Behind the Bracket: Pizza Styles of America
Something tells us you鈥檒l be spending a lot of time over the next three weeks watching basketball. Mid-March means we鈥檝e finally hit that special time of year when 68 of the country鈥檚 best basketball teams duke it out for the title of national champion. There鈥檚 something about pizza and game day that just goes together, so why not take it a step further and match your pizza order to who鈥檚 playing on TV? Here, dig into the pizza styles of America, inspired by a few of the teams that scored a spot in the tournament.
Philadelphia
Philly (just a 20-mile ride from Villanova) is big on the tomato pie, which is an offshoot of a Sicilian and was brought to the area by the Italian immigrants who settled here. The focaccia-like dough is baked into a square pie that鈥檚 about 1-inch thick and topped with a sweet tomato sauce. Add a shake of Parmesan cheese and eat the 鈥渞ed top鈥� pizza at room temp for an authentic Philly experience.
New Jersey
Princeton, a No. 12 seed in this year鈥檚 tournament, is 10 miles from Trenton, New Jersey, which also lays claim to a tomato pie. It鈥檚 similar to Philadelphia鈥檚 except that its crust isn鈥檛 as thick, and it鈥檚 round instead of square. The dough is topped with cheese, vegetables or meat, and a chunky sauce made from lightly crushed tomatoes鈥攊n that order so the tomato sauce comes last (hence the 鈥淭renton tomato pie鈥� name).
New York
There鈥檚 nothing like roaming the streets of New York鈥攐r sampling your way through the foods on those streets. On any given corner in New York City, you鈥檒l find 鈥渄irty water鈥� hot dogs and a pizza counter serving up dollar slices. Head down from Iona University in New Rochelle, and do as the New Yorkers do: Order a thin slice (usually topped with cheese only), fold it in half, and get on with your busy day.
Ohio Valley
The Ohio Valley touches several states鈥攊ncluding Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania鈥攕o it鈥檚 no wonder the region is a hub of basketball talent with consistently good teams like Kentucky, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Dayton calling it home. In these parts, the square Ohio Valley-style pizza (also known as Steubenville-style pizza) is king鈥攁nd particularly unique because the cheese and other toppings are added after the pizza鈥檚 been baked. Not sold on the idea? Ohio Valley natives claim that method results in stringier and more flavorful cheese.
California
The Golden State is well represented in this year鈥檚 bracket. When UCLA is on the court, do as the Californians do and get creative with your toppings. Rather than sticking to basic pepperoni or sausage, a California-style pizza might stack its slices with seasonal vegetables, unexpected sauces like barbecue sauce or cr猫me fra卯che, and goat cheese or ricotta rather than traditional mozzarella. Want to really make it scream California style? Throw an egg on top.
Chicago
Our hometown, which is just south of Evanston, home to the Northwestern Wildcats, is best known for deep dish. The genius part-pizza, part-casserole, and all-delicious creation was first baked in the 1940s. The flaky, buttery crust usually gets its yellow tint from cornmeal. It鈥檚 topped with cheese and smothered in tomato sauce. Find our take on the Chicago classic in the frozen pizza aisle. And keep in mind: You鈥檒l need a fork and knife to tackle this one.
