This has been in the works for some time, but it's now official: Paulie Gee (aka Paul Gianonne) has signed the lease on the former Paloma space at 60 Greenpoint Avenue in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, and is hoping to open Paulie Gee's by December.
Anyone familiar with the Paulie Gee mythos won't find it surprising that his place will be a wood-fired Neapolitan-style joint. The oven is being built in Naples now and will be shipped over soon.
Gianonne says he'll be the sole pizzaman at Paulie Gee's but will have an assistant trained and ready to step in at anytime in case of an emergency. As of now, Gianonne says hours will be Tuesday through Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Friday, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.; Saturday, 11:30 a.m. (brunch) to 1 a.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. (brunch) to 10 p.m.
Arugula with olive oil, lemon juice, and shaved reggiano—with and without prosciutto di Parma
Margherita with and without prosciutto di Parma
Soppressata picante
A classic bianco
Margherita with speck and red onion ("The Spectacle")
Margherita with hot sausage
Lots of seasonal pies
Guanciale and eggs for brunch, as well as speck and eggs
Says Giannone, "All these pies are tentative but very probable. I'm going to keep the standard pies to a minimum and work with what's seasonal. I will rock the fig pies in summer and kale in winter. I will also have a 'Rooftop Pie' using whatever I get from Ben Flanner at Eagle Street Rooftop Farm when he's opened.
As for nonpizza, Gianonne says he'll serve salads and cured-meat anitpasti and hopes to make a couple of dessert pies.
Full disclosure: Gianonne is a longtime commenter and member of the Slice community and a friend. As such I am preemptively removing myself from any reviews of the place or any nonobjective news reports on it.
Paulie Gee's
60 Greenpoint Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11222 (Franklin/West streets; map)
Nothing like following a dream. I have read so many of your posts and really enjoy your passion. Good luck Paulie. I promise my family will be there as soon as you open.
Know this has been a dream of yours for a long time Paulie and has been a while coming. Great to know your pies are finally coming to a wider audience. Wishing you the very best with it and good luck.
FP
Due respect Paulie, looking forward to a treat from you. Here's the latest from 1955 Central Avenue, Yonkers. The eagle has landed in Westchester. Frank Pepe's is now OPEN and it's ON THE MONEY! Char, chewiness, the entire mega-megillah has arrived. The place was crowded, but not packed, yet! That's going to change quickly. Only problem is a small parking spot and a few meters out front. Try to get there during off hours, or be prepared to wait. House salad was pretty good too! Enjoy!
Wow, congratulations Paulie. I wish you the best. From Backyard to Big City is quite the leap and I know you will take it succesfully. I hope to, one day, follow your path.
Wow! Congratufrickinglations! I can't wait to finally taste your pizza (lord knows it looks amazing).
This will be a nice upgrade from the free LuLu's pizza I eat the couple of times a year I end up on that block. Actually, I'm pretty sure I'll be there more often now because of this news...
Mr. Gee, congratulations! Here I am doing my regular perusing of Slice and I come across this. I just got off the phone with the Mootz and I'm hoping to be there opening night.
It's about time!!!!!!
A Brooklyn pizza legend is born!
We can't wait for the opening......it will be worth the trip into Brooklyn for the very BEST pizza. Watch out Chris Bianco!
Mazel Tov!
I met you at the Pieman's Craft this year. You told me to drop your name at Queen Margherita's in Nutley. I did and Pasquale gave me a Pizza Margherita on the house, lol. Can't wait to try your pizza. Thanks again.
Mazel Tov, my friend.
Meeting you and sharing your passion has been our privilege.
We look forward to being there on opening night and often thereafter.
Now that you're in the Big League, @Paulie_Gee; guess you'll have to retire the commentator hat behind the broadcast booth and suit up for the game. Buono fortuna! Looking for my first slice :)
Thank you all for your very kind words. Reading all your comments this evening has been a very gratifying experience. I hope I can live up to you expectations. And as far as opening goes, please be patient. We're talkin' NYC and all of the red tape that goes along with it. However, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. As important as the pizza is, the atmosphere I hope to create is equally critical. I have already interviewed a bunch of really great people from North Brooklyn. Although the pies are gonna be mine, the restaurant is gonna be theirs. I know that they are going to make everyone feel very comfortable.
