Random Post #2

 Sicilian Pizza: The Most Underrated Type of Pizza

The popular pizza opinion is that Neapolitan or New York pizza reign supreme, with perhaps a few outliers that may go to bat for Chicago deep dish. As a New York pizza lover myself, I didn't expect to ever change my tune but I would like to propose Sicilian-style pizza as a serious contender in the pizza conversation. It is the little brother often forgotten in the dialogue. It wasn't until recently that I was exposed to Sicilian-style pizza and had my whole worldview changed.

Sicilian-style pizza, as the name implies, originates from the Sicily region in Italy. The pizza was originally a street food called "sfincione" that was many's drunk food of choice in the capital of Sicily Palermo. Originally, it was served topped with anchovies, tuma (raw sheep milk cheese), pecorino cheese, onions, salt, and olive oil. Tomato sauce wasn't used until after World War II when the price of tomatoes dropped, making it affordable for street vendors and bakers to incorporate it into their recipes. These days, it is made with tomato sauce, mozzarella and any pizza toppings of your choice.

Here in the United States, Prince Street Pizza has made a name for itself as one of the most popular Sicilian-style pizza joints. Hailing from New York, the family-owned pizzeria has made huge strides in expansion and now has two locations in the Los Angeles area. When I tried it, I ordered one traditional pie with cheese and sauce and one with pepperoni. I was blown away by the the crispy yet chewy crust. The sauce was just the right amount of tangy and coupled with the perfectly balanced toppings, I have to admit that I have become a Sicilian-style pizza convert. Next time you find yourself in a heated debate over which regions pizza is the best, don't forget to give Sicilian-style pizza a chance.