A Passion for Pizza – A Journey Through the Thick and Thin to Find the Pizza Elite (Agate Publishing) by Craig Whitson, Tore Gjesteland, Mats Widen and Kenneth Hansen just hit the shelves on March 10th. Just like the rest of the cookbook world, I was wondering “Does the world really need another book about pizza?” Oddly enough, this question is posed in the first line of the foreword. The authors believed so and after reading the book – I have to agree wholeheartedly.
In 1998, the two pizza enthusiasts, Tore and Craig, teamed up with Trond Moi and participated in the unofficial world championship of pizza baking in Las Vegas and won for their pecan pie dessert pizza. A version of this recipe is in the book and looks heavenly. The prize winning recipe included cheese which was a competition requirement — the recipe in the book does not. In 2011, the two joined forces with another friend, Kenneth Hansen, and in 2012 added the fourth player, Mats Widen, a Swedish photographer, to the team to create this book that focuses on the “two important countries for pizza – Italy and the United States”.
The introduction starts with memories of their first encounters with pizza that led to their lifelong love of same. Next, the foursome devote roughly 180 pages to different regions of Italy and the United States, beginning in Naples sharing tales of various pizza chefs and their pizzerias. Little vignettes set out the stories of these experts and their love of all the components of a great pizza.
After covering the various wonders of Italy, they move to New York from Pizza’s Mick Jagger (Keste Pizza & Vino) to Eataly, the place to visit for all great Italian food items. Chicago is next on the agenda which is famous for it’s deep dish variation and then California where they visit Pizzeria Mozza, A16, Pizzeria Delfina and several more fine establishments known for their spectacular pizza.
After visiting the meccas of all great pizza, the foursome cover ingredients and equipment that the reader will need to create great pizza – flour, tomatoes, cheese, olive oil, cured meats, basil are discussed in detail as well as the tools of the trade – the pizza peel, pans, ovens and the like.
When we arrive to page 181, we are gifted with the RECIPES! There are roughly 100 pages of recipes – so don’t be put off by the narrative trip we took to get to the recipes, enjoy the trip as it is wonderfully informative with beautiful photos and personal stories.
The authors provide us with several versions of doughs and sauces – including their “favorite dough” which I am preparing today — it includes instructions for the pre-dough as well as the main dough. The chilling process is recommended for 24 to 48 hours accordingly pizza will be made on Sunday. I will update you with photos and thoughts on this recipe. I will be trying a sauce recipe as well and I am thinking I will also give the pecan pie pizza a whirl.
There are roughly 60 recipes for pizzas alone from pizza marinara, aloha pizza, clam pie, Keste’s pistachio e Salsiccia pizza, Cali-zone, Chicago deep dish, Chicago thin crust, New Old El Paso pizza, smoking salmon pizza, nutella alla Spacca Napoli to dessert pizza with chevre. The book finishes up with some pantry style recipes for smoked mozzarella, chile oil, sour cream dip and more.
I enjoyed the book from the trips to various regions of Italy to the pizza capitals of the United States and the delicious recipes it shares with us. It will earn a coveted spot on my cookbook shelf.
Update 3/16 tomorrow there will be pizza
Update 3/17 using their favorite dough recipe, I made barbecue pork pizza, using some pork leftovers. On Friday I will make the sauce recipe in the book and update again. It was dark by the time the pizza was ready so excuse the subpar photos. We enjoyed the crust –it had great flavor.
Final update 3/20. Tonight I made a plain pizza with the sauce recipe from the book – and if possible the crust was even better five days later. Two discs of dough were left over and went into the freezer. My husband said it was the best tasting pizza he has had. Score! I especially love that we were able to get two meals out of this dough recipe plus two additional meals await in the freezer.
GIVEAWAY:
Agate Publishing has graciously offered one of my readers a chance to win a copy of this fantastic book. Please leave a comment on this post telling me about your favorite pizza. US addresses only. A random winner will be chosen on April 1st, 2015. Good luck!
Marji Kehoe #83 was chosen by Random Number Generator! Congratulations!
My favorite is Trapani style, studded with breadcrumbs and anchovies. This is something I’ve not been able to do justice at home. Great review!
My favorite pizza is a meatball pizza. I love making everything from scratch and using fresh mozzarella
The one I made last is always my favorite.
my son in law built a wood burning pizza oven in his back yard and then set about creating his own version My favorite actually was put together by my daughter/his wife, Marissa. I think it was entitled The Cornbelt Pizza…would eat this every time over any other pizza.
I love two kinds of pizza…plain with lots of cheese and mushrooms, or margarita, with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. Actually, now that I think of it, I love all sorts of pizzas, but not ones which have strange ingredients like ham and pineapple on them!