Yo Paulie Gee, Best of luck in the professional pizza world..From the look of your home pies, this is gonna be a great addition to NY's pizza landscape...when i visit NY, hopefully in the summer, I will be there...
Forget about having an opening night. I think you will need to have an opening week. Book me for 7:00pm a table of 8 for the entire week! Also, the first Friday of every month for the first year!
Paulie! Congratulazioni and buon appetito! I'll be there opening night to walk the red (white and green) carpet and grab a pie or two. Let me know if you need any help!
Paulie, we are excited beyond belief at this news! MAZEL TOV!
Ohboy - we'll finally get to taste those Paulie Gee pizzas, and without going to Joisey...
Hope you can open up before December - Lil and I are going to the west coast for December and January. Either way, Greenpoint Avenue is on our agenda, and we expect to be regulars.
@captpizza Thanks for the good wishes. As far as ruining things goes, I'm taking a different view of it. I've been doing what I don't even like for 30 years just to earn a living. Now it's time to do what I love. All the complications in the world can't take away the feeling I get when everything goes right and I get to watch people dig into a good looking, tasty pie. Go find the picture I think Adam took of me gazing at one of my pies as I pull it out of the oven and head inside to serve it. As long as I keep focused on getting that result, the other stuff that gets thrown in front of me will be worth putting up with. And now I get the added pleasure of putting a place together for people to come and enjoy. Through my interviews, I have already met a small army of people from North Brooklyn who I can sense have a real excitement about what we'll hopefully create for everyone to enjoy. And all the red tape in the world can never take away from all of those kick ass comments just above this one.
dammit! my cousin just moved and would have lived about 2 blocks from here. looks like i'll have to make a road trip net time i come out for a visit. good luck paulie gee!
My family and I will welcome you to the hood by coming at least once a month. Looking forward to some decent competition to Motorino and Fornino and one that's within walking distance from us!
good luck paulie i have followed you on slice and flicker . the pictures of the pizzerias you visit are sensational. you are going to do great, i am looking forward to your opening. you can make a living and maintain the love of your craft. keep it simple and honest the public will get it .
Yes - way to go, Paulie. I finally got a chance to catch up on pizza news (EP is closed tomorrow), and I find that I missed the news we've all been waiting for.
Thanks f r y. I hope that everything goes even half ascwell as things have gone for you. If I go anywhere this Spring it will be a research trip to Naples. ( turn away IRS employees) with a "side visit" to my son in Rome. However, next year I'm gonna be tempted to do my research in the Bay area (turn away again) with a "side trip" to Tahoe to get some runs in at Squaw and Alpine Meadows. Lookin' forward to meeting you.
Belated congratulations. It is always great to see someone turn their passion into their living. The story is kind of inspiring to all those that wish to do the same one day.
Anyway, I am sure that the pizza will be great and that the venture will be prosperous, because of the care and commitment that will go into the product.
Thanks very much Anthony. I've been fortunate enough to find people to work with who have some great ideas and I'm really excited about it all coming together.
Thanks Sergio. Perhaps you can take the Warren pizza tasting mantle now that I might have had my final one last night. If it was, they went out with a bang with Jennifer of Morta di Fama fame:
Along with her friends and awesome father Rocco were my future assistant Alex and his wife Pochi. Jen's friend Jerry took his ovenmaster responsibilities very seriously, assuring us a full evening of leopard spotted pies. The highlight though was when Alex rocked the house with
his vegan sausage pizza.
