New Haven-style pizza
New Haven-style pizza is a style of thin-crust, coal-fired Neapolitan pizza common in and around New Haven, Connecticut. Locally known as apizza (, from Neapolitan "’a pizza" , "the pizza"), it originated at the Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana and is now served in many other pizza restaurants in the area, most notably Sally's Apizza and Modern Apizza. This geographically limited pizza style has been favorably regarded by national critics. Characteristics. In a New Haven-style pizzeria, a "plain" pizza is a crust, oregano, tomato sauce, and a little bit of grated pecorino romano cheese . A "plain" New Haven-style pizza may also be called a "tomato pie". Mozzarella is considered a topping. Pepe's restaurant is credited with inventing the "white clam pie", a pizza of crust, olive oil, oregano, grated cheese, chopped garlic, and fresh littleneck clams. It served littleneck clams on the half shell at the bar, which Pepe later added to the pizza. What makes New Haven-style pizza distinct is its thin, oblong crust, characteristic charring, chewy texture, and limited use of melting cheeses. It tends to be drier and thinner than, but closely related to, traditional New York-style  pizza. Both styles in turn are close descendants of the original Neapolitan pizza. Baking and serving methods. New Haven-style pizza is traditionally baked in a coal-fired oven at extremely hot temperatures above . It is sold whole rather than by the slice. Availability. Although most commonly available locally, New Haven-style pizza has begun to spread to other parts of the United States. It has been available in the Italian-American areas of Bridgeport, and other shoreline communities for many years; Frank Pepe's also has a location in Yonkers in the Italian-heavy New York City metro area . New Haven-style has penetrated areas typically not known for large Italian-American populations, including towns in northern and central Connecticut, as well as other cities across the United States. Jimmy Fantin, a New Haven native, of Fantini's New Haven Style Apizza located in Stuart, Florida has been given great acclaim for bringing New Haven Style Apizza to South Florida with a circa 1980 Wooster Street Style experience reminiscent of his days working at Frank Pepes. Tributes. New Haven pizzarias have often topped best pizzalists. Actors (Henry Winkler), touring musicians (Lyle Lovett), politicians Chris Murphy and local celebrities (Michael  Bolton) discuss the history of New Haven Pizza in Gorman Bechard's documentary Pizza: A Love Story. In the film the black char imparted from the ovens is described as adding a smoky barbeque flavor not found elsewere.