PASSOVER & PIZZA

Artichoke Pizza

 We'll start with the pizza... well, because it's pizza.  Melty, cheesy, doughy pizza.  it was a pizza week and if you had a look at me recently, you could definitely tell that true story.  Artichoke pizza after work on the way to meet some friends for a drink on 14th St. and 2nd.  This is a white-style pizza with artichoke and spinach.  There is always a line outside of Artichoke pizza but I didn't have to wait that long as it wasn't the drunken hour or a weekend.  It was tasty, creamy and thick-crusted but very very greasy.  I could see how this could be absolutely incredible at 3am.

Justino's Margarita

This next pizza was brought to me by my awesome Producer* at work from a lil joint called "Justino's"on 57th & 10th Ave.  It's the most delicious non famous by new yorkers' pizza.  You can taste all the fresh ingredients in the tomato sauce, basil and salt, and garlic yes garlic!  It looked to me like how the pizza in Naples, Italy was made right before our eyes in a little cafe next to Pompeii.  Dollops of fresh mozzarella speckled the pie and expand as they melt into the sauce.  Mmmmmm.

 This mushroom garlic delight also from Justino's for one friday lunch was incredible.  I loved these mushrooms... A week later our boss ordered a whole mushroom pie from said pizzeria, late one night upon my request, and they used just regular boring white mushrooms that shriveled up in the oven.  So, I believe, this is a walk-in specialty.
 

South Brooklyn Gramma

Then, my final piece late one night was from South Brooklyn Pizza, same place i've written about before, around the corner from my apt on St. Marks & 1st.  They have only 2 available slices at any given time.  Usually a Gramma's pie, square in shape, with mixed ingredients including some delicious sausagy thing or pancetta, and a traditional margarita pizza slice.  It is damn good and fresh.  Although i had to go back inside to have them heat my slice up bc the lazy kid who works there only put my slice in the oven for all of 20 seconds.  There's a big wheel of cheese in the window of the store front and they grate fresh chez on top of every warm slice.  Also, there's fresh roasted garlic spread on the counter.

Lasagna Pie -dollops of ricotta, what!!?

  

Who found the afikomen?

On the Saturday of Passover I woke up excited for events to come!  I jogged (or rather bolted bc of course i was running late) to the Soho Yogaworks studio to do something with my damn self!  It was beautiful!  I may have to join yogaworks in LA when i get home bc now i'm spoiled.  The class was hard but great and I weaved through the streets of soho & nolita to make my way back home to the EV.  On my walk I discovered D'Espana Foods, an authentic spanish meat and cheese and tapas market & eatery.  Salted Cod spread on toast with melted cheese on top... ahh reminded me of the best part of Spain.  Did I mention they have multiple spanish sausage, jamon & cheese samples throughout the store? 

The Brothers Schwartzberg 2 & 3.

Brother 1 (Michael) with Kaiya

Dave's adorable niece Kaiya

Pickles and manischevitz, wowzas!

I got home and Dave said we had to leave in like an hour to make the North train up to Westchester, NY.  So I quickly showered, took off my chipped-away nail polish & headed to Grand Central Station with Dave and brother Dan.  It was Passover with the Schwartzbergs!  And best of all, I get to meet Kaiya, Dave's adorable niece.  Dave's oldest brother looks just like Dave but with darker brown hair... All the damn Schwartzberg men look alike, even Pops.  The nuclear family all got together in Larchmont and drove to Scarsdale to meet the extended family.  Say it with me, "Scaaaaarrrrsssdale"  Uncles, aunts, & cousins... I could interchange them for any other jewish family, we're all so similar, innately neurotic and loud!  No songs (minus Dayenu) with this bunch but I didn't miss it too much as I get to sing with my own extended family of crazies every year.  After the delicious dinner and slightly more hebrew-involved Haggadah, the patriarch of the house, Dave's uncle, proceeded to turn the attention over to me, the lucky guest.  So..."whats your story pretty lady?"  "Well, your awesome nephew married my husband and I in California"  "Are you insane?... Are you sure you're really married?  I would double-check that certificate to make sure"  Half the family gathered over to my end of the table to question me about a million other things, it was pretty entertaining.  I survived this passover adventure!

...needless to say, I didn't keep kosh for passover this time :-)

*shout-out Mr. Drew Seltzer, stepped up and came to.