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56 Comments:
I'll be there opening night!
pizzacommander at 3:27PM on 11/03/09
wow, very cool! it's nice to see someone pursue their foodie dreams like that. opening a place is a big deal.
foodinmouth at 3:31PM on 11/03/09
Reading that thing makes me more nervous than a long tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 3:37PM on 11/03/09
exciting! i was by the old paloma space about a week ago and was wondering if anything would ever go in there. good luck!
j at 3:56PM on 11/03/09
Nothing like following a dream. I have read so many of your posts and really enjoy your passion. Good luck Paulie. I promise my family will be there as soon as you open.
dsgreco at 4:08PM on 11/03/09
Congratulatios! It's nice to see that a pizza place will be opening that someone's soul will be poured into it. YEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
Nebagakid at 4:10PM on 11/03/09
Know this has been a dream of yours for a long time Paulie and has been a while coming. Great to know your pies are finally coming to a wider audience. Wishing you the very best with it and good luck.
FP
foolishpoolish at 4:31PM on 11/03/09
Due respect Paulie, looking forward to a treat from you. Here's the latest from 1955 Central Avenue, Yonkers. The eagle has landed in Westchester. Frank Pepe's is now OPEN and it's ON THE MONEY! Char, chewiness, the entire mega-megillah has arrived. The place was crowded, but not packed, yet! That's going to change quickly. Only problem is a small parking spot and a few meters out front. Try to get there during off hours, or be prepared to wait. House salad was pretty good too! Enjoy!
Pizzarotti at 4:41PM on 11/03/09
Best with the endeavor. I know you'll do great!
Nick
Raoul Duke at 4:50PM on 11/03/09
Wow, congratulations Paulie. I wish you the best. From Backyard to Big City is quite the leap and I know you will take it succesfully. I hope to, one day, follow your path.
Forza Pizza,
Alberto
forzapizza at 4:51PM on 11/03/09
Wow! Congratufrickinglations! I can't wait to finally taste your pizza (lord knows it looks amazing).
This will be a nice upgrade from the free LuLu's pizza I eat the couple of times a year I end up on that block. Actually, I'm pretty sure I'll be there more often now because of this news...
sloppy at 4:54PM on 11/03/09
Nicely done Paulie - let me know when you are opening so I can be there opening night too...
Jay
canerosso at 4:58PM on 11/03/09
Well done, and good luck!
kaszeta at 5:51PM on 11/03/09
Perhaps the most highly anticipated pizzeria opening of all time. Certainly in my mind...
Best of luck Paulie! Can't wait to try it out!!
steelecity at 7:23PM on 11/03/09
Mr. Gee, congratulations! Here I am doing my regular perusing of Slice and I come across this. I just got off the phone with the Mootz and I'm hoping to be there opening night.
-Kent
Nice to pop the commenting cherry (tomato)
Kent at 7:36PM on 11/03/09
It's about time!!!!!!
A Brooklyn pizza legend is born!
We can't wait for the opening......it will be worth the trip into Brooklyn for the very BEST pizza. Watch out Chris Bianco!
Mazel Tov!
Stacey Snacks at 7:47PM on 11/03/09
Congrats Paulie...!........You've got an assistant here if you need one...!
southlake98 at 7:54PM on 11/03/09
Congrats to Paulie. I wish him great success.
On a side note Paulie,
I met you at the Pieman's Craft this year. You told me to drop your name at Queen Margherita's in Nutley. I did and Pasquale gave me a Pizza Margherita on the house, lol. Can't wait to try your pizza. Thanks again.
James
njpizzapride at 8:17PM on 11/03/09
Mazel Tov, my friend.
Meeting you and sharing your passion has been our privilege.
We look forward to being there on opening night and often thereafter.
With admiration,
Mark (aka 'famdoc') and Dorrine
famdoc at 8:40PM on 11/03/09
That's great news, Paulie. I look forward to tasting your pies when I make it back to the east coast!
WikiAdam at 9:26PM on 11/03/09
Though I am sad you won't be in Jersey City, I will DEFINITELY be there opening night.
