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Think Grimaldi's-found in Orange County, Scottsdale, Ariz, Orange County and San Antonio, Tex.
Think Ray's-found in Montana, Arizona, Tex and others. These are NY's style pizzas found everywhere and are just as good.
My favorite is Bianco's in Phoenix, Ariz. Runner UP: Gino's East in Downtown Chicago. I also love the pizzas in Portland, Ore.
You see, NY doesn't have the best pizza at all since I've tried Lambardi's, Defarya, Angelino's, Ray's, John's and many other NY's neighborhood's pizza joints. They're pretty much found all over the country and beside, they tend to overcook the pizza in NY to make it crispy but too crispy.
I've had pizza in several different states and nothing comes close to NY pizza. It's the top quality ingredients, the ovens, the recipes, the know-how, and the procedure that gets done exactly right at most pizzerias here. Having the largest Italian population doesn't hurt. NYC has a definite advantage because of the water. I think the reason Long Island cannot replicate NYC crust is because our water is higher in Iron (can verify this through water quality reports across the Island)...although we do have some gems like Original Umbertos, King Umbertos, Grimaldis, Cuginis, that can easily compete against the best from NYC. You go down south or even to PA, and it's not even close. That's why Papa Johns and Dominos are so popular outside of NY.
It ain't just NYC you can trot around the globe and see this obsession with pizza. I don't get it. It's just overpriced cheese on toast given a global racket and a bunch of obsessive foodies have turned this thing into some chest beating game of pride.
I wouldn't trust one of those cheap slices of pizza you get in those "we've been here since 1892, so has this pizza slice" joints for a second and one thing that amazes me about NYC is just how much hype can sell a flimsy slice of crusted cheese. I mean, pizza, seriously?
I love Italian food but don't see the fuss about this slice of doughy cheese. How can that provide a satisfactory meal unless you're three sheets to the wind and sailing home on the aroma of Uncle Grimaldi's flamed cheese or whatever it is that floats your boat in the dark avenues of the blurry night?
You know where they make great pizza? Spain, and Italy obviously. I went to this Italian section in Spain and this part was full with all Italians. Even in this part of Spain it was a big deal even though again I was completely bemused at the obsession with what was again only a thin slice of crusted bread.
They were taking pictures of it and everything. Get in the picture and they were cramming in like their lives depended on it to have their cheesey grins captured on film next to a piece of cheese on cruddy dough. What a world. Some people sure are easily entertained. I couldn't get my head around it, I had the same pizza and to me it tasted like nothing. I like Italian food but they have much better on the menu than this.
I can see how pizza slices slot in when it comes to the eat on the march, instant gratification baloney of the day to day rodent race etc...
But as a proper meal? No way. There's a reason the Roman Empire fell and I don't know if I'm 100% factually correct but I'm pretty sure it had something to do with pizza.
By the way, you should try the ones in Pisa. They really do make them in a tower shape that leans on your plate. Tastes pretty much the same but it looks good.
Last edited by Fear&Whiskey; 12-18-2012 at 05:32 AM..
It's just pizza Airbornoli, just pizza. It's not that life and death really. It may be on Staten Island but then that's the main reason why I've never wanted to be there
There's a reason the Roman Empire fell and I don't know if I'm 100% factually correct but I'm pretty sure it had something to do with pizza.
LOL! That's the first time I've heard that theory!
So, Fear&Whiskey, is the reason the British Empire fell due to the cruddy food made by the British?
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