193 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11201 (b/n Court and Clinton streets; map); 718-522-2880 The Skinny: Strangely enough, hot dogs and french fry pizzas are commonly found in Italy. But just because it's Italian doesn't mean it's good. I mean, hello, Fabio for example? Price: Small, $16.50; large $18.90; slice, $2.90
I was working from home this morning when I saw the hot dog and french fry pizzaon Eater. The photo of it there was taken by "Daniel Krieger (who for the record, did not try a slice)."
"Did not try a slice?!?" I said to myself. Pussy.
Well, it turns out that Mr. Krieger is a wiser man than I. On my way in to the office, I took a minor detour through Brooklyn Heights to try this thing. Needless to say, I feel funny right now after getting about halfway through just one slice.
The hot dog and french fry pizza is called the Reginella Special. Giving the house name to such a pie is a pretty bold move, so I asked what the story was behind this pizza. Was it just a gimmick to get people talking?
"It's a pizza they do in Naples," said the pizza man on duty. "They do it all over there, and the owner here is from Naples."
I'd never heard of this, but some Googlin' revealed that it is indeed true that Naples, Italy, is awash in hot dog and french fry pizzas. Says the blog Food Mayhem:
Right next door was a pizza shop, Pizza & Sfizi, and since Lon was walking in and inspecting every one, why not this one? He took a picture of the pie with hot dogs and french fries, one we had been seeing everywhere. Here, they called it the Viennese and at the place we had lunch, they called it the American. Haha. I convinced Lon not to get a slice though since it would be lunch time soon and we had eaten so much already!
I have witnessed the french fry pizza in Naples first hand. A couple ordered one when I was at Antica Pizzeria Costa, the last stop on my 30 hour tour of Jeff Varsano's top 10 Naples pizzerias. Looked OK but I was way too busy forcing down the 7th margherita of the day to give it a try.
it's odd yes. but in italy they usually put it in a sandwich together instead of a pizza. on pizzette you may find it without the hot dog. hot dogs are referred to as wurstel and these combos are usually found in bars (snack shops) for young kids. a shame that the kids eat this stuff but oh well.
Gianluca
Adam: You are like the Pizza-Batman! A Pizza-Bat Signal flashes in the sky, and you respond to make what's wrong, right. Bravo. The city of New York is a better place for it!!!!
that is a truly terrifying way to start the workday.
and when will those pesky euros cease nicknaming inferior products "american"? i don't think there is one single u.s. citizen who would want to take credit for a pizza like this.
hmm i dunno, i don't see the big deal. i've had mashed potato on a pizza. it was good. we eat all sorts of processed sausages on pizza. i'd give it a try. seems too heavy though.
@santoslhalper: I've had mashed potato, too. And processed sausage. I think the combo of the two here was way too much, though. The fries and crust make it a total starch bomb, and the hot dogs are very salty. Admittedly, I didn't have this slice as it's normally prepared. They usually make a special pie (sans sauce), but they didn't have one out so they just topped a slice with fries and a dog. I'm not sure if the amount of cheese on this thing was absolutely indicative of what the usual special pie has, but on this slice it was very, very cheese-heavy. Given the amount of cheese on a plain slice, though (mega cheesy), I'm guessing the made-as-usual special hot dog pie here is just as cheese-heavy as my made-on-the-fly special frydog slice.
Scalloped potatoes, bacon and cream (on top of tom/mozz) is a popular topping combination in northern France, although the bacon is smoked back bacon and not the crispy rashers we know. I think it's inspired by the Alsatian flammekueche/tarte flambee.
When I was an exchange student in Dijon, I tried the pizza bourguignonne (Burgundy pizza), which included the classic foods ("produits du terroir") of Burgundy as toppings, i.e. escargots and parsleyed ham terrine. Yum!
This creation is just not right? I don't think so...Actually since I was kid I had this kind of food combination.
It worked and still working in Italy and other european countries.
It's very common fried dish in Naples. I had at least one a week when I was studing there.
