Its the first and last pizza week here on EWZ, and that time of the month – W42nd st monthly launch. And by pure coincidence or not, this month issue lists the best pizza in Hell’s Kitchen. Long time readers will notice one major drop/add on the list. Although the major drop (John’s) is still fairly popular with visitors, and the addition is pretty far out there. So pick up a free copy of the W42st, to check out what this dysfunctional family is up to these days.
I figured the best way to express myself this time around would be by sharing the latest clinical results from my team of doctors. The monthly report is normally 38-50 pages long but here I will just share the “thoughts” pie chart on page 17. The chart varies from month to month but the big players are more or less constant. And since my Islanders were ousted last night, I expect Hockey to be replaced by sex, pasta or a combination of sorts very soon. But as you can see, I do think about pizza often. I recently had to impose a limit on my pizza intakes and now I’m down to just twice a month. So when I have a bad one on occasion, I do get cranky a little. I need to make it count.
And so to make it count I either go to Don Antonio or Capizzi these days. Sure a slice or three from Sacco, or Merilu, or a combination of the two (my current preferred method) does the trick. While Don Antonio is one of the best in the Neapolitan business. But there’s something magical going on at Capizzi, which is just about my favorite pizza in NYC at the moment.
The pizza at Capizzi is as solid as it gets. It’s the Pat of the NY Pizza scene. Sometimes it looks more Neapolitan, sometimes more NYC like. Its somewhere in between really, and always delicious. I would even say it gets better with age. The ingredients are fresh, some ingredients like the sausages are made in house. The dough is first rate, and the pie comes out of that wood burning oven (built by Joe the owner) with a thin crisp bottom, and the perfect char. The ingredients on top speak for themselves. In Italian!
Taste/Pain Ratio ™ is something I talk about sometimes. The formula that measures the level of taste to the level of enjoyment or suffering one must endure for it. Like women’s shoes. Your sexy new heels will not look very sexy if you are in pain and cant walk straight. You may think you are sexy, but you are not. Grimaldi’s may dish out a decent pie, but it demands quite an effort to get there and stand on line, resulting in a low Taste/Pain ratio. Tourists do the pilgrimage to the legendary Di Fara in Brooklyn, spending half a day door-to-bite, convincing themselves that its worth it, while not realizing that there’s around 20 places that would suit them just fine in Manhattan.
Capizzi may very well have the highest Taste/Pain Ratio in NYC. There’s never any sort of wait. Yo get a comfortable table and personal service each and every time (both aspects may be lacking sometimes in Don Antonio and the busier Tavola across the street. Busier than Capizzi that is). Capizzi is old school Brooklyn without the rich history of a Lombardi’s, and the sexiness of a Don antonio, hence not very touristy. Joe Calcagno’s has been making those pies since he was a child in Brooklyn, helping papa. Capizzi (a small town in Sicily where grandma came from) is one of several current Joe holdings including a popular restaurant/pizzeria in Staten Island. Its where I go for my pizza fix
Capizzi
547 9th Ave
Dear readers, it is with extreme pleasure and slight gastro discomfort that I welcome you to the first installment of Best Dishes in Hell, where we feature 5 dishes to target in this little foodie heaven I like to call Hell’s Kitchen. Each of these bites is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and put all your troubles behind. Or not!
Bourekas at Gazala’s Place – Bourekas, or Bourek is something I ate often as a child, but not really by choice. I hated it! So if I list a Bourekas in this space, it can only mean that this is not your ordinary Bourekas. Your choices are normally Feta with spinach or Feta with sun-dried tomatoes. I prefer the latter. One bite of that beast to feel that explosive, rich, flaky goodness and you’ll understand why. And did I mention that it comes with a side of my favorite Hummus in the city.
Egg Bowl at Little Chef – The winter version below, while the regular version is pictured on top. Health food that I would gladly go out of my way for, but luckily I dont need to as I work 12.3 minutes from Gotham West Market (I timed it). The current version features porky cranberry beans, salsa rojas (roasted red salsa), and just about the sickest breadcrumbs on the planet. Same breadcrumbs featured in the non-wintery bowl which includes fresh greens and assorted roasted veggies like broccoli and potatoes. Glorious stuff my friends
Sausage Pizza at Capizzi – Avid readers of EWZ already know that there’s no reason to cross bridges and tunnels for pizza. However, very few places in the city (Manhattan) have that homey pizza parlor feel that is very common in Brooklyn and Staten Island. Capizzi tucked away in “Downtown Hell’s Kitchen” got it and more. This pie is a sausage fest of deep flavors made from fresh ingredients cooked in a wood fired oven. Not quite NY style pizza, and not quite Naples style, but very NYC
Akamaru Modern at Ippudo – A recent article by the NYT reaffirms the belief that Hell’s Kitchen is a ramen force to be reckon with. And in the middle of this ramen revolution is this super popular Ippudo branch. Start with their terrific smooth pork buns and move on to the Akamaru, a complex porky broth and just about as addictive as Ramen gets in NYC
Canotto at Sullivan Street Bakery – Love at first bite. Sometimes its slightly off, but for the most part its pastry perfection. Brioche filled with mascarpone, berries, topped with crumbs and some salt. What I love about this is that every bite is different. On one bite you taste chewy, cheesy, salty, next is crunchy, fruity, and so on
Eating With Ziggy 