Sausage and black olive on a thin crust.
I would love this book!
If someone could teach me how to copy the crust at the Parker Pie Co. in Vermont, I’d make pizza everyday 🙂
There is a restaurant around here called the Tap House that makes really great flatbread pizzas. All of their bread, rolls and pizza crusts are baked from scratch at the restaurant, and they use good quality ingredients, locally sourced whenever possible. For me, the simplest is the best – the margherita, with just mozzarella, tomato slices and fresh basil.
My fav is margerita with homemade dough and fresh ingredients baked on a stone in our Big Green Egg. Tastes like it was cooked in a brick oven…yum!
My favorite is any kind of veggie pizza!
My sourdough individual cheese and pepperoni pizzas are my favorites.
Any kind of veggie pizza is my favorite
I would love to have this pizza book since I do not have many for pizza!
My favorite pizza is a thin crust simple margarita pie. I would love to win this book!
When I was going to college at SJU, I discovered The House of Pizza in St. Cloud MN and they had the best pizza I’ve ever eaten. That was over 40 years ago and I have never found a better pizza anywhere I’ve travelled.
I love a really well done cheese pizza, or sausage, or lasagna pizza, or BBQ chicken… Hmmm… Too many choices! Now I’m hungry!!
I love a pepperoni pizza; I also love to make them with fresh mozzarella! 🙂 Sometimes smoked mozz is good too!
sounds strange but potato and bacon from Otto in Portland Maine
I have been perfecting my homemade pizza, a pie at a time. So I have to say right now, that my favorite is; Prosciutto with fresh mozzarella, Asiago, mushrooms and Basil. Once cooked covered with some Arugula and extra Asiago Cheese. Yum yum!
Lately, my favorite has been buffalo chicken pizza.
My favorite pizza is the one I’m eating at the time.
I love making pizza would love this book
I love homemade pizza, thick thick crust, w/ pineapple!
My favorite pizza is from a Long Island institution called Pizza Supreme. They started in a local mall here, Roosevelt Field, and then ended up in a little strip mall when the mall was renovated years ago. Little saucy rectangle slices with a thick strip of fresh mozzarella. The best!
Chicago-style thin crust (similar to NYC, but not the same) with mushrooms, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and mushrooms. Did I miss anything? I think I got it all.
Marguerita pizza!
My favorite is Margherita pizza.
Roberta’s Bee Sting. Fresh Mozz, Aribiatta sauce, fresh basil and a drizzle of honey. Awesome!
My favorite mushroom and bacon!
I’d love this… Never tried making my own.
Looks like a great addition to my collection!
White veggie pizza
My favorite homemade pizza is a thin crust, garlic cream sauce, ground beef/sausage, feta, olives, artichokes and lots of mozzarella. Yum!
Homemade pizza – looks like a great book!
i love making homemade pizza
I love a cracker-thin crust with veggie toppings.
looks good!
I like pretty much any topping, as long as the crust is thin and crispy. The “Pizza’s Mick Jagger” mentioned above sounds very appealing..
Bruno’s apple butter pizza in West Lafayette, IN. I enjoy all kinds of pizza but Bruno opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of toppings.
My current favorite is steak & cheese pizza….just made some pizza dough this morning. This one will probably be deep dish sausage….although I have pepperoni also. Love BBQ chicken pizza, Hawaiian, alfredo & grilled chicken, ham potato and rosemary, good old Margherita….
Who wouldn’t love to win a cookbook! Thanks for making this one available! I love pizza; especially thin and crispy crust oozing with melted cheese, garlic and fresh tomatoes. Yummy!
mmmm….pizza!
I have a passion for pizza! 😉
My favorite pizza? Whatever is front of me. I love pizza and I enjoy the endless amount of flavor combinations. Drag is best.
Any pizza that has anchovies
Nice book! I love a regular red pie with mozzarella and garlic and artichokes and a few spoonfuls of ricotta here and there. Heaven.
White pizza with arugula and prosicutto 😉
My favorite pizza is the classic Margarita (excuse the bad spelling but you know what I mean!).
Pizza – I could eat it everyday! I love most, but remember one fondly from when I worked at Godfather’s as a teen. Hot spicy sausage, ground beef, onions, green peppers, jalapenos and extra cheese
Oh, I love white pizza! And Margharita Pizza! And I’d love this book!
I love stone oven pizza with spinach, artichokes, feta cheese and goat cheese…yummm
Bacon and clam pizza is awesome.
My fave pizza is the one I am eating. Ha! I like a crispy thin crust. Toppings vary by mood.
