Thursday, October 31, 2013

Day 31, 2013: Susanna Pizzeria (W. Village, NYC)




DAY 31: OCTOBER 31st, 2013


LOCATION: Susanna Pizzeria (182 Bleecker St, NYC)

ORDER: 1 slice of Margherita with prosciutto, 1 slice of Margherita with buffalo mozzarella, 1 slice of Carbonara (tomato mozzarella, pancetta, egg, parmesan)

GUEST(S): Ruby Marez, David DeVaughn

REVIEW:
A Southern Italian dish with Northern Italian style. Named in honor of the three owners' mother, Susanna is the first New York location of the Verona based company.  Using imported Italian pizzioli, authentic Italian cooking techniques, and a gas powered rotating stone Italian oven, the gentlemen of Verona have a recipe for success.  The owners opted for the gas oven to conform with fire code regulations and have since been adapting to achieve their conventional wood-fired taste with it.  Judging by the evenly cooked crisp outer rim with hints of char, they are on the right track.  Although the pies are prepared in the Napoli tradition, the innovative topping combinations reflect the owners' Florentine upbringing creating a best of Italy on each and every pie.  According to Susanna's website, the pies are intended to be shared so bring a bunch of friends and order a bunch of pies so you can marvel at how each one is distinctly delicious.  Given the thickness, or, more appropriately, thinness of the pies, expect that you may require reinforcements. You're in luck, word hasn't spread just yet so you can stay in the spacious dining area or backyard patio as you want or can afford.  Speaking of which, these exquisite imported Italian pies might be discounted for lunch but they are not cheap.  I look forward to returning to Susanna.

PHOTOS:



Carbonara

Margherita with buffalo mozzarella

Margherita with prosciutto

Slice of Margherita with buffalo cheese


MISCELLANEOUS:



1. Ruby Marez is on a sketch comedy troupe called CASH that performs at the Magnet theater on select Sundays at 7:30pm. She also is in a one person show called hot mess? 
2. David DeVaughn puts hot sauce on, like everything. 
3. This concludes Pizza Month 2013. Oh how delicious it was. Thanks for reading. See you next year. If you happen to be in town, let's grab a slice together. October is National Pizza month but the other 11 months are "research."




RATING:
 3.93/5
  • VALUE:
     3/5

  • AMBIENCE:
     3/3

  • TASTE:
     7.5/10

  • SERVICE:
     3/3

16.5/21 = .786 x 5 = 3.93

Day 30, 2013: Rizzo's Fine Pizza (LES, NYC)






DAY 30: OCTOBER 30th, 2013


LOCATION: Rizzo's Fine Pizza (17 Clinton St, LES, NYC)

ORDER: 1.5 slice of cheese, 1 slice of Carciofo (baby spinach, marinated artichoke, cheese, cream sauce), 1 slice of Aumma Aumma (sausage, meatball, ricotta, sauce, cheese)

GUEST(S): Zohar Adner, Scott Wiener, Omar Kadir

REVIEW:
Very Fine Pizza, Indeed.  Fortunately for the residents of Manhattan's Lower East Side, you no longer have to make the trek to Astoria, Queens to get Rizzo's Fine Pizza.  Known for the crisp Sicilian style pie, Rizzo's has become an institution in Queens since 1959.  Since the original Steinway Street store opened its doors in 1959, the menu has expanded to include a whole slew of thin, square and round pies, all distinctly Mediterranean in origin. The high quality ingredients like marinated artichoke and handmade sausage have something for every taste bud.  And while I appreciated the creative topping combinations of the Carciofo and the Aumma Aumma, it is the Rizzo signature slice, the thin crusted Sicilian,  that keeps me coming back. The recipe includes copious amounts of rich, tangy tomato sauce with a single slab of creamy mozzarella flanked by bits of sharp and mild grated cheeses. All of these rest atop a thin, crispy gas powered oven crust.

"If you want doughy or cheesy, it's probably not for you," David Rizzo, an acting manager once told me.

David Rizzo, like his father before him, makes pizza the way he likes to eat it. Fortunately for everyone I have ever met here, we like it that way too. The Lower East Side outpost is both a walk-up slice joint as well as a beer and wine bar.  The pizza is so tasty and thin, you may want to over order.  Come during happy hour and use the money you save on discounted drinks to get more pizza!  Definitely take a chance on Rizzo's. The first one's free....for real - tell them its your first time. I bet it won't be your last.


PHOTOS:









MISCELLANEOUS:


1.  Scott Wiener runs pizza tours in the New York area.  If you love pizza and haven't been on one, you should totally go on Scott's Pizza Tours.  I went on one a couple of years ago and remember it fondly (link to my experience).  Coming this Tuesday, Scott's book Viva la Pizza! The Art of the Pizza Box will be available in stores and online.
2. Omar Kadir lives in Pakistan, grew up in Canada, and loves pizza.  So much so that he met Scott Wiener on one of his pizza tours and then kept bumping into him at different pizzerias.  After we left Rizzo's, I understand Scott and my other two guests went on a "Pizza crawl" around the village.  Now THAT is a great way to celebrate the end of Pizza Month!
3. Zohar Adner plays Funnyball during the summer and meets me at least once during most every Pizza Month.  I hope neither of those ever changes.


RATING:
 4.64/5
  • VALUE:
     4.5/5

  • AMBIENCE:
     3/3

  • TASTE:
     9/10

  • SERVICE:
     3/3

19.5/21 = .929 x 5 = 4.64