Allison Hemler at 9:31PM on 11/03/09
Now that you're in the Big League, @Paulie_Gee; guess you'll have to retire the commentator hat behind the broadcast booth and suit up for the game. Buono fortuna! Looking for my first slice :)
hungry_traveler at 10:00PM on 11/03/09
i figured i had to start a profile on this site at some point since i visit it (multiple times) everyday :)
congrats, paulie! can't wait to come by next month!!!
- jason
I Dream Of Pizza at 11:31PM on 11/03/09
Thank you all for your very kind words. Reading all your comments this evening has been a very gratifying experience. I hope I can live up to you expectations. And as far as opening goes, please be patient. We're talkin' NYC and all of the red tape that goes along with it. However, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take. As important as the pizza is, the atmosphere I hope to create is equally critical. I have already interviewed a bunch of really great people from North Brooklyn. Although the pies are gonna be mine, the restaurant is gonna be theirs. I know that they are going to make everyone feel very comfortable.
Thanks again,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 11:56PM on 11/03/09
Yo Paulie Gee, Best of luck in the professional pizza world..From the look of your home pies, this is gonna be a great addition to NY's pizza landscape...when i visit NY, hopefully in the summer, I will be there...
L.A. Pizza Maven at 12:20AM on 11/04/09
Paulie!
Forget about having an opening night. I think you will need to have an opening week. Book me for 7:00pm a table of 8 for the entire week! Also, the first Friday of every month for the first year!
Congrats, Paulie! I can’t wait!
Mario
marioperez at 1:17AM on 11/04/09
Paulie! Congratulazioni and buon appetito! I'll be there opening night to walk the red (white and green) carpet and grab a pie or two. Let me know if you need any help!
pizzalicious at 9:50AM on 11/04/09
Congratulations!! The pie list looks fantastic--both unfussy and delicious. Will you be serving some of that homemade limoncello there as well?
ElizabethS at 10:32AM on 11/04/09
I'm not legally allowed to do that Elizabeth.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 10:39AM on 11/04/09
This Greenpointer can't wait! Congratulations!
Greenpointless at 11:59AM on 11/04/09
if everything goes as planed, i will meet your pizzas in january.
best of luck to you!
egadman at 12:32PM on 11/04/09
Paulie, we are excited beyond belief at this news! MAZEL TOV!
Ohboy - we'll finally get to taste those Paulie Gee pizzas, and without going to Joisey...
Hope you can open up before December - Lil and I are going to the west coast for December and January. Either way, Greenpoint Avenue is on our agenda, and we expect to be regulars.
passion4pizza at 2:09PM on 11/04/09
Thanks and don't worry P4P. I'm planning on still being around in February. Looking forward to having you and Lillian stop in.
And thanks again to all of you who have been kind enough to leave me good wishes.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 2:15PM on 11/04/09
Paulie- If you want to ruin the thing you love- try to make a living doing it! I wish you the best of luck
captpizza at 2:25PM on 11/04/09
This is awesome.
Congratulations Paulie.
Can't wait for a chance to sample one of your pies.
great news for the world of pizza.
intheyearofthepig at 2:44PM on 11/04/09
@captpizza Thanks for the good wishes. As far as ruining things goes, I'm taking a different view of it. I've been doing what I don't even like for 30 years just to earn a living. Now it's time to do what I love. All the complications in the world can't take away the feeling I get when everything goes right and I get to watch people dig into a good looking, tasty pie. Go find the picture I think Adam took of me gazing at one of my pies as I pull it out of the oven and head inside to serve it. As long as I keep focused on getting that result, the other stuff that gets thrown in front of me will be worth putting up with. And now I get the added pleasure of putting a place together for people to come and enjoy. Through my interviews, I have already met a small army of people from North Brooklyn who I can sense have a real excitement about what we'll hopefully create for everyone to enjoy. And all the red tape in the world can never take away from all of those kick ass comments just above this one.
