Grandma vs. Sicilian Pizza (& Where to Get the Best of Each)

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If you’ve ever visited a New York City pizza joint, then you probably already know that there are two primary pizza styles that NYC can call its own: There’s the classic, thin-crusted, round pie, ready to be cut into big, cheesy, foldable slices; and there’s Sicilian pizza, with its thick, fluffy crust and rectangular-cut slices.

But if you look carefully behind the counter at some of the city’s top slice shops, you’ll discover a third style that’s caught on in popularity in recent years: grandma pizza. At first glance, it may look similar to Sicilian pizza, but it’s actually different in several major ways. So what’s the difference between Sicilian pizza and grandma pizza?

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SICILIAN AND GRANDMA PIZZA SLICE?

If you look at a slice of Sicilian pizza and a slice of grandma pizza side-by-side, it’ll quickly become obvious that there are some important differences between the two:

  • The History
  • The Crust
  • The Cheese & Sauce Order

The History Of Sicilian And Grandma Pizza

Sicilian pizza, as its name implies, can trace its roots to Sicily. Traditional Sicilian-style pizza – that is, the pizza style that was predominant on the island in the mid-1800s – is called sfincione, and is thick-crusted and rectangular, similar to focaccia with toppings. Cheese is optional. This pizza style was brought by Sicilian immigrants to the United States, where it evolved into the Sicilian pizza we know today.

Grandma pizza can also trace its roots to Italian immigrants, who developed the style in their home kitchens, using standard American cooking equipment like sheet pans and home ovens instead of the communal bread ovens found in Italy.

The style remained relatively unknown until the mid-1990s, when a pizza chef named Umberto Corteo began selling grandma pizza at his popular Long Island pizzeria, Umberto’s of New Hyde Park. This pizzeria is today considered a pilgrimage-worthy ground zero of grandma pizza popularity, and it’s the reason why so many other pizzerias across the New York area began to sell it.

The Crust

The crust is the primary differentiator between Sicilian and a grandma slice. After a Sicilian pizza crust’s dough is stretched on an oiled sheet pan, it’s allowed to rise for an extended period of time before toppings are applied and it’s baked. This gives it a crust that can be an inch thick, and it’s airy and chewy.

Grandma pizza, on the other hand, has a crust that isn’t given that extra time to rise before it’s topped and baked, so while it may still be thicker than a standard New York slice, it’s still much thinner and less chewy than Sicilian crust.

Both styles are baked on a sheet pan that’s been covered with olive oil, so the bottom is golden brown and crisp, with an almost fried texture.

The Cheese & Sauce Order

Most Sicilian pizzas are topped like traditional New York-style pizzas, with a layer of tomato sauce atop the crust, followed by cheese and toppings. Grandma pizza traditionally reverses the order, with sliced mozzarella cheese going down first, followed by an uneven layer of tomato sauce; by not covering the entire pizza with sauce, the cheese still gets golden brown and bubbly, creating a distinctive appearance.

Of course, there are no hard-and-fast rules when it comes to pizza, so some well-known pizzerias also reverse the cheese-sauce order on their Sicilian pies and put the cheese down first.

WHAT MAKES SICILIAN PIZZA DIFFERENT?

As we’ve already made clear, Sicilian pizza is completely different from both the traditional New York-style slice as well as grandma pizza. A good way to think of Sicilian pizza is focaccia, but with plenty of cheese, sauce, and other toppings on top.

WHY IS IT CALLED A GRANDMA PIZZA?

Grandma style pizza has very humble origins, being baked at home by immigrant housewives (and as the years went on, grandmas). Calling it “grandma pizza” is a nod to these homespun origins.

IS GRANDMA PIZZA DETROIT STYLE?

Grandma pizza is definitely not Detroit-style pizza, another very trendy pizza style. It has a much thinner crust, and Detroit-style pizza is baked in deep steel pans. It’s closer in appearance to Sicilian pizza, but again the type of pan used is different, and Detroit-style pizza is constructed “upside-down” traditionally with stripes of sauce atop the cheese.

Buddy's Detroit Style Pizza

MOST ICONIC GRANDMA PIZZAS AND SICILIAN PIZZAS

If you’d like to try grandma-style pizza for yourself, there’s no need to go to New York! Iconic and delicious grandma-style pizzas are shipping straight to your door:

Loring Place's Grandma Pizza

The James Beard Award Winner: Loring Place

Chef Dan Kluger won the James Beard Award for his cooking at NYC’s ABC Kitchen, and since opening Loring Place in 2016 it’s become one of Greenwich Village’s most acclaimed restaurants. His grandma pizza has been the star of the Loring Place menu for years.

This signature pizza is so beloved that in 2021 Kluger gave it its own offshoot, called Washington Squares. This pizza also has some whole wheat mixed into the dough, which imparts a nutty flavor.

Traze Pizza Lab

The Vegetarian Cult Favorite: Traze Pizza Lab

Traze Pizza Lab was founded by Natalie DeSabato in New York City in 2015, and her grandma style pizzas are entirely vegetarian; some are even vegan. She started out serving her signature pizzas at punk shows and arts spaces in Brooklyn and Queens, and they proved so popular that she expanded well beyond pop ups.

