This iconic, white processed cheese is the hallmark of a true St. Louis-style pizza.
What is provel?
Because of its unusual depth and order of ingredients, this chunky red layer is famously spread on top of the cheese to prevent it from burning during the long bake.
What is tomato sauce?
To make it easier to eat on the go, New Yorkers typically perform this physical action to their large, wide slices.
What is the fold?
This classic Neapolitan pie features only tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil, and extra virgin olive oil, representing the colors of the Italian flag.
Answer: What is a Margherita?
Unlike traditional pizzas, the tomato sauce on a Detroit-style pie is ladled on last in these long, parallel rows.
What are racing stripes?
Unlike many other styles, St. Louis pizza is traditionally cut into these small, bite-sized shapes instead of wedges.
What are squares?
To help it stand up to heavy toppings, the thick, buttery crust of a deep dish pizza often includes this yellow grain for added color and a distinctive crunch.
What is cornmeal?
Many purists claim the secret to the crust's unique texture is the specific mineral content found in this local utility source.
What is NYC tap water?
To be authentic, Neapolitan pizza must be cooked in an oven fueled by this, typically reaching temperatures over 900°F.
What is wood?
This specific type of semi-hard cow's milk cheese from the Midwest is prized for its high fat content and buttery flavor.
What is Wisconsin brick cheese?
To achieve its signature cracker-like crunch, the dough for this pizza is typically made without this common leavening agent.
What is yeast?
In 1943, this iconic downtown establishment opened its doors at the corner of Ohio and Wabash, becoming the widely recognized birthplace of deep dish.
What is pizzeria uno?
In 1905, this immigrant opened the first licensed pizzeria in the United States, located on Spring Street in Manhattan.
Who is Gennaro Lombardi?
Neapolitan crust is famous for these dark, charred spots that form on the rim due to intense heat, often named after this animal.
What is leoparding?
This is the name for the crispy, lacy crown of caramelized cheese that forms where the dough meets the edge of the pan.
What is Frico?
Provel cheese is a proprietary "pasteurized process cheese" blend consisting of these three specific cheese varieties.
What are provolone, swiss, and white cheddar?
This specific variation of deep dish, popularized by Giordano’s in the 1970s, features an additional thin layer of dough between the cheese and the sauce.
What is stuffed pizza?
While most NYC slices use gas ovens, legendary spots like John’s of Bleecker Street and Patsy’s use this extremely high-heat fuel source.
What is coal?
This Italian association (AVPN) sets the strict legal standards for what can officially be called "True Neapolitan Pizza."
What is the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana?
The rectangular shape of the pizza is a result of the original 1940s pans, which were repurposed industrial trays from these local factories.
What is automotive?
This former tile-layer and his wife Margie founded the most famous St. Louis pizza chain in 1964, supposedly inspiring the pizza's square-cut "tile" shape.
Who is Ed Imo? (founder of Imo's pizza)
While owners Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo often get the credit, many food historians believe the original recipe was actually developed by this chef, whose son later founded a rival pizza empire.
Who is Rudy Malnati Sr.?
To ensure a consistent bake and low moisture, New York pizzerias almost exclusively use the "low-moisture" version of this specific cheese.
What is whole-milk mozzarella
Authentic Neapolitan dough must be made with this specific, highly refined wheat flour, known for its powder-fine consistency.
What is Tipo 00?
In 1946, this owner of Buddy’s Rendezvous is credited with inventing the style by using a Sicilian dough recipe and blue steel utility pans.
Who is Gus Guerra?