Pizza Blog from pizzatherapy.com

Here's a well put together Halloween Pizza story ... A true original. It's scary...it is seasonal...and it's all about pizza.   This may take a few seconds to load...but it is worth it... http://tinyurl.com/yhgp2lz Happy Halloween! pizza on earth, albert grande The Pizza Promoter Order your own pizza right from Chicago, from Gino's East:

Sky Dylan Robbins is a filmmaker with an unbridled passion for food. you can hear it in her voice. You can feel it in her film. You can listen to my interview with Sky  at the end of this post. Her latest project, Un Americana in Italia chronicles her food adventures in Italy. The film is comprised of 12 different episodes. Each episode takes you on a different quest to discover the truth about food. She gives us an understanding of why we are so obsessed with food. After watching a clip of her discuss pizza, I knew I had to interview her. She introduces us to the master pizzaioli of Naples. This is the birthpalce of Pizza. Thanks for the introduction, Sky. Her film tells us about ourselves and why our love affair with food will continue. Sky takes you inside the underground secrets of how various food is produced. She also reveals the passions of those who create these amazing foods. Food for Sky is magical. She celebrates the creation of food. She celebrates the ...

Mitch writes: Hello Albert. I'd like to say thank you for hosting a great website and providing TONS of useful information. (Here's the link: Pizza Therapy ) I am at sea at the moment, but as soon as I return home, I'll be giving your dough a try. The dough recipe that I have been using is this: 2 cups flour (either high gluten or Caputo "00") 3/4 cup warm water 1 package active yeast 2 tsp sugar 1/8 tsp salt 2 tbsp olive oil I would also add some KAF Pizza dough flavor or grated Parmesan cheese. The most frequent problem I would have is the dough would just not rise. I tried everything. 105-110 deg. water by thermometer. Using more sugar, adding all the dry ingredients to the flour first. It was maddening. Finally, I stumbled on the solution to my problem in a book called "The Bread Builders." It was the salt. The salt retards/controls the action of the yeast. Well too much salt stops the yeast completely. Adding the pizza dough...

True story: When I was a kid, I would watch my Italian grandmother's cook. They were wizards in the kitchen. The never measured anything. They never used a recipe. But everything they made came out perfect. I asked them a number of times to tell me their secrets... sadly I only learned one recipe, spaghetti sauce. (gravy). They both laughed when I asked them food related questions. They could easily tell me what went into each dish. But, they explained, they could not tell me the exact amounts They were not sure. They did not know themselves. They had never written anything down. It was all permanently etched in their soul. And that's how they cooked, from their soul. My grandmothers created soul food. Italian soul food. They both gave me the following cooking advice: "Put in a little bit of this and a little bit of that". I told them I had no idea what they meant. "Put in enough spice until it tastes right," they explained. I...

During one of my conversations with Ed Ladou   (creator of Wolfgang Puck's Pizza as well as California Pizza Kitchen pizza ), he remarked: "Pizza is sexy". Ed went on to explain  how the popularity of pizza has really exploded. And how the image of pizza has changed dramatically over the years.  When Ed first started making pizza, everything was different. Ed knew pizza. He was a true pizza philosopher and master pizzaiolo. I wonder what Ed would have thought about the following video. I'm sure he would have said: "See I told you so..." And Ed, I miss you. You were a true original. I have to give this video an "R" rating. It's not for everyone. So be forewarned... But if you like pizza, then you will like this video. Yeah, I guess Ed was right all along..."Pizza is sexy..." You can watch a huge collection of pizza videos at Pizza Therapy. pizza on earth, Albert Grande The Pizza Promoter -->

Mike asks: Albert - Thanks for all the help. I am on the quest for the perfect white dough ! I am actually trying it out tonight. If you have time I do have a couple of questions. Have you ever cooked one in a cast iron skillet? How comparable would this be to a pizza stone since you can technically let it heat up with the oven as well? What temperature would you recommend? Pizza is my life and I just started getting excited about it again after eating at a Mellow Mushroom just down the road from us.  I used to work in the pizza business for about 7 years, at McSalty's Pizza Cafe   in Springfield MO . A local owned very good pizza. Probably one of the top two or three I have ever had. It is a wheat crust rolled real thin and baked at 550 degrees. It tastes like a pepper cracker.  If you are ever near that area I would highly suggest you check it out. Dough and Sauce are made from scratch daily, and we chopped our own onions and green peppers as well. Thank...

