31 and Done!

I hope you enjoyed your Pizza Month even half as much as I did.  Thank you, 2022 for a delicious quest for the 31 Days of Pizza! 

Highlights from 2022's quest:

Doing a segment on PA Live where I got to talk about a new pizzeria, eat pizza on air, and then go to another pizzeria immediately afterward (review)

Finding a perfect 10 (for taste) named Fini blocks away from my softball field in Williamsburg, Brooklyn (review)

Having a pizza party after my wife's show at the Magnet catered by NY Pizza Suprema (video)

Discovering a perfect pie at Bellucci's Pizzeria in Astoria, Queens (review)

Creating 32 short videos of some of the most delicious pizza around! (videos link)

Lowlights:

• Testing positive for Covid on Halloween night 

Day 31, 2022: Motorino (Williamsburg, Brooklyn)

Exterior

Interior

 

DAY 30: OCTOBER 30th, 2022 

LOCATION: Motorino (139 Broadway, Brooklyn, NY 11211)

GUEST(S): Patrick Stanwood, Dahlia Ramsay, Chano Garcia

ORDER: 1 slice of a Margherita (tomato sauce, fior di latte mozzarella, basil, pecorino, e.v. olive oil), 1 slice of a Meatball (tomato sauce, pork meatballs, fior di latte mozzarella, fresh basil, pecorino), 1 slice of a Brussels Sprout (fior di latte mozzarella, smoked pancetta, brussels sprout leaves, garlic, pecorino, e.v. olive oil), and 1 slice of a Soppressata Super Piccante (tomato sauce, fior di latte mozzarella, soppressata, oregano, fresh chilies, e.v. olive oil)

REVIEW: 
Reliably outstanding. After over a decade wowing Napoletana pizza lovers across the city from the Upper West Side to the East Village and across the world from Dubai to Hong Kong, it’s nice to know that original Williamsburg, Brooklyn Motorino still bakes a great pie. The wood-fired brick oven looming in the back of the spacious dining room welcomes guests in like a comforting fireplace. Then, thanks to the skilled hands of the expert tending it, that very oven is responsible for every authentic high quality pie that each happy patron consumes. Yes, the oven knows more than one way to light up an evening. Beyond the traditional pizza options, Motorino’s menu features innovative pie combinations including the creative Brussels sprout and smoked pancetta or the spicy soppressata and fresh chilis to name a couple. I recommend going with a group, ordering one pizza per person (taking care to accommodate for dietary restrictions) and ask them to be delivered to the table one at a time so you can split them as they arrive fresh from the oven. Pair it with anything from the full bar and Motorino makes for a great date night or date afternoon or just a great meal.


PHOTOS:

Margherita pie

slice of Margherita

Meatball pie

slice of Meatball

underside

Brussels Sprout pie

Soppressata Super Piccante pie

slice of Soppressata Super Piccante

Day 31

VIDEO:

click to play

MISCELLANEOUS:

Sean Taylor, Patrick Stanwood, Chano Garcia, Dahlia Ramsay

1. Patrick Stanwood recruits young basketball talent all across the world and, in doing so, gets to eat at some of the most delicious places.

2. Dahlia Ramsay is a tour guide with some cool hobbies. Not only does she do improv comedy but she plays water polo!

3. Chano Garcia is an emcee and a DJ at countless weddings across the tristate area. He's also got a battery powered scooter.

Heatin' up!

4. As I am known to do, I dressed up as a pizza slice...but this time, I nearly got tossed in the oven.

RATING:

 4.52/5

• VALUE:
   4/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   9/10


• SERVICE:
   3/3

19/21 = .905 x 5 = 4.52

Day 30, 2022: Bellucci's Pizzeria (Astoria, Queens)

Exterior

Interior

 

DAY 30: OCTOBER 30th, 2022 

LOCATION: Bellucci's Pizzeria (37-08 30th Ave., Queens, NY 11103)

GUEST(S): Ron Palais, Armando Diaz, Paulie Gee

ORDER: 1 slice of Fresh Shucked Clam Pie (Fresh Oregano, Parsley, Garlic, Lemon, Pecorino Romano, EV Olive Oil & Black Pepper), 2 slices of Vodka-Roni (Fresh Mozz, Pepperoni, Bellucci’s Vodka Sauce, Parmigiano-Reggiano & Black Pepper)

REVIEW: 
Worth the hype and more!  All of the pizza stars aligned when Bellucci’s Pizzeria opened up in Astoria, Queens in 2021. A lifelong pizza-fanatic and innovative chef, Andrew Bellucci spent decades mastering the art from everywhere from Lombardi’s to Kuala Lumpur. Now, his unique recipes and perfectionist work ethic take center stage at a 25 seat red and white pizzeria bearing his name. Slices are available until 5pm, but bring others and order the full pie. Expect huge, perfectly fermented dough that is masterfully crisped, loaded with high quality ingredients that look as good as they taste. Each pie is presented with a cascade of freshly shaved Pecorino Romana cheese which acts as the finishing touch to each Bellucci masterpiece.  I recommend getting a traditional signature pie such as the NYC Classic and one of the signature concoctions such as the Vodka-Roni or, if you call two days in advance, the Fresh Clam pie. See you at Bellucci's!

PHOTOS:

Fresh Shucked Clam pie

slice of Fresh Shucked Clam pie

underside of Fresh Shucked Clam pie slice

Vodka-Roni pie

slice of Vodka-Roni

underside of Vodka-Roni pie

Day 30

Menu

VIDEO:

coming soon

MISCELLANEOUS:

Ron Palais, Armando Diaz, Andrew Bellucci, Sean Taylor, Paulie Gee

1. Paulie Gee told a foul story off the top of his head about Yankee's outfielder Aaron Judge. And the New York Post corroborates it. 

2. Armando Diaz has a mature and interesting take on rating and voting on things. I think he may be right!

3. Ron Palais goes to New Orleans whenever he can and is looking forward to eating at Paulie Gee's recently opened NOLA slice shop next time he is the area.

Paulie Gee, Andrew Bellucci, Sean Taylor

Andrew Bellucci and his Clam pie

4. As a pizza nut, I was thrilled to meet the amazing pizzaiolo and pizzeria owner Andrew Bellucci himself. In addition, one of my pizza guests, Paulie Gee, is also a pizzeria owner. What an honor to be in the presence of them both!

Game ball, Sean Taylor

5. My Williamsburg Softball Fall League softball team, the GOATs, won our game today 15 to 3...and I got to pitch. I was beyond thrilled and honored when the team captain awarded me the game ball! Since it is the day before halloween, many of us wore costumes...hence my snowman hat. I suppose I should wear that hat more often.

RATING:

 5/5

• VALUE:
   5/5


• AMBIENCE:
   3/3


• TASTE:
   10/10


• SERVICE: 
   3/3

21/21 = 1.00 x 5 = 5