Day 28, 2024: Elements Pizzeria (Jackson Heights, Queens)

exterior

 

DAY 28: OCTOBER 28th, 2024

LOCATION: Elements Pizzeria (8301 Northern Blvd, Jackson Heights, NY 11372)

GUEST(S): Michael McLarnon, Dana Moore, Lorina Ladrillono

ORDER: 1/2 slice Red Top (mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce), 1/2 slice of Sami Supreme (Pepperoni, onion, peppers, fennel sausage, age and fresh mozzarella, broccoli rabe), 1/2 slice of Fun Guy (Mushrooms, onion, ricotta cheese, roasted garlic and lemon), 1 slice of NY Cheese (aged mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, tomato sauce, parmesan)

REVIEW: 
Local boys create local slice shop. Raised in Jackson Heights, Queens, Sami V and brother David Velasquez opened up Elements in hopes of bringing back the neighborhood slice joint of their youth. As they watched their favorite area pizzerias close they decided to do something about it. After all, Sami V is a Culinary Institute of America (CIA) certified chef and David is a restaurateur so why not?  With Sami V’s expertise of sour dough and extensive knowledge of pizza preparation, Elements’s menu, including delicious (and easily digestible) traditional and specialty New York and Detroit style slices and pies, was created. The focus is on the care given to every single ingredient of each pizza letting each high quality “element” speak for itself.  My favorite was the cheese-centric NY Cheese pie which features pecorino, fresh mozzarella and a blend of multiple low moisture mozzarella cheeses, a savory sauce on a thin and foldable sour dough crust. Elements has all the makings of a great slice shop and more. With multiple beer options, a dining area full of personality and 25 seats - 26 if count the one on the motorcycle suspended on the wall. Anyone living in and around Jackson Heights, congratulations on your new favorite neighborhood sliceria: Elements.


PHOTOS:

mural outside

interior

options

menu

slice of Fun Guy (cut in half)

Slice of Sami Supreme (cut in half)

slice of Red Top (sliced in half)

underside of Detroit Style square

side view of Detroit Style square

NY Cheese pie

day 28

side view of NY Cheese

underside of NY Cheese

VIDEO:

coming soon

MISCELLANEOUS:

Lorina Ladrillono, Michael McLarnon, Dana Moore, Sean Taylor

1. We all met at the Magnet Theater doing improv comedy.  Dana Moore now lives in California and teaches improv comedy! Take a class with her.

Sami V, Sean Taylor

2. I got to meet the creator, and co-founder of Elements Pizzeria Sami V! His business partner is his brother. While they both ride motorcycles, only his brother has his suspended on the wall in the dining area.

Lorina's 2024 Pizza Swag bag

3. Leave it to Lorina Ladrillono to show up to a Pizza Month date with a fully loaded swag bag. For 11 years now,  Lorina has been my guest and I can't remember a time where she showed up empty handed. Instead, she gifts me pizza related items she has collected over the year and I'm overwhelmed with her generosity!  Thanks.

4. Michael McLarnon is a wizard when it comes to all things code.  If you want a software developed right, pay him to code it for you!  I know because I rely on his software for my livelihood.  A guy named Stanley recognized his abilities walking down the street and attempted to hire him multiple times.

RATING:

 4.31/5

• VALUE:
   4/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   8.5/10


• SERVICE: N/A

15.5/18 = .861 x 5 = 4.31