Bourbon Distillery and Local Pizza Chain Join Forces for Bourbon Heritage Month LOUISVILLE, Ky. (September 7, 2010) – Four Roses Bourbon and Impellizzeri’s Pizza have teamed up in celebration of Bourbon Heritage Month to create a unique pizza recipe combining two of Kentucky’s finest offerings – Bourbon and the classic Louisville dish, the Hot Brown . “This pizza pairs two Kentucky classics, with the Hot Brown originating in Kentucky and 95 percent of the world’s bourbon being made in Kentucky as well,” said Four Roses Master Distiller Jim Rutledge . “This is one of the more creative uses of bourbon in cooking that I’ve come across and one I’d recommend Louisvillians try at least once while it’s available.” The recipe for the Kentucky Bourbon Hot Brown Pizza calls for tweaking a house-made alfredo sauce with dry herbs, spices and cheese to emulate the traditional Mornay sauce used in a Hot Brown, yet giving it an Italian twist. Fresh-diced chicken in a Four Roses Dijon Mari...

A member of The Pizza Therapy Community, our man Coda , shares his insights on The Best Pizza in the World: For the past fifteen years or so, there was a place out in Riverside (It's gone now) that was probably entitled to claim that they made my "Favorite" pizza. I wouldn't go so far as to claim that they were the "World's Best" but it was darn good. Driving on the 91 fwy during rush hour made it difficult to visit them very often and now the restaurant is gone. (sigh) Oh well. Anyway, I'd never found a pizza I would call "World's Best Pizza" before I tasted the pizza from Marechiaros . They say it sort of like "Mary Key Ahrrows" but with an Italian accent. I've tried both their red and white sauce pizzas. Unbelievable. The red sauce is mild and slightly tangy but has a definite "Oomph" too it. Hard to describe. I call it "mmmMMMmmm" sauce. It's just plain good and it always seems to m...

Growing up in Italian household was an experience. We ate good food...and plenty of it. Whenever friends would come to visit, they would always be fed. A lot... And if you didn't eat, you insulted the family. Everyone ate. The first words out of my friend's mouths were always: "That was good" Then, they would always ask: "Why is everyone yelling at each other?" I tried to explain, we weren't yelling....that was the way we talked. I'm a pretty loud person to this very day... One of the signature dishes was spaghtti sauce...I mean gravy. There is a lot of debate about what to call it. You'll have to decide yourself. Here is the recipe: Red Sauce / Gravy from Pasta Therapy Ingredients 1-28oz. can of crushed tomato, stewed tomato or puree 1-6oz. can of tomato paste 2-3 cloves of garlic (or more) Olive oil Basil, parsley, oregano, salt, pepper to taste 1/4 cup of red table wine (more or less) Directions 1. Crush garlic with ...

I asked Dan about how his pizza turned out. He had gotten a free copy of The Mini Pizza Therapy Pizza Book   He responded: Thank you for your inquiry. I did order your Legends of Pizza story and haven’t gotten the chance to read it yet, but I did try the dough recipe and it was fantastic. I bought a pizza stone and the crust was perfect . Unfortunately I had a problem getting the dough off the peel and it ended up spilling the toppings on the stone. Is there some trick to getting the dough off the peel? I’ve read about using parchment paper, but that seems to defeat the purpose of the stone, so any suggestions you have would be appreciated. Thanks Yours in pizza Dan G My response: Hi Dan. I have made every mistake possible when making pizza. Believe me! Every miststake possible. And even some mistakes that were not possible! So please do not feel bad. You will get it down. It just takes a bit of practice. Here is my advice on how to use a pizza peel: 1...

