Brooklyn Vs. New York Pizza: What's The Real Difference?
Hey pizza lovers! Ever found yourself pondering the age-old question: "What exactly sets Brooklyn-style pizza apart from the classic New York style?" You're definitely not alone! Both hail from the same pizza-loving city, but they each bring a unique flavor and character to the table. Let's dive deep into the delicious details and uncover the key differences that make each style a standout.
The Crust: A Tale of Two Textures
The crust is where the magic truly happens, and it's the first thing you'll notice that sets these two styles apart. New York-style pizza is known for its thin, pliable crust. It's crispy on the bottom, yet soft and foldable enough to eat on the go – the quintessential New York slice. The crust achieves this perfect balance through the use of high-gluten flour, which gives it that characteristic chewiness and structural integrity. Bakers often use a deck oven, baking the pizza directly on the stone, which helps create that crispy base we all crave. The dough-making process usually involves a cold fermentation period, sometimes lasting a day or two, which enhances the flavor and texture of the crust.
In contrast, Brooklyn-style pizza also boasts a thin crust, but it's typically even thinner and crispier than its New York counterpart. The crust tends to be less pliable and often has a more pronounced crunch. A key factor contributing to this difference is the stretching technique. Brooklyn pizzerias often stretch the dough more aggressively, resulting in a thinner base. They might also use slightly different flour, or even a blend of flours, to achieve the desired texture. The size also matters – Brooklyn-style pizzas are generally larger, often exceeding the standard size of New York-style pies. This larger size, combined with the thin crust, means it can be a bit floppy if not handled correctly. Bakers in Brooklyn also pay very close attention to the oven temperature and baking time, ensuring that the crust achieves maximum crispiness without burning. Sometimes, cornmeal is used on the pizza peel to prevent the dough from sticking and it also contributes to the crispy texture. Essentially, while both are thin-crust pizzas, the Brooklyn style goes for an extra level of thinness and crispiness that distinguishes it from the more flexible New York style.
Size and Shape: A Matter of Scale
When it comes to size and shape, you'll find another clear distinction between Brooklyn and New York-style pizzas. New York-style pizzas typically clock in around 18 inches in diameter. This size makes them perfect for slicing into those iconic, wide, foldable slices that New Yorkers grab for a quick and satisfying meal. The slices are easy to handle while walking down the street or enjoying a casual lunch in the park. The shape is generally round, and the slices are cut in a classic triangular fashion, making them easily recognizable and a staple of the New York culinary scene. The manageable size also means they fit comfortably in standard pizza boxes, making them ideal for delivery and takeout. Each slice offers a balance of crust, sauce, and cheese, ensuring a consistent experience from the first bite to the last.
Brooklyn-style pizzas, on the other hand, tend to be significantly larger, often reaching 20 inches or more. This extra size is part of what gives the Brooklyn-style its distinctive characteristics. The larger canvas allows for a thinner, crispier crust and a different distribution of toppings. Due to their larger size and thinner crust, Brooklyn-style slices are often cut into smaller, more manageable squares or irregular shapes, sometimes referred to as "party cut" or "tavern cut." This cutting style makes it easier to handle the larger, floppier slices and encourages sharing. The sheer size of a Brooklyn-style pizza makes it a centerpiece, perfect for gatherings and parties. The larger diameter also means that the crust-to-topping ratio is different, often resulting in a more intense flavor experience in each bite. While a New York slice is designed for individual consumption on the go, a Brooklyn-style pizza is made for sharing and enjoying with friends and family. The impressive size and unique cutting style contribute to its distinct identity and appeal.
The Sauce: A Symphony of Flavors
The sauce is the heart and soul of any great pizza, and while both Brooklyn and New York styles use a tomato-based sauce, there are subtle differences in flavor and preparation. New York-style pizza sauce is typically a simple, yet flavorful concoction made from crushed tomatoes, oregano, garlic, salt, and a touch of sugar. The simplicity allows the quality of the tomatoes to shine through, creating a bright and tangy base that complements the cheese and crust. The sauce is often cooked briefly to meld the flavors together, but it retains a fresh, vibrant character. Many pizzerias use San Marzano tomatoes, known for their sweetness and low acidity, as the base for their sauce. The sauce is spread evenly over the crust, providing a consistent layer of flavor that ties all the elements of the pizza together. The focus is on balance, ensuring that the sauce doesn't overpower the other ingredients but instead enhances the overall taste.
Brooklyn-style pizza sauce tends to be a bit bolder and more robust. While the ingredients are similar – crushed tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and salt – the proportions and preparation can vary. Some Brooklyn pizzerias add a touch of red pepper flakes for a hint of heat, while others might use a more concentrated tomato paste to deepen the flavor. The sauce is often simmered for a longer period, allowing the flavors to intensify and create a richer, more complex profile. The sauce might also be slightly thicker, which helps it stand up to the thinner crust and larger size of the pizza. The application of the sauce can also differ; some Brooklyn pizzerias use a slightly heavier hand, ensuring that each bite is packed with flavor. The overall goal is to create a sauce that is both flavorful and impactful, complementing the crispy crust and generous toppings. The more assertive sauce in Brooklyn-style pizza contributes to its distinctive and memorable taste.