Natalie’s small-batch vegetarian pizzas start with a well-fermented sourdough crust, which is twice-baked for fluffy-on-the-inside, crisp-on-the-outside perfection.

Christian Petroni

From A Food Network Star: Christian Petroni

Born and raised in the Bronx, Chef Christian Petroni has made a name for himself as one of New York City’s most prominent Italian-American chefs. While running the acclaimed pizzeria Fortina, he found stardom on the Food Network, where he’s appeared on shows including Guy’s Grocery Games and Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.

On his signature garlic butter Sicilian pizza, the cheese is ooey gooey, the marinara sauce has been slowly simmered for over eight hours, parmesan and pecorino give it a salty kick, and the rich garlic butter is speckled with garlic and Italian oregano.

This article originally appeared on Goldbelly.com and was syndicated by MediaFeed.org.

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The 15 Best Pizza Places in the US

The 15 Best Pizza Places in the US

Pizza has earned its stripes as a quintessential American comfort food, despite its Italian origins. From the streets of New York City to the alleys of San Francisco, this versatile dish has been adapted and embraced across the United States, symbolizing the nation’s blend of cultures and tastes. While the country is home to an array of pizza styles—be it the thin crusts of New York, the deep dishes of Chicago, or the square slabs of Detroit—there’s an underlying quest to honor the authentic Neapolitan traditions that gave birth to this worldwide favorite.

According to a survey by the pizza assessment company 50 Top Pizza, the United States is home to some of the best pizzerias in the world. Their 2023 rankings list the top 100 pizzerias globally, with 15 of them located in America. 

The survey sends undercover evaluators to score establishments based on factors like ingredient quality and customer service. Here is a reverse-counted list of the top 15 pizzerias in the United States, according to the 50 Top Pizza rankings for 2023:

Editor’s note: Availability subject to change

laleggendapizzeria.com

Established in 2015, Fabrica Pizza skillfully blends traditional techniques with modern flair. Known for its customizable options and high-quality, hand-stretched dough, it grabbed the 97th spot on the global list.

fabricapizza.com

Going against Chicago’s deep-dish grain, Spacca Napoli offers bona fide Neapolitan pizzas. Using unique ingredients from Italy and baking in a Naples-crafted oven, it’s the 93rd best pizzeria in the world.

spaccanapolipizzeria.com/

Ranked 92nd globally, Ops delivers well-hydrated, nicely leavened pizzas made with local produce. It’s also known for excellent customer service and a selection of natural wines.

opsbk.com/

Placing 76th on the world list, Pasquale’s specializes in certified, authentic Neapolitan pizzas. The pizzeria is particularly noted for its light, airy crusts.

pasqualespizzeriari.com

Coming in at 73rd globally, this Miami Beach hotspot is run by Giovanni Gagliardi, a lifetime pizza maker. La Leggenda captures the essence of Neapolitan pizza tradition.

laleggendapizzeria.com

Situated in NYC’s Financial District,Kesté holds the 72nd spot globally. The pizzeria is overseen by Robert Caporuscio, who is committed to promoting authentic Neapolitan pizza-making techniques.

kestepizzeria.com

Ranked 33rd in the world, this West Village establishment delivers traditional, classic pizzas under the guidance of seasoned chef Ciro Iovine.

songenapule.us/

Securing the 28th position globally, this Buffalo-area pizzeria distinguishes itself by sticking to Neapolitan and Detroit-style traditions while incorporating high-quality local and international ingredients.

jaysbuffalo.com/

Inspired by Neapolitan and Florentine traditions,O’ Munacielloearned the 22nd spot. All pizzas are made with 48-hour fermented dough and Italian ingredients.

O’ Munaciello/Instagram

This pizzeria, which holds the 22nd position on the global list, goes all-out traditional. Using Italian flour, yeast, and buffalo-milk mozzarella, Ribalta offers a classic Neapolitan experience.

Ribalta/Instagram

Earning 21st place globally, Chris Bianco’s venture revolutionized the American pizza scene, initially operating from a grocery store corner. Now it’s a multi-location success.

pizzeriabianco.com

With a 19th global ranking, Tony Gemignani’sestablishment showcases a wide variety of pizza styles, all prepared in an assortment of specially designed ovens.

Welcome

Landing at 18th on the global list, this pizzeria offers “Italian-inspired, American-accented” pizzas. Known for its innovative and original creations, it’s a hit on the West Coast.

kensartisan.com

Securing 11th place globally,Razza is celebrated for its focus on local ingredients and its aspiration to elevate the standard of pizza across the United States.

Razza Pizza Artigianale/Facebook

The top-ranking American pizzeria at 2nd globally, Una Pizza Napoletana, located in NYC’s Lower East Side, is lauded for its natural leavening, simple ingredients, and wood-fired baking technique.

This article was produced and syndicated by MediaFeed.

Una Pizza Napoletana/Facebook

Featured Image Credit: Kladyk / iStock.

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