The  Fire Within Portable Wood Fired Oven,  is having a pizza party, and you're invited! Not only, that but they have invited some surprise guests. The Ultimate Pie Workshop is offering you a chance to make pizza along side legendary pizzaiolo,   Peter Reinhart ,  at an upcoming pizza workshop in Colorado. Master pizza maker and event organizer,  Joseph Pergolizzi asks:  "Do you own a wood Fired oven in your home or backyard?  Do you want to learn how to make the best pizza of your life?  Are you ready to take wood fired oven cooking to the next level and knock your friends socks off at your next backyard pizza party?  If so, come join us for The Ultimate Pie Workshop. Join Peter Reinhart and 8 other top wood fired oven chefs for an unforgettable hands on weekend workshop! Learn and enjoy wood fired cooking at it's best: many new pizza doughs, bread baking, international cuisine, and incredible deserts - all made i...

As if DiFara's needed a defender, Ozersky throws down the gauntlet.   Josh Ozersky says: "With all due respect to Jeffrey Steingarten, DiFara’s Pizza is the best pizza in New York City (and probably the world). Anyone who says otherwise, even the most erudite of men, should have their head examined". Here's what Goaline says about DiFara's: "Pizza at Di Fara is so fresh and tasty. The dough is made with imported Italian flour, he uses not one but three cheeses (buffalo mozzarella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, Grana Padana, and freshly-made sauce created from plum tomatoes and he grows himself. The parmagion cheese is straight from the cheese grater and the basil is straight from the vine. It's great pizza, luscious cheeses, dripping with olive oil, and if you are lucky dotted with artichokes. The pie is fantastic: all ingredients are fresh, crust is thin and juicy! The biggest problem is finding parking space." DiFara's Pizza 1424 Avenue J ...

This is an amazing recipe and a wonderful way to cook eggplant. I need to give credit to the Denver Food Guy for sharing this great recipe. Most of my eggplant is the eggplant parmesan style . That's what was served at our table almost every night. I learned from my mom, who learned from her mom. And so eggplant parmesan was a family tradition. I have used it as a pizza topping as well as in sandwiches. Here is a very uniques way to serve this wonderful recipe. Chef Matteo Carboni from the Academia Barilla Culinary School teach us how to prepare an easy Mediterranean antipasto: eggplant and prosciutto rolls . Eat, eat! Here are some other eggplant recipes you may enjoy: eggplant on the planet, albert grande Pizza Therapy Will Teach You to Make Pizza

I just recieved the following and thought I'd share this with the Pizza Therapy community... Television show producer, JD, is looking for reality pizza stars ... If you know of anyone who fits the bill as a pizza making family who is a "really fun and friendly bunch and one that's totally "New York" , you can contact J.D. This is how stars are made! Hey Albert, I was lucky enough to stumble onto your directory this morning and thought I'd reach out about a project that I'm working on. Since you seem to have quite the working knowledge of all things pizza, I thought you might be able to help! I'm looking for a family-owned and operated NYC/NJ pizzeria for a new TV project that I'm casting, and I thought you might have a couple favorites or maybe some recommendations of local pizza joints that might fit the bill. We're looking for a really fun and friendly bunch and one that's totally "New York". Does anything come to m...

From our friends at Forno Bravo , here is an incredible method to make Ciabatta Bread . This bread has a good crust with lots of taste. The process is not that difficult. However as with most great breads, this one starts with a poolish. Ciabatta Italian Hearth Bread Poolish (the starter dough) By weight 300 g general purpose flour (Caputo Tipo 00 works well) 300 g room temperature water 1 g (pinch) yeast By volume 2 1/4 cups general purpose flour (Caputo Tipo 00 works well) 1 1/4 cups room temperature water 1/8 tsp yeast Mix to a pancake batter consistency, cover with plastic wrap and let ferment for 3-4 hours, or overnight. Refrigerate after 3-4 hours. The Finished Bread By weight, The poolish, plus: 700 g flour 20 g salt 9 g yeast 430 g water (73% final hydration) By volume, The poolish, plus: 2 7/8 cups flour 1 Tbs salt 1 1/4 tsp yeast 1/2 cup water Mix the dough until it is well hydrated (it is very sticky). Stretch and fold (like a letter) a...