The Cheese: A Creamy Dream
Cheese is undeniably the star of the show, creating that melty, gooey goodness we all crave. For both New York and Brooklyn-style pizzas, the cheese of choice is typically a low-moisture, whole-milk mozzarella. This type of mozzarella melts beautifully, providing the perfect stretch and a creamy, slightly salty flavor that complements the sauce and crust. The quality of the mozzarella is crucial; pizzerias often source their cheese from reputable suppliers to ensure a consistent and delicious result. The cheese is usually shredded and distributed evenly over the sauce, creating a uniform layer of cheesy perfection. While both styles use the same type of cheese, the quantity and distribution can vary slightly, contributing to the overall differences in taste and texture.
However, in some Brooklyn-style variations, you might find the use of fresh mozzarella in addition to, or instead of, the traditional low-moisture mozzarella. Fresh mozzarella adds a different dimension to the pizza, with its softer texture and milky flavor. It melts differently, creating pools of creamy goodness that contrast with the crispy crust. Some pizzerias also use a blend of cheeses, such as provolone or Parmesan, to add complexity and depth of flavor. The use of fresh mozzarella is not exclusive to Brooklyn-style, but it is a more common variation you might encounter. The cheese might also be applied in a less uniform manner, with dollops or chunks of mozzarella scattered across the pizza, creating pockets of intense cheesy flavor. The choice of cheese and its application are key factors that contribute to the overall character of each pizza style, making each bite a unique and satisfying experience.
Toppings: Classic vs. Creative
When it comes to toppings, both New York and Brooklyn-style pizzas offer a range of options, but there are some classic choices that define each style. New York-style pizza is often enjoyed plain, with just sauce and cheese, allowing the quality of the ingredients to shine through. However, when toppings are added, they tend to be classic and simple, such as pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions, and peppers. These toppings are usually sliced thinly and distributed evenly over the pizza, ensuring that each bite contains a balanced combination of flavors. The focus is on complementing the base flavors of the sauce, cheese, and crust, rather than overwhelming them. The toppings are typically cooked along with the pizza, allowing them to meld together and create a cohesive and satisfying flavor profile.
Brooklyn-style pizza, while also appreciating classic toppings, sometimes embraces more creative and gourmet options. You might find toppings such as roasted vegetables, artisanal cheeses, prosciutto, or even a drizzle of pesto. These toppings are often added after the pizza is baked, preserving their freshness and allowing their individual flavors to stand out. The distribution of toppings might also be less uniform, with clusters of ingredients creating bursts of flavor in each bite. The focus is on creating a more complex and sophisticated flavor profile, showcasing the quality and variety of the ingredients. While a classic pepperoni pizza is always a good choice, Brooklyn-style pizza invites you to explore more adventurous and flavorful combinations. The willingness to experiment with toppings is part of what makes Brooklyn-style pizza unique and exciting.
The Experience: A Slice of the City
Ultimately, the experience of eating a Brooklyn or New York-style pizza is about more than just the taste; it's about connecting with the culture and history of New York City. New York-style pizza is a quintessential part of the city's identity, a symbol of its fast-paced lifestyle and diverse culinary scene. Grabbing a slice from a corner pizzeria and folding it in half is a ritual for many New Yorkers, a quick and satisfying meal that can be enjoyed on the go. The simplicity and affordability of New York-style pizza make it accessible to everyone, from students to tourists to business professionals. It's a taste of New York that can be found on almost every block, a comforting and familiar experience that evokes a sense of nostalgia and belonging.
Brooklyn-style pizza, while sharing the same roots, offers a slightly different experience. It's often associated with a more artisanal and handcrafted approach, reflecting Brooklyn's reputation as a hub for creativity and innovation. Brooklyn pizzerias often take pride in using high-quality ingredients and traditional techniques, creating a pizza that is both delicious and authentic. The larger size and unique cutting style of Brooklyn-style pizza make it ideal for sharing with friends and family, fostering a sense of community and togetherness. Whether you're enjoying a slice in a bustling pizzeria or sharing a whole pie at a backyard barbecue, Brooklyn-style pizza is a celebration of flavor, craftsmanship, and the vibrant spirit of Brooklyn. Both styles offer a unique and memorable culinary experience, each reflecting the distinct character of its borough and contributing to the rich tapestry of New York City's pizza culture.
So, there you have it, folks! While both Brooklyn and New York-style pizzas share a common ancestor, they've evolved into distinct culinary experiences. Whether you prefer the foldable convenience of a New York slice or the crispy, shareable goodness of a Brooklyn pie, you're in for a treat. Now go forth and explore the delicious world of New York pizza! Enjoy!
