New York–style pizza facts for kids
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| Type | Pizza |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | New York City, New York |
| Main ingredients | Pizza dough, tomato sauce, mozzarella |
New York–style pizza is a famous kind of pizza. It has a big, thin crust that is often tossed by hand. People usually buy it in large slices to eat on the go.
The edge of the crust is thick and crunchy. But the part under the toppings is soft, thin, and flexible. This means you can fold your slice in half to eat it easily! The classic toppings are simple: just tomato sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese. This pizza became popular with Italian immigrants because it was a good, filling meal that didn't cost much.
This pizza style grew in the United States. It came from pizzas first made in New York City in the early 1900s. These were inspired by Neapolitan-style pizza from Italy. Today, New York–style pizza is very common in New York and New Jersey. It is also popular in many other parts of the U.S.
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History of New York Pizza
The first pizzeria in the United States was Lombardi's. It was started by Gennaro Lombardi in New York City's Little Italy in 1905. Gennaro Lombardi was a pizzaiolo, which means a pizza maker, from Naples, Italy.
He first opened a grocery store in 1897. Eight years later, in 1905, New York State gave him a license to sell pizza. An employee named Antonio Totonno Pero started making the pizzas. A whole pizza pie cost five cents. But many people couldn't afford a whole pie. So, they would pay what they could for a slice. The slices were wrapped in paper and tied with string.
In 1924, Totonno left Lombardi's. He opened his own pizzeria on Coney Island, called Totonno's. The first pizzerias in New York used special coal-fired ovens. They also put the cheese on the bottom and the sauce on top. By 2010, there were over 400 pizza places in New York City! Many other restaurants also sold pizza.
What Makes New York Pizza Special?
New York–style pizza is usually made by tossing the dough by hand. The basic pizza has a thin layer of tomato sauce. Then, it's topped with dry, grated, full-fat mozzarella cheese. Any other toppings go on top of the cheese.
These pizzas are typically very large. They are about 18 to 24 inches (45 to 60 cm) wide. They are usually cut into eight big slices. People often eat these wide slices as fast food. They fold the slice in half along the crust. This makes it easier to hold with one hand. It also helps stop oil from dripping off the pizza.
The special crust of New York–style pizza comes from the high-gluten bread flour used to make it. Some people also believe that the minerals in New York City's tap water help give the dough its unique texture and taste. Some pizza makers even bring water from New York to other states to make their pizzas taste more authentic! However, many people disagree. They say you can make great pizza anywhere with the right methods and ingredients.
Common toppings for New York pizza include dried oregano, dried red chili pepper flakes, garlic powder, dried basil, and grated Parmesan cheese.
Pizza Pictures
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A large New York–style pizza ready for the oven.
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New York–style plain cheese pizza by the slice.
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Traditional New York–style pizza slices (right) and slices with fresh mozzarella (left).
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A New York–style slice from New Park Pizza.
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Two New York–style slices from New Park Pizza.
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A New York–style slice from Joe's Pizza.
Where to Find New York Pizza
New York–style pizza is most common in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. But you can find it all over the Northeast and even further away.
Outside of this area, many pizzas are called "New York–style." This includes pizzas from big chains like Pizza Hut. But these often don't taste like the real thing found in New York.
See also
In Spanish: Pizza estilo Nueva York para niños
