A Look at Pizzerias Across America
Houdini Pizza Laboratory | Fanwood, New Jersey
Its tagline is “Harry Houdini brought warmth and wonder to his life’s work. We work to bring you the same with every plate served.””Houdini is more than a pizzeria, we have great choices in fresh pasta, hand-made burrata, as well as creative specials. So it’s hard to pick one item…but if I have to choose one dish, it would be the Habanero Pizza. It is an outstanding crowd pleaser,” says creative director Jennifer Mortarulo. The Habanera is topped with mozzarella, tomato sauce, habanero pepper oil and cured spicy pork loin. There’s also the Nduja with hand-made spicy nduja sausage, shaved cappuccio cabbage, mozzarella and tomato sauce. Houdini offers a half dozen desserts including traditional northern Italian Panacotta, a soft setting custard with berry coulis.
Citizen Pie | Cleveland, Ohio
The two-unit Neapolitan-style pizzeria was founded by Chef Vytauras Sasnauskas The Northeast Ohio pizzeria’s pizza is so in demand that there are “dough meters’ online for both shops to let patrons know how much dough is left for the day. The menu is straightforward — pizzas and calzones. A local pizza favorite is the Mushroom with mozzarella, Brie, porcini truffle crema, bacon and red onion. Another highlight is the Caponata with mozzarella, hot soppressata, oil cured olives, cherry tomatoes, pine nuts, currants and basil.
Via Farina | Omaha, Nebraska
It’s all about the dough at Via Farina. It’s a Euro-wheat sourdough with wild yeast and natural Italian flour. It deviated from a traditional Neapolitan style by using a levain sourdough starter and has a minimum of three-day proof to create a “crispy crusty crust.” Its 10 pizza menu options include the Salsiccia, a red sauced pizza with house sausage, fennel, arugula, sun-dried tomato, pecorino and truffle salt. There is also the white-sauced Patata with potato confit, black pepper, oregano, grana, Pecorino and mozzarella. In addition to pizza, Via Farina has a limited selection of house-made pastas and appetizers.