I'm native Italin (near Naples) and trust me it is very good.
Anyway, go there and try it...and if you don't like they have many other pizzas to chose from and fresh hot food to try.
This place "REGINELLA" will rock. Good location...Good decor...and over it... good food...(Bravo to: Costantino Carmelo & Gino).
I went to this place in hopes of getting a Margherita slice, as flyers had been placed where I work stating that this was an option. I went after work and the pizza and the food in the steaming table behind the counter was was so dried out that two different groups of people walked out while I was there. I should have done the same as the "Margherita" was just a regular, pedestrian slice, and a lousy one at that.
This is... WRONG. I mean, if you said that this was readily to be found in Scotland, for example I'd just nod sagely and chalk this up to that-which-might-be-expected from the country that brought the world haggis and deep-fried Mars bars. But dammit, something is going wrong in Italy, because where people used to dilute their wine with water at meals, they now cut it with cola drinks. Yes, really.
You CAN'T put that sort of thing on pizza... it's just begging the antichrist to come along, or something.
Thanks for commenting! Your comment has been accepted and will appear in a moment.
Add a comment:
Previewing your comment:
HTML Hints
Some HTML is OK: <a href="URL">link</a>, <strong>strong</strong>, <em>em</em>
Comment Guidelines
Post whatever you want, just keep it pleasant. We reserve the right to delete off-topic or inflammatory comments. Learn more at our Comment Policy page.
Print
29 Comments:
I have witnessed the french fry pizza in Naples first hand. A couple ordered one when I was at Antica Pizzeria Costa, the last stop on my 30 hour tour of Jeff Varsano's top 10 Naples pizzerias. Looked OK but I was way too busy forcing down the 7th margherita of the day to give it a try.
steelecity at 3:29PM on 01/29/09
oh my god this looks gross and so so wrong!!!
Edwardkimuk at 3:41PM on 01/29/09
I wouldn't exactly call it fear..I'd more call it "I don't eat things that look fucking nasty."
:)
Krieger
smoothdude at 4:09PM on 01/29/09
Yeah. I didn't think you were actually afraid of it. Just thought I'd use the quote. Nice find!
Adam Kuban at 4:31PM on 01/29/09
...that is disturbing on many levels!
FattyMelt at 4:32PM on 01/29/09
Egads man, it likes a garbage plate on top of a pizza, yeccch!
Joe DiStefano at 5:33PM on 01/29/09
I was so disturbed by that I momentarily lost the ability to write coherently.
Joe DiStefano at 5:39PM on 01/29/09
It likes a garbage plate, yes, it does, my precious. It likes its garbage plate. Must have the garbage plate.
Adam Kuban at 5:58PM on 01/29/09
it's odd yes. but in italy they usually put it in a sandwich together instead of a pizza. on pizzette you may find it without the hot dog. hot dogs are referred to as wurstel and these combos are usually found in bars (snack shops) for young kids. a shame that the kids eat this stuff but oh well.
Gianluca
nextgospel at 7:14PM on 01/29/09
Oddly enough, it looks like the 'baked ziti on a pizza' I occasionally see in pizzerias.
HeartofGlass at 8:51PM on 01/29/09
Adam: You are like the Pizza-Batman! A Pizza-Bat Signal flashes in the sky, and you respond to make what's wrong, right. Bravo. The city of New York is a better place for it!!!!
JudgeFudge at 9:10PM on 01/29/09
that is a truly terrifying way to start the workday.
and when will those pesky euros cease nicknaming inferior products "american"? i don't think there is one single u.s. citizen who would want to take credit for a pizza like this.
teaspotnyc at 9:39PM on 01/29/09
I've made a cottage fries and hamburger pizza many times. That was actually very good.
I've also made a hot dog pizza. Also very good.
But I've never had a hot dog and fries pizza.
