New York's Best Pizza

 Last week the New York Times Food section gave a very good and extensive guide to finding the city's best bagels. Now it's a guide for the best pizza. The city is famous for its' yummy slices , rich with sauce and cheese. WHich is the best? That's a hard answer.

Keep in mind this guide stretches to all the boroughs so you don;t have leave your own to get a tasty pie. Even if you're in New Jersey, it's an easy trip to Staten Island to get a dinner. The same goes for Long Islanders seeking a great pizza in Brooklyn or Queens. Those from Westchester and even Connecticut can visit the Bronx for an out of the world creation too. Yet it's Manhattan pizzerias that attracts the famous and ordinary alike.Greenwich Village was always known for it's excellent Italian restaurants, spillover from Little Italy. Joe's Pizzeria is one of these, located on Carmine Street.They serve a New York style pizza with a slightly chewy cheese and a wealth of pepperoni.A Staten Island favorite Joe And pat's Pizzeria has branched out to the East Village. They also serve Italian American classics liked stuffed manicotti veal alla Milanese and chicken Parmigian. Yet it's the pizzas that shine.Try their vodka sauce topped one.It has a creamy  tomato sauce that is well known throughout the city.Also try their calamari one as well. Coal oven pizza is always desirable. Try Arturos's in Greenwich Village.Their arugula and prosciutto one.It's a cross between a bar pie and a deep dish one/

Of course the boroughs are known for their amazing pizzerias.The Bronx has its' own Little Italy at Arthur Avenue. Yet go to the Morris Park section and have a slice from Emilio's.fans go made for their chicken and vodka sauce pie.For zing try their Partanna pizza which has red onions and a dusting of Calabrian chili along with pecorino cheese,oregano and the surprise drizzle of orange blossom honey. Another borough Brooklyn is also home to some great places. A visit to L & B Spumoni Gardens is well worth it ,especially for fans of the Chuck E. Cheese pies. They kind of mimic it with the fried doughy crust and gooey cheese.They also have thick, satisfying squares of Sicilian pizza and ice cold beer to wash it down. Have a dessert of their almond Spumoni too.  Astoria Queens may be known for Greek food but you can find a decent pizza there too. Go to the sweetly namedMilk flower for the personal pan style ones.Try the unusual stun Dunn which features caramelized onions along with a mix of Gruyere(!) and mozzarella along with scallions and red onions. Jersey it's will love going to Staten Island for Seppe's Pizza Bar 's pies.The place is on the Narrow facing Brooklyn, perfect for warm weather dining. Their pizza  topping has a combo of hot honey, jalapenos and pepperoni. It's a refreshing combo of sweetness and bite.

New York is a pizza city. Visit Manhattan, Take a trip to the outer boroughs for some good pie. This is not only what New Yorker's rave about but the entire world .

Thankful???

Today is the American Thanksgiving, while others are thankful, personally I am not. it has been a God awful year , especially with my Mom's passing. I cannot give any thanks for such a bleak, heart breaking year, full of misery heaped upon more misery.

What I will be grateful for being Thanksgivings past, where my Mom cooked such family favorites as Swabische style stuffing , rich with sage along with pecan pies, loaded with nuts and sweetness.I will be thankful for all those New York Thanksgivings where we gathered together with friends in Greenwich Village as I had my version of a dinner, a turkey - spinach- avocado wrap.

That's what I will give thanks for and that's all/

Have a good Thanksgiving. Cherish what you have.

A New York Holiday Treat - Rocco‘s Bakery

New York at Christmastime is magical. The city is alive with the smells and sounds of the season. The best aromas come from Manhattan’s many bakeries, primarily Rocco’s on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village It is a definitive holiday stop for my family. We get our panettones, pan d’oros and marzipan there. It’s also a great stop for a refreshing cappucino and a small pastry.

Rocco’s is actually one of the city’s newest bakeries. Usually most Manhattan pastariccios started in the late 1800’s Rocco’s has only been around since 1974 but like the others is family owned and run. There is amazing array of everything there. The Italian pastries are the best and their cannolis were rated number one in Manhattan by a number of reviews. My favorite is their holiday panettone, the yeasty fruitcake favored by all Italians, Another treat are their various cookies,. These are not just sugar cookies but the Neopolitan almond and Sicilian lemon kinds. There are also the luscious chocolate dipped butter cookie sandwiches brimming with raspberry jam. You can also find biscotti here and thanks to New York‘s cupcake craze, vanilla, chocolate and red velvet cupcakes.

Rocco‘s also has tables where you can sit and enjoy any kind of coffee along with a pastry or gelati. Yes, they have gelati here as well, always freshly made with fresh fruit even in the winter. Another plus is that the bakery offers fresh made marzipan fruit figures and gingerbread houses- perfect holiday hostess gifts.

If you’re in the Greenwich Village , then stop your X-mas shopping and head over to Rocco’s. Treat yourself to a holiday sweet or better yet buy your Christmas cookies and cakes here . Rocco‘s pastries are the perfect dessert after a Christmas Eve or Christmas Day dinner.