Pizza

Potato pizza

Salad Pizza Wine by Janice Tiefenbach, Stephanie Mercier Voyer, Ryan Gray and Marley Sniatowsky. Copyright © 2023 Janice Tiefenbach, Stephanie Mercier Voyer, Ryan Gray, and Marley Sniatowsky. Photographs by Dominique Lafond.

A different kind of cookbook, from a different kind of restaurant. The team behind the award-winning Montreal pizza joint Elena presents Salad Pizza Wine, delivering recipes for all of life’s good things, with fresh, delicious and easy-to-recreate takes on modern Italian dishes, including:

Elena’s famous pizza
If you could eat pizza every day and feel great, would you believe it? From heavy hitters to off-menu pies, the secret to a pizza-filled life is in Elena’s naturally leavened dough.

Salads + Vegetables
Like people, this book contains multitudes; you can stuff your face with pizza on the daily and take pleasure in eating vegetables with the seasons.

Pasta
Learn how to make two super versatile doughs and their multiple variations, and impress your loved ones with an all-star roster of favourite pastas.

Meat + Fish
Take your pick from weeknight-friendly recipes, dishes to save for special occasions and one once-in-a-lifetime adventure: the gargantuan Timpano, inspired by the classic film Big Night.

Hoagies
Who doesn’t love sandwiches? Portable and easy to share with a friend, hoagies are also perfect for wrapping up all your tasty leftovers.

Desserts
End every meal on a high note with a series of serious sweet treats for beginners and advanced bakers alike.

Go-Tos
Lay the foundation for your home-cooking adventure with basic recipes that deliver big flavour, from crunchy toasted breadcrumbs and multi-purpose sauces to simple pickles and homemade cheeses.
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Double Pepperoni & Spicy Honey Pizza

Double Pepperoni & Spicy Honey Pizza, excerpted from Pizza: History, recipes, stories, people, places, love. By Thom Elliot and James Elliot. Photography by Dave Brown.

Pizza: History, recipes, stories, people, places, love

Everyone loves pizza, right? Saver of parties, empty fridges and hangovers the world over—pizza has come to the rescue of the human race more times than is worth counting. So, if you can’t imagine your world without dough, cheese and tomato, then this is the book for you.

All things pizza are here—from its history and family tree to world-famous pizzerias and even exploration into the pizza variants we love to hate (hamburger crust pizza anyone?). The Pizza Pilgrims, Thom and James Elliot, have spent years researching the best pizza that the world has to offer and producing their own pizzas across 16 restaurants in the UK (and counting).

Alongside pizza maps of their favourite global pizza cities (so you can conduct your very own pizza pilgrimage) the book is also packed with over 30 recipes to make sure you finally delete your local takeaway from speed dial #1. From a New York slice to true Neapolitan pizza made in a frying pan, Pizza offers classic and new creations, including guest chefs’ signature takes, and the Pilgrims’ very own Nutella pizza ring!

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Margherita Pizza

Margherita Pizza, The Silver Spoon Classic

Italian culture is defined in part by the art of cooking, blending ancient traditions with contemporary innovation. First published in 2005, The Silver Spoon has helped transform a generation of English speakers into experienced Italian cooks.

The Silver Spoon Classic is a luxurious collection of 170 of the most authentic recipes from the world’s leading Italian cookbook, complete with new photography and a fresh, updated design.

The title of this seminal cookbook derives from the English phrase, “a baby born with a silver spoon in her mouth,” which describes someone who has been born into a rich heritage.

The original Il Cucchio d’Argento was published in 1950. Since then, millions of copies have been sold around the world. Phaidon’s 2005 edition was followed by an updated and revised edition in 2011, which continues to be the most authoritative book on Italian home cooking.

The Silver Spoon Classic is the definitive compilation of the original cookbook’s best and most iconic recipes, featuring newly photographed dishes and written in language that is accessible to gourmands and beginners alike.

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Restaurant Review: Anthony’s

Rustica – Cherry tomatoes, mozza, arugula, shaved parmesan and prosciutto

I am not a believer in the “All pizza is good pizza” motto. I’ve turned my nose up at many a tasteless and cardboardy mess masquerading as good pie. Anthony’s wood-fired Neapolitan-style pizza is authentic, toothsome and peerless.