Mooner at 10:17PM on 01/29/09
For god's sake, grow up. What are you, seven years old?
groonge at 1:58AM on 01/30/09
i just puked in my mouth,.
tonecapo at 9:50AM on 01/30/09
hmm i dunno, i don't see the big deal. i've had mashed potato on a pizza. it was good. we eat all sorts of processed sausages on pizza. i'd give it a try. seems too heavy though.
santoslhalper at 10:02AM on 01/30/09
@santoslhalper: I've had mashed potato, too. And processed sausage. I think the combo of the two here was way too much, though. The fries and crust make it a total starch bomb, and the hot dogs are very salty. Admittedly, I didn't have this slice as it's normally prepared. They usually make a special pie (sans sauce), but they didn't have one out so they just topped a slice with fries and a dog. I'm not sure if the amount of cheese on this thing was absolutely indicative of what the usual special pie has, but on this slice it was very, very cheese-heavy. Given the amount of cheese on a plain slice, though (mega cheesy), I'm guessing the made-as-usual special hot dog pie here is just as cheese-heavy as my made-on-the-fly special frydog slice.
Adam Kuban at 10:15AM on 01/30/09
LOL, adam you rule.
simon at 3:59PM on 01/30/09
haha This is too funny. Mad props for taking one for the team and trying this bad boy out.
Laurel E at 5:15PM on 01/30/09
cheese-fry pizza (sans hot dog) is huge down at the jersey shore.... never seen it anywhere else
elron at 12:58PM on 01/31/09
Scalloped potatoes, bacon and cream (on top of tom/mozz) is a popular topping combination in northern France, although the bacon is smoked back bacon and not the crispy rashers we know. I think it's inspired by the Alsatian flammekueche/tarte flambee.
When I was an exchange student in Dijon, I tried the pizza bourguignonne (Burgundy pizza), which included the classic foods ("produits du terroir") of Burgundy as toppings, i.e. escargots and parsleyed ham terrine. Yum!
Michele Humes at 10:07AM on 02/01/09
P.S. Proof of escargot pizza; and of the pizza "paysanne" (creme fraiche/potatoes/bacon/cheese/olives/oregano).
Michele Humes at 10:12AM on 02/01/09
This creation is just not right? I don't think so...Actually since I was kid I had this kind of food combination.
It worked and still working in Italy and other european countries.
It's very common fried dish in Naples. I had at least one a week when I was studing there.
I'm native Italin (near Naples) and trust me it is very good.
Anyway, go there and try it...and if you don't like they have many other pizzas to chose from and fresh hot food to try.
This place "REGINELLA" will rock. Good location...Good decor...and over it... good food...(Bravo to: Costantino Carmelo & Gino).
goodfork at 2:34PM on 02/01/09
I went to this place in hopes of getting a Margherita slice, as flyers had been placed where I work stating that this was an option. I went after work and the pizza and the food in the steaming table behind the counter was was so dried out that two different groups of people walked out while I was there. I should have done the same as the "Margherita" was just a regular, pedestrian slice, and a lousy one at that.
bronxpizzaboy at 10:43AM on 02/02/09
I've finally found a reason to order an Octo-Dog cutter.
OctoDog and french fry pizza. Just brilliant.
PhotoKirk at 3:02PM on 02/04/09
how is this different from a cheese dog w/ fries? it's awesomer, haha...
ssp242 at 3:15PM on 02/04/09
They have all kinds of french fry pizzas among the other things that will really make you fat on the boardwalk in Atlantic City...
jayevee at 1:23PM on 02/11/09
This is... WRONG. I mean, if you said that this was readily to be found in Scotland, for example I'd just nod sagely and chalk this up to that-which-might-be-expected from the country that brought the world haggis and deep-fried Mars bars. But dammit, something is going wrong in Italy, because where people used to dilute their wine with water at meals, they now cut it with cola drinks. Yes, really.
You CAN'T put that sort of thing on pizza... it's just begging the antichrist to come along, or something.
mongoose at 3:32PM on 02/14/09
To take this to yet another level, behold these creations. No es bueno.
gregdodge at 10:36PM on 03/05/09