If you have a garden, you may be wondering, what do I do with all of these zucchini? If you don't have a garden, you should be able to find zucchini plentiful at any farmer's market. From my old friend, Maria Gentile from her timeless recipes, The Italian Cook Book, The Art of Eating Well, here are some zucchini options. Ripe and Ready Zucchini from Pizza Therapy STUFFED ITALIAN SQUASH (Zucchini ripieni) To make the stuffed zucchini first cut them lengthwise in two halves and remove the interior pulp, leaving space enough for the filling. Take some lean veal (quantity in proportion to the squashes) cut it into pieces and place it on the fire in a saucepan with a hash of onion, parsley, celery, carrot, a little corned beef cut in little pieces, a little oil, salt and pepper. Stir it often with a spoon and when the meat is brown pour in a cup of water and then another after a while. Then rub the gravy through a sieve and put it aside. Chop the cooked meat fin...

  Slice , creator Adam Kuban, recently had a sit down interview with Albert Grande, of Pizza Therapy. Here's what happened: Pizza Therapy is probably the first pizza-obsessed website I saw on the web. It's like it was always there. But when did you start it? Pizza Therapy started in 1999 on a free hosting service. It ran that way for about a year. I purchased the domain in 2000. After I registered the domain, I moved the site to our own Internet server. It's been evolving ever since. Why did you start it? The site came about as a way to honor my dad. As we were growing up my dad would make pizza for me and my friends. This continued right through high school, college and beyond. He became known as quite a good pizza maker. (He was no pro, this was homemade pizza). He loved making pizza for me and my friends. Soon his pizza making became well known and it turned into a regular event. My friends and I would hang out while my dad made pizza. The conversations an...

The Iceman Cometh and the Ice Woman Cometh. When they do come, they are bringing with them Italian Ice and Gelato. It's hot out there. We need gelato and ice cream recipes to help beat the heat. The following recipes are from the legendary cookbook: The Italian Cook Book, The Art of Eating Well by Maria Gentile You will not find any preservatives or additives in any of these recipes. Just pure and wholesome ingredients. Isn't that the best way to enjoy food? There is a simplicity and elegance to all of the recipes contained here. Simple to make. Simple to create. And simply good. A cool refreshing glass of pure water with lemon, from pizzatherapy.com Italian Ices (Gelati) Although it is in America that there is a greater consumption of ice cream, it is in Italy that it was first made, and in various European capitals it is the Italian gelatiere who prepares the frozen delicacy. A few Italian recipes of gelati will then be acceptable, we bel...

I was recently contacted by Sky , who just returned from a year in Italy. She has beeen working on a series of short films about the spitituality of food. Here is what she explained: Dear Albert, My name is Sky and I'm a young filmmaker from New York. I recently returned from a year in Italy, where I made a feature-length film, divided into 12 short episodes, on the spirituality of food. The last episode, on la vera pizza napoletana and featuring Naples' most expert pizzaioli, is complete. I thought you'd be interested in seeing it and putting it on Pizza Therapy . Thanks. Hope you enjoy! Let me know what you think - Pizza love, Sky My response: Sky your film is fantastic.  I am very excited about sharing your incredble film. Thanks for this great film...you have showed us an nmatched passion and love for food. And a love for pizza "You've got to put your heart in it... we call that passion..." Here it is: If you are interested in mor...

Hybrid Pizza Box You can listen to an interview with Mike Sudia of DMS Innovation. Mike was frustrated with the billions of used pizza boxes thrown away each year. As a result, Mike invented the reusable pizza box. What is a reusable pizza box? Here is the answer from DMS Innovation: "The Hybrid Pizza Box, HPB, is used for take-out or delivery of pizza by customers. Not only reduce your carbon footprint -but get a better quality pizza? YES - A reusable box can eliminate over 125 pounds of one-time use cardboard over its life and 100% recyclable at "end-of-life". Our line of multi-use boxes are all made in the U.S.A. The Hybrid Pizza Box has similar heat retention qualities to a traditional cardboard box without the disposal hassle." Mike explains: •Why he invented the hybrid pizza box •The 7 steps that cardboard boxes go through leaving a large carbon footprint •Why card board pizza boxes cannot be rec...