Apart from being quite tasty, many of Anthony’s pizzas are visually arresting. It’s hard to avert your eyes from the frescos of greens and reds. Owner Anthony Balestra has found a wide canvas on which to express himself, using pizza as his medium.

The emphasis is on clean flavours and fresh ingredients. The classic Margherita, with the sparest of adornment, allows the flavours of the San Marzano tomatoes and fresh basil to come through.

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Eating my way through Boston — Part 1

New England native Henry Wadsworth Longfellow once wrote, “I have an affection for a great city. I feel safe in the neighborhood of man, and enjoy the sweet security of the streets.” Although I can’t be absolutely certain, I suspect that he could have been rhapsodizing about Boston, a city that he and I both share a great affection for.

Boston is like a second home to me. I love its people, its buildings and I love riding the T. Boston is where I sleep the best. It’s where I’m happiest and feel safest. It’s where my beloved Red Sox play and best of all, it’s where I have the coolest dinning experiences. Check out some of the haunts I frequented during my latest visit.

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After months away from the city, I crave pizza. And I always run to Upper Crust, a pizzeria offering a Neapolitan-style, thin crust pizza. There are various locations throughout the greater Boston area. The Beacon Hill restautrant has community tables, where customers share the dining space. Over the years, it has been awarded the titles of “Best Gourmet Pizza” and “Boston’s Best Pizza”from local media. And it’s my personal favourite.

My next stop was John F. Kennedy’s first home out in Brookline. It was the first day of tours after being closed for winter. JFK lived in the Beals street house from birth through his toddler years. The first floor contains the living room, dining room, and kitchen. The dining room is set up as it was for a typical meal in the Kennedy household. You’ll notice the kids’ table on the left. The tour guide noted that the dining room is where Papa Joseph would quiz the kids on current events. They were expected to be able to debate and discuss, even at a young age. This is where it all began!

The tour guide played us a recording of family matriarch Rose Kennedy narrating the goings-on in the kitchen. The kitchen is set up as it would have been around 1917.

After the tour, I headed to Kupel’s bakery to pick up some bagels and some iced tea. Kupel’s is listed by epicurious.com as one of the best bagel shops in America. I have to agree. The bagels were soft and chewy. IMHO, they were the best bagels I have ever tasted.

While walking up Harvard Ave. in Brookline, I spotted Dorado’s. I remembered it being listed as one of the best taco restaurants in Boston. This place serves high-quality, authentic mexican food. I ordered shrimp tacos (chipotle marinated and beer battered shrimp, jicama, pineapple salsa, Baja crema). Simply amazing and delicious. They crunchiness of the battered shrimp and jicama combined with the freshness of the pineapple salsa and the tang of Baja crema made this a perfect taco. When you’re in Boston next, skip the many Mexican chain restaurants and head to Dorado’s. Next time I am there, I want to try the cemitas, a popular sandwich from the south-central Mexican state of Puebla.

My last stop for the day was Saus, a truly great eatery near Faneuil Hall devoted to Belgian-style frites and waffles. The website states that they believe in the power of the condiment. And they’re not kidding. Saus has over 15 unique dipping sauces on the menu, not including the homemade mayo, ketchup, and gravy. I availed myself of some fries with truffle ketchup and a Belgian waffle with some homemade Nutella. After a long day of touring the city, a meal at Saus was truly satisfying.

I made it to Boston

I made it safe and sound. It had been a while since I’d driven to Boston and driving here is probably not something that I will repeat anytime soon. It was a long and dull commute. But enough about how I got here. Lets get to the important stuff. Food!

When I think of Boston. I think of a few things. Red Sox, Harvard and Upper Crust Pizza. UC is a boston based pizzeria with the badest sickest pizza there is. Everyone thinks they know who has the best pizza and let me tell you, if they don’t say Upper Crust, they’re wrong. Fresh ingredients, sweet sauce, thin crust all made to order makes for one tasty pizza. The people at UC work hard and help give the place a great vibe. Whenever I get to Boston, I run to Upper Crust.