Thanks again,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 2:58PM on 11/04/09
SPECTACULAR news! This is going to be a prime destination. I can't wait!!
klg19 at 2:59PM on 11/04/09
And, hey, the closest subway stop is on the G line! Perfect!!
klg19 at 3:01PM on 11/04/09
congrats Paulie! every time one of your pizza parties gets posted i end up drooling all over my keyboard. can't wait to try some for myself
let me know if you need an apprentice pizzaiolo ;)
LucaL at 4:26PM on 11/04/09
dammit! my cousin just moved and would have lived about 2 blocks from here. looks like i'll have to make a road trip net time i come out for a visit. good luck paulie gee!
hookrilla at 6:25PM on 11/04/09
Wonderful news indeed.
You are some lucky SOBs in Greenpoint.....although luck had nothing to do with it.
Paulie, you know where my feelings are, but congratulations again on a dream come true. Now, make sure the pie is on point when I come up there! :)
Pizzablogger at 7:04PM on 11/04/09
My family and I will welcome you to the hood by coming at least once a month. Looking forward to some decent competition to Motorino and Fornino and one that's within walking distance from us!
BrianPrestonCampbell at 7:37PM on 11/04/09
Congrats from London, England. Hopefully next time I'm in NY you'll have opened successfully and started serving some of your beautiful pies.
masalha at 5:56AM on 11/05/09
Hey so what are you gonna call the place then?
norman at 7:36AM on 11/05/09
Bravo ! Go get 'em Paulie.
You have the passion motivatiion, and skills.
I WILL visit next time I'm in "Greenpernt".
Cincinnatus at 6:42PM on 11/05/09
congrats paulie G! i'll be sure to hit it up. can i bring my camera?
pizzasnob at 12:22PM on 11/07/09
Absolutely, Pizzasnob.
pauliegee at 12:29PM on 11/07/09
good luck paulie i have followed you on slice and flicker . the pictures of the pizzerias you visit are sensational. you are going to do great, i am looking forward to your opening. you can make a living and maintain the love of your craft. keep it simple and honest the public will get it .
thezaman at 4:46PM on 11/15/09
Thanks very much for the kind word and support Za Man. I'm lookin' forward to having you stop in.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 10:42PM on 11/15/09
Say for you Cincinnatus.
Thanks,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 12:27AM on 11/16/09
Yes - way to go, Paulie. I finally got a chance to catch up on pizza news (EP is closed tomorrow), and I find that I missed the news we've all been waiting for.
f r y at 4:10AM on 11/26/09
Thanks f r y. I hope that everything goes even half ascwell as things have gone for you. If I go anywhere this Spring it will be a research trip to Naples. ( turn away IRS employees) with a "side visit" to my son in Rome. However, next year I'm gonna be tempted to do my research in the Bay area (turn away again) with a "side trip" to Tahoe to get some runs in at Squaw and Alpine Meadows. Lookin' forward to meeting you.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 8:00AM on 11/26/09
Belated congratulations. It is always great to see someone turn their passion into their living. The story is kind of inspiring to all those that wish to do the same one day.
Anyway, I am sure that the pizza will be great and that the venture will be prosperous, because of the care and commitment that will go into the product.
Best wishes,
Anthony A
Anthony A at 10:56AM on 11/27/09
Thanks very much Anthony. I've been fortunate enough to find people to work with who have some great ideas and I'm really excited about it all coming together.
Thanks again,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 11:09AM on 11/27/09
from 1 wareen nite to another i wish you luck
sergio at 11:30AM on 11/28/09
Thanks Sergio. Perhaps you can take the Warren pizza tasting mantle now that I might have had my final one last night. If it was, they went out with a bang with Jennifer of Morta di Fama fame:
http://mortadifame.blogspot.com/
Along with her friends and awesome father Rocco were my future assistant Alex and his wife Pochi. Jen's friend Jerry took his ovenmaster responsibilities very seriously, assuring us a full evening of leopard spotted pies. The highlight though was when Alex rocked the house with
his vegan sausage pizza.
Ciao,
Paulie Gee
pauliegee at 8:18AM on 11/29/09