Entries tagged with 'Florida'
I've been workin' in the coal mine, digging up some more coal-oven pizzerias to bring you. Although New York City and New Haven, Connecticut, are two of the most famous coal-oven towns, did you know there are coal joints in Florida; Philly; Chicago; Des Moines, Iowa; Dallas; and Scottsdale, Arizona? They're all on the Slice National Coal-Oven Pizza Map.
Posted by Adam Kuban, November 8, 2006 at 12:28 PM
More Times collateral. This time, a question from a new reader in Miami:
Hi there Adam: Learned about you from the nytimes.com article on Totonno’s vs. Domino's. I moved here to Miami two years ago, and as a third-generation Manhattanite, I must tell you that I really miss good pizza. I loved Totonno’s, but since I lived in Greenwich Village for the past 15 years, I really loved a slice from Joe’s off of Sixth Avenue near Cornelia Street as well as the pizzeria on University Place near 13th Street (my old neighborhood). Those were my weekly haunts.
The reason I’m writing is to see if you know of any pizza places here in Miami that are at least good if not very good. With all the transplants from New York and the surrounding areas, there must be something! Only places I have found are a small chain called Archie’s, which is OK, and also a place called Spri that is just so-so. But it let me tell you, it’s no New York. Honestly, if I could find a great slice here, Miami would be Utopia!
Let me know if you have any insight. Great job with your site – I think it’s hilarious and wonderful! —Emily G.
So how 'bout it readers? Any suggestions for good New York style pizza in Miami?
Posted by Adam Kuban, November 8, 2006 at 10:36 AM
Here are some tips that New York Times readers are sending in:
Next time you're planning a trip to Connecticut, don't miss a great pie (no slices) at Roseland in Derby. Great history and possibly the most expensive pizza on earth. Bring lots of money for the lobster pizza, BUT don't complain until you've eaten one! A must visit. —Jeff D.
[Roseland Apizza: 350 Hawthorne Ave., Derby CT 06418; map]
Came across your site in the Times today. I know Mount Vernon is not New York City, but I saw reviews of Jersey pizzerias. Has anyone reviewed Johnny's in Mt. Vernon? I moved to Georgia two and a half years ago but had lived in Westchester all my life. I've been going to Johnny's for literally 50 years. I come back to New York frequently and eat there at least twice on any visit. I think it's awesome pie. —Harvey M. [Johnny's Pizzeria: 30 W Lincoln Ave., Mount Vernon NY 10550; map]
Harvey: Yeah. We've got mostly New York City pizza on Slice, primarily because that's where our editors live and because we hardly get away from the city. But we love to hear about pizza everywhere, in the U.S. and overseas. So recommendations for pizza anywhere are welcome.
Additionally, we first learned about Johnny's on Jeff Varasano's Famous Pizza Page. Here is a pizzeria, right under our noses and not so far away, that had completely escaped our greasy eye. It is on our list. —Ed.
Hi Adam! Went to your site when I saw the link in the New York Times article about Domino's. I couldn't believe you didn't have anything for Pizza in Connecticut!!!!! As a transplanted Noo Yawka, the one thing I found was that Connecticut has some AMAZING pizza spots!! Check it out!!! —Donna Y.
Donna: We actually do have some entries for Connecticut. We've been to Frank Pepe's (excellent clam pies, friendly service) and Sally's Apizza (great plain pies; lousy, rude service). Any other recommendations there? —Ed.
I just found your website through the New York Times article today. I wanted to recommend a fantastic pizza parlor in Brevard County, Florida, where I live. The pizza is the best in Florida; the name is Bizzarro’s, in Indialantic, Florida, owned and operated by Frank Bizzarro, whose family is originally from Naples, Italy, and who moved to Brooklyn. Frank and many of his family members now live in Brevard County (we’re south of the Space Center and Cocoa Beach). Anyway, I highly recommend the pizza. Thanks. —Leslie C. [Bizzaro Pizza: 635 Wickham Road, Indialantic FL 32904 map]
Thanks, folks! Keep the recommendations coming: adam@sliceny.com
Posted by Adam Kuban, September 7, 2006 at 10:00 AM
Pizza trade magazine PMQ and Christopher Muller, a Florida professor, hope to create the country's first university-based pizza research program at the University of Central Florida's Rosen School of Hospitality Management in Orlando.
Muller is proposing a national center to be part of the Rosen college, where five full- and part-time staffers would research trends, collect data and train restaurant owners and managers.
Now, you may be thinking just as I was: Professor, we've gone our entire lives without a pizza institute in O-town. Do we really need one now?
Muller answers with an enthusiastic, "yes," reminding those who think his idea is half-baked that there are 69,000 pizza joints nationally. Each and every American consumes 46 pieces, or 23 pounds of the stuff, each year.
Perhaps this is the advanced degree I've been waiting for?
LINKS
You can read briefly about the institute in the Orlando Sentinel [Pizza institute idea seems fresh, first item] or listen to Dr. Muller discuss the idea on PMQ's Pizza Radio site [Dr. Christopher Muller : Dir. of the National Pizza Institute].
Posted by Adam Kuban, June 29, 2006 at 1:37 AM
Stephen Colbert, host of Comedy Central's "Colbert Report," HATES bears. Until recently, it was a quirk Slice never quite understood. But witness:
FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. -- A frequent diner at a Flagler County pizza place has worn out its welcome. The bear has made a habit of visiting the dumpster behind the Domino's Pizza on Highway 100 and I-95.
Bears, Slice is giving you a tip of the hat for causing trouble at Domino's, but we're going to give you a wag of the finger for liking Domino's enough to visit repeatedly. You're on notice.
