We are
well into the new year and I have officially gone to my first new pizzeria of
2017, Patsy’s Pizza. It is has been on my annual to do list since last year. I have to say Patsy’s
Pizza is my strongest and latest love affair.
Last week
I went with a friend for lunch. I expected us to be alone but for a weekday
there were many patrons sitting down for a meal. Immediately upon entering we
were greeted by the most friendly and funny bartender I have ever met. It felt
like the Italian version of Cheers. Many other customers were even given kisses
on the cheek upon entering. I hope to accomplish this high status after a few
more visits.
The
entire staff could not have been more welcoming and accommodating. We each had
a glass of Sauvignon Blanc, a white wine I would never normally order but this
bartender, sad to say I did not get his name, recommended and it was
incredible!
The most
popular dish is the Margherita pizza but we went another way. We both wanted the
Vodka Sauce pie so that’s what we got. There are no slices served here as it is
family style all the way, so you have to order a whole pie. What you don’t have
to do is eat the entire thing unless you are me and my friend. We felt
compelled to. To leave a slice or two remaining or to have it wrapped to take
home seemed like a sin. The real sin I now know is having never tasted this
pizza in the first place.
The smell
of the sauce on the pizza hit me before I even saw it. It was a thin crust
pizza with the homemade sauce and fresh mozzarella cheese- one of my most
favorite! I can eat that cheese a pound at a time with literally nothing else.
It is certainly the food of my soul.
If I
thought the smell was heavenly then the taste set me right over the edge. My
friend and I both were instantly addicted. The first few slices went down
pretty fast but that is not to say we weren’t savoring each bite. When it was
all over I wasn’t even sure how much I had eaten until I asked my friend. It
turns out I got three and a half slices down. I would like to note that we ate
lunch around one thirty in the afternoon I was full until eight o’clock at
night at which point I only had a small salad.
But I am
forgetting one of the most important parts of our meal. The rice balls!! I am a
rice ball aficionado and have had them just about everywhere. A good place to
start to confirm my story is to read every pizza or Italian food related blog.
But ooh Patsy’s how you make me a true believer!! These rice balls were the
crunchiest I have ever had. Truly I did not realize how flat every other kind I
have had was. This crisp crunch is not something I could ever give up, although
I am sure when lesser balls are put in front of me I will still eat them, just
for nourishment though.
As for
the inside that too was just how I like it, only white rice and cheese, no
meats, peas, or sauce. These had a blend of cheeses that made my mouth sing. It
felt like I could do that scene from “A Sound of Music” where Julie Andrews is
singing in the Alps on the mountaintop. I am now convinced she had some of
Patsy’s rice balls shipped to her right before she filmed that scene. If not I
am just imagining how much more epic that really could have been done.
While my
experience at Patsy’s was delightful researching it’s past was not so much fun.
The complicated and confusing back-story has only just been clarified due to a
post I read on “Slice: Serious Eats” by Adam Kuban. I owe him a big shout out!
Thanks Adam!!
I will do
my best to repeat what I have learned.
As the
story goes the original Patsy’s opened in Harlem in 1933. Original owners Patsy
and Carmella Lancieri created an establishment where Italian immigrants could
taste and feel a bit closer to home. The quality of the food and atmosphere
made Patsy’s legendary especially after it had a cult like following with
visitors like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Francis Ford Coppola. Coppola was
such a big fan he used it as a place to authenticate the actors performances in
“The Godfather” and since many movies have been filmed there. But Patsy’s does
not only cater to the rich and famous. Many politicians on both sides of the
aisle have hosted galas there. Not to be outdone Patsy’s does plenty of good
deeds serving food for the community and sponsoring numerous of their own
initiatives.
The
confusing part is that although the original owners of Patsy’s no longer hold
the title to this restaurant when you check their website you will notice
several additional N.Y.C. locations. However this site does not mention the
Brooklyn shop. The new ownership has fostered different branches but
technically they can all trace their history back to that first shop in Harlem
that opened in 1933, which is still in existence if you care to gander a visit.
For me I am quite happy with my Brooklyn location although I do have a soft
spot for original and historical locations.
The last
remaining pizzeria I want to try from my to do list is Juliana’s Pizza and
coincidently that has a connection to Patsy’s I was previously unaware of. You
see the owners of Juliana’s, Patsy and his late wife Carol, were also the
original owners of the Grimaldi’s chain, which has since been sold, name and all,
to a former customer. Way back in 2011, I had been to Grimaldi’s under the
Brooklyn Bridge and
enjoyed it quite a bit. But since then I have been to MANY other pizza places
and I have to say I no longer think it is a part of my top five. I should say
that this list is constantly evolving and the more pizza I eat the longer that
list will get. Grimaldi’s now has a second location now in Coney Island.
The
Patsy’s that created the Harlem location is the uncle of Patsy Grimaldi would
now owns Juliana’s. Similarly Juliana’s serves thin crust pizza with only
homemade and locally grown ingredients over a coat fired oven, the first one to
be commissioned in over fifty years. Juliana’s is so named for Patsy Grimaldi’s
late mother.
I hope to
report back in the next few weeks with as much love for Patsy’s sibling
restaurant, Juliana’s. But I expect I will have a reunion with dear old Patsy’s
once again before that time comes.
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