What are the five best pizzas you’ve ever had? Where did you have them?

Al, New York

Answer:

My favorite pizza is usually whichever one is sitting in front of me, but some of the most memorable I’ve eaten recently include:

  • Strecchino and arugula at Jim Leahy’s “Co.” in New York City- For some reason they are calling the strecchino cheese stracciatella, but by any name this is an inspired pizza. Beautiful in its simplicity, with amazing texture.
  • Pizza with offal at last years Pizza Expo- Antonio Starita world renowned as “the Pope’s Pizza Maker” smuggled in some unidentifiable organ meat from Italy and put it on a pizza margherita. Perhaps not for everyone, but definitely an experience.
  • The Salsiccia and Rapini pizza at Spacca Napoli in Chicago. Former Social Worker, Jonathon Goldsmith is one of the nation’s great traditional pizza makers, not to mention a terrific person. Don’t miss this truly special pizzeria when you visit the Windy City.
  • Artichoke and Fresh Garlic Mayonnaise in Rome. Visit the Eternal City in Spring and this pizza is sure to be available as soon as artichokes are in season. It may seem like an odd combination until you realize that the mayonnaise is actually Aioli, a sauce that is commonly paired with artichokes throughout Europe.
  • This morning I made myself a delicious pizza margherita topped with grilled mortadella and an egg. The inspiring thing about pizza is that it can utilize whatever is available and become whatever you want
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