Bear Cub Making Habit Of Visiting Pizza Shop's Dumpster [WFTV.com ]
Posted by Adam Kuban, June 22, 2006 at 2:43 PM
Dear Slice,
I was reading your article on the coal-oven pizzerias in Florida. Surprisingly enough, there are a few more locations opening up throughout the area. There is a company called Coal Fired Pizza Co. opening in Wellington and a second location in Coral Springs. Both are due to open the first week of July.
I know this because I am the designer/builder of these ovens. Now David Manero of Manero's Restaurant Group, Gotham City, and Shore is opening up a coal-oven pizza restaurant on PGA in Palm Beach Gardens.
The myth of the coal ovens causing pollution has passed with the use of anthracite coal. Clean burning with almost no smoke and zero carcinogens.
-- Jon Illingworth, factory sales rep, Doughpro
Jon: You don't know how this kills me. Until recently, Ma and Pa Slice were residents of Wellington. They move back to Kansas, then all these coal-burners spring up. --The Management
Posted by Adam Kuban, May 9, 2006 at 12:13 PM
RED ROCK COAL FIRED PIZZA
Location: 50 NE First Ave., Boca Raton FL 33432 [map]
Phone: 561-361-6655
COAL MINE PIZZA
Location: Royal Palm Place, 399 SE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton FL 33432 [map]
Phone: 561-826-2625
Website: coalminepizza.com
File this under Why Didn't This Happen Sooner?
Boca Raton, Florida, is now home to not one but two coal-oven pizzerias. The first, Red Rock Coal Fired Pizza, which we were remiss in alerting you to, opened in late 1995. Now there's a second, Coal Mine Pizza, just around the corner.
Ma and Pa Slice used to live in Wellington, Florida, about 30 miles northwest of Boca. Had these coal burners opened prior to December 2004, I would have had an easy excuse to visit them while on holiday in the Sunshine State.
I can't seem to find much about Red Rock online. On Chowhound's South Florida Message Board, someone says, "Red Rock Pizza in Boca Raton has good thin crust pizza that they make in a coal-fired oven. They use very fresh ingredients. The only problem I find is that the sauce is sometimes a little bland."
About Coal Mine, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel says:
There are 10 specialty pizzas and I can heartily recommend the Amazing Artichoke, a combination of artichokes, Parmesan, Romano and mozzarella. Like every pizza here, the crust is crisp and almost cracker-like. I'm such a fan of crisp pizza crust that even here, I ask for an extra crispy pizza. I believe that when you pick up a piece of pizza, the skinny tip should stay crispy and not point downward. Coal Mine Pizza is a winner.
While New York City has banned coal pizza ovens because they pollute, they seem to be enjoying a moment in the South Florida sun just now. My until-recently coal oven-less neighborhood will soon be home to two such restaurants.
It really is interesting to see coal-oven pizza migrate beyond its home in the Northeast. My guess is that the owners of such establishments take great risks in introducing this exotic pizza specimen to new environments. Whether it's Grimaldi's and its outpost in Scottsdale, Arizona, or these two establishments in Boca, the owners of non–Pizza Belt coal-burners have much more work than putting in an oven, breaking it in, and making sure their pizzaioli know how to cook pies with it.
No, these owners have the additional burden of educating the locals with regard to coal-oven pies. For instance: Those spotty charred bits on the bottom? You want that—it adds a pleasant smoky flavor to the crust. I'd imagine that more than a few customers will complain about "burnt" pizzas if they're not used to coal pizzerias. And it's likely a delicate balance to strike between making the pies right and bending to complaints, thereby producing an inferior pizza unworthy of the oven it came out of.
But Boca is ripe with retired New Yorkers, and I'd imagine there's a fair number of expats in Scottsdale, too. If any of you are reading this and have been to Red Rock, Coal Mine, or the Scottsdale Grimaldi's, give us a shout and let Slice know how they stack up.
And Ma and Pa Slice: Why'd you have to move back to Kansas!?
Red Rock Coal Fired Pizza [Broward-Palm Beach New Times]
Coal Mine Pizza [South Florida Sun-Sentinel]
Posted by Adam Kuban, April 28, 2006 at 1:42 PM
And they are:
- Zachary's Chicago Pizza: Berkeley, California
- PIzzeria Regina: Boston
- Patsy Grimaldi's Pizzeria: Scottsdale, Arizona
- Vic's Bar & Restaurant: Bradley Beach, New Jersey
- Tacconelli's: Philadelphia
- John's: New York City
- Star Pizza: Houston
- Imo's Pizza: Saint Louis
- Home Run Inn: Chicago
- Mellow Mushroom: Atlanta
- Windy City PIzza: Tampa, Florida
- Anthony's Pizza and Pasta: Denver
- Papreza's Pizza: Henderson, Nevada
Well, they say 13 is an unlucky number, right? I mean, only one New York City pizzeria on this list? And it's John's? John's is good, sure, but not the best in NYC. And maybe we should hold our tongue until we've had pizza from the Grimaldi's branch in Arizona, but how can it be any better than the homegrown original Grimaldi's? I guess AOL had to tailor its list to please people across the country. And it's further evidence that these lists are always flawed. Heck, even if Slice put out a list, I'm sure someone—lots of someones—would find fault with it. But they're always good for debate, so have at it. Comments welcome.
13 Perfect Pizzas Across America [AOL Cityguide]
Posted by seltzerboy, October 31, 2003 at 9:14 AM
As part of Farm City Week in Manatee County, Florida, schoolchildren will spend November 19 learning how to grow everything that tops a pizza. This, according to today's Bradenton Herald.
Um, I hope that doesn't include pineapples ...