Yes! Yes! YES!
My favorite pizza is a Grilled Fried Calamari Pizza with Arrabbiata sauce!
The thinner the better! I’ve gone from liking sausage & mushrooms & onions to simply cheese & tomatoes, little basil and garlic.
Now that I know how to comment- LOL I’d love the book!
Homemade pizza is the best!!
My favorite pizza is Beef, Mushroom, Ham and extra cheese. Yum
Pepperoni!
I just bought a pizza steel today! I have been putting off making my own pizza until I got a steel or stone. Now I am ready! My favorite pizza is one made with goat cheese and NO tomato sauce (my stomach has a hard time with tomato sauce).
My husband makes an outstanding meat lovers pie! I also love a pizza with fresh herbs on it.
LOVE Pizza!
I admit, my favorite pizza is Round Table thin crust, Pepperoni and Olive with Jalapenos. Oh and don’t forget the extra cheese. And then of course I sprinkle red pepper flakes on top. We do really need to start making our own pizzas though, we never have!
My favorite pizza is a white pizza with roasted garlic, fresh mozz, fresh ricotta and broccoli.
Any pizza I make is my favorite!
I love breakfast pizza. spinach, gruyere & fried eggs!
I don’t have any pizza books, and living where I am now makes me wish I knew how to make pizza from scratch! Tried about 15 pizza places so far and the crust is just not right. I miss pizza from my favorite place in Northern Virginia: Puppatella 🙁 Sigh.
I got cut off! My favorite pizza in the whole entire world: Prosciutto Arugula pizza from Puppatella, Arlington VA.
We love pizza, focaccia, flat breads. Last week, I had a Brussel sprout pizza with ricotta and walnuts. Yum!
my favorite pizza is a marguerite and a garlic pizza with shrimp, tomatoes, and spinach with fresh mozzarella!
My favorite pizza is Margheritta, Napolitan style. But lately I’ve also been in love with this Potato, Bacon & Rosemary Pizza with Goat Cheese and Pecorino! 🙂
That would be the pizza I had this past Saturday evening.
I can’t take credit for it, a local restaurant gets that honor.
The crust was light and perfectly crisp around the edges. Fresh mozzarella, Parmesan and fruity olive oil was perfectly distributed across the pizza. Topped with thinly sliced truffles and cut in with the bite of arugula.
Truly Amazing. Truly.
My favorite pizza is a meatball pizza. I love making everything from scratch, the crust, sauce, meatballs and using fresh mozzarella
thick crust, black olives, mushrooms, bacon and a mountain of cheese
The chewier the crust, the more I like it. Happiest with pizza blanco.
There was a Italian restaurant in Naples Fl that had the best chicken Alfredo pizza ever. I so wish I had that recipe. I love a thin crisp crust! Would love this book 😉
shallots, mushrooms and spinach!
I love fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil, black olives, green peppers, red onions and monz cheese.YUM!!!
My favorite pizza is made with the finest, freshest ingredients available.
We make our own – dough and sauce. Add some standard fixings on top. Don’t want the pre-made or take-out anymore!
I love adding kale to my pizza. After baking it is crispy kale chips. It is fantastic.
Various sliced mushroom, fontina and fresh mozz, arugula, and a little truffle oil. Yum!
Excellent info, we can’t wait to try the dough recipe.
This one is sounding good
Garden basil with some roasted garlic, pecorino + goat cheese. Some squash blossoms, mushrooms, onions topped with arugula and some tangerine balsamic dressing. Thank you for the giveaway!
I love the so-called garbage pizzas. The very best has a super thin, crispy, yeast crust, a thick tomato based sauce, whole milk mozzarella and lots of meat and veggies. I like my cheese on top of everything else. Finally, it has to be cut in squares…no wedges for me!
This would be delightful. I need remediation lol
Caramelized onions, goat cheese, and pepperoni pizza is my favorite.
I love thin and crispy with light sauce, loaded with veggies. If I have meat on it, I go for the spicy Italian sausage!
My favorite pizza is the one I am eating at any time.
We have a new pizza place near us and I’ve been so in love with their (very) thin crust on which they pile almost anything you want. I wish I could tell you one favorite….ok, I’ll narrow it to two: Sriacha Chicken with blue cheese…different from buffalo chicken but OH SO GOOD and eggplant, goat cheese, black olive, arugula with a drizzle of truffle oil.
Almost any that includes a runny egg on top!
our favorites are constantly changing. Right now the house favorite is buffalo chicken pizza using vitamixed alfredo sauce as the base. . . everyone loves it.
My favorite pizza has been buffalo chicken, lately.