
I admit I am biased because I have known Anthony ever since I had his pizza in south Jersey, but I know many people who don't know Anthony who love the pizza at Una Pizza Napoletana. I have never counted the cherry tomatoes on my al fileto pizza, but I do find it hard to believe that he skimps on the cherry tomatoes depending on whether he knows you or not.
Anyway, I hope, benlee, that you come to the event.
Ed Levine at 2:13PM on 07/17/08
sorry Ed, I won't be there. I bought your book and it was great. I've used it to seek out some real gems in the tri-state area. My personal favorite is Delorenzo's. My sister lives near Una Pizza Napoletana. But whenever I'm visiting, I prefer Luzzos. Keep up the good work. You are one of my favorite food critics out there.
benlee at 4:34PM on 07/17/08
well, I can't account for other peoples taste in pizza. I guess that's one of the great things about pizza: a great pie is defined differently by each individual's own experiences. I can however speak for myself: Pizza is my favorite food and Mr. Mangieri makes the best pizza I've ever had. For me, it completely redefined what I knew as pizza. I got my tickets the first night I saw them out and I'm really excited about the lunch. When it was first announced that it was being held on a thrusday, I bought the tickets fully understanding I was going to be calling out sick that day. It being held on a Saturday just makes it that much better. Good food, good cause, grab the tickets while they last.
BoRaynolds at 7:04PM on 07/17/08
I am SO there. I think some good comparisons for discussion might be Luzzo's from around the corner. Also a round and square pie from Artichoke on 14th street might make for an interesting conversation.
guttergour at 11:23AM on 07/21/08
It's sold out! Boo hoo...
JanRan at 11:26AM on 07/23/08
I'm coming up from DC for this. I've been to Una and enjoyed it but not sure it's twice as good (as priced) as others. But I love a good pie and think this will be fun. See you there.
stillrides at 12:30PM on 07/23/08
Would be cool to meet you guys, but I'm out of town.
Honestly, I wasn't happy at Una. The margharita didn't really taste- top of the line ingredients or not. It's weird, but I've got to say that whatever I could get at Una, I could probably get better at No.28.
I feel like I need to give the place a second chance, though. I need to go with a friend, order two pies, not margaritas, and try to figure this out. Perhaps I like the American style pizza. I could be happy at Patsy's or Sal and Carmine's.
gmarceau at 7:31PM on 08/19/08
I was a 28 fan for a while, but since Salvatore and his brother Luigi left the pie has gone downhill.. I've since treied Una's Margherita and liked it very much. I wish he offered it with a choice of bufala or my preference, fior di latte. Perhaps on 10/11 he'll make the option available.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 12:19AM on 08/20/08
Interesting. I haven't been at 28 in 6 months, and the last pie I had was good, better than my outing at Una. Who knows, I'll probably end up giving both of them another go to re-evaulate things.
gmarceau at 10:27AM on 08/24/08
I have a friend who ate there with me when Salvatore was still there, then he went back a year ago and didn't like it. About a week ago and he called me from the place and said that it was as good as the first time. I went about a month ago and was dissatisfied. Perhaps it's just a consistancy issue. Giving them both a go sounds like an excellent idea.
Enjoy.
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 7:26PM on 08/24/08
I had a great time at this event yesterday. Since a picture's worth a thousand words, here's I'll just drop 45 grand on you:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pauliegee/sets/72157607951698209/
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 10:47AM on 10/12/08