Latest news with #FrankPepe
New York Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New York Post
One of America's best pizzerias is turning 100 — sorry NYC, it's in Connecticut
Now that's amore. Frank Pepe's iconic, coal-fired pizza joint — a favorite of celebs and locals alike in New Haven, Connecticut — is celebrating its 100th anniversary this month. Opened on June 16, 1925, by Italian immigrant Pepe and his wife Filomena, the no-frills 'apizza' spot helped define the city's signature tomato pies and sparked a cult-like devotion over the years — think long lines around the block even in the rain, sleet and heavy New England snow. Advertisement Now run by the family's third generation, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana has kicked off a yearlong celebration with a new tribute video narrated by hometown hero, New Haven pizza lover and Oscar-nominated actor Paul Giamatti — and fans from both 'pizza capital' New Haven and New York City are, well, eating it up. 16 The legend of Pepe's began a century ago, when Italian immigrant Frank Pepe (above) came back from WWI, rolled up his sleeves and rolled out dough in New Haven's Wooster Square. Courtesy Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana 16 The century-old Connecticut institution has drawn a cult-like following for its coal-fired pies. Courtesy Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana Advertisement 'When I would serve the New Yorkers at our New Haven restaurant, they would tell me, 'I'm from New York, and I come back and forth for your pizza — hands down,'' Pepe's granddaughter, Jennifer Bimonte-Kelly, told The Post. 'New Yorkers are the toughest critics. When they said it was good, I got chills on my legs.' Connecticut city and state officials joined the Pepe family — along with Giamatti, who has long touted the magic of Pepe's and has been a fan since he was a child — to honor the milestone last week by christening the corner of Brown and Wooster streets as 'Frank & Filomena Pepe Corner' in the heart of the city's legendary Italian-American neighborhood. Signature 'crunch' baked right in Advertisement 16 'The Holdovers' star and New Haven pizza fan Paul Giamatti celebrates Pepe at the recent 100th anniversary shindig. Lisa Nichols A century in, Connecticut residents aren't the only ones still drooling over the famous pizza — there are 16 other Pepe's locations throughout the country, including outposts in Yonkers, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Florida, Maryland and Virginia. What makes this pizzeria so special that it has a cult-like following and attracts A-listers like Giamatti, filmmaker Ron Howard, Oscar winner Meryl Streep, former presidents Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton, and more? Advertisement When it opened in 1925, Pepe's helped define New Haven-style 'apizza' (pronounced ah-beets), which is essentially thin pizza made in a coal-fired oven at 600°F or higher, which seals in moisture and creates a crispy, charred but chewy pizza. The style is often imitated by other local pizzerias, but devotees say it can't be duplicated — which is what keeps hungry fans coming back. 'It's like our signature. When you bite into it, the flavor from the crust … tastes better than Italian bread. It just has that crunch to it,' Bimonte-Kelly told The Post. 16 Plenty try to copy Pepe's signature char — but fans say no one nails it like the original, which is why fans keep flocking back for another slice. Courtesy Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana 16 Pepe's pies didn't just win fans — they built a full-blown pizza cult, with die-hards lining up 'round the block in rain, sleet or New England snow for a century strong. The Washington Post via Getty Images New Yorker Joey Pascale agreed: 'When people say New Haven pizza is burnt, they don't understand it's a char.' Even after moving to NYC, the New Haven County native said he's made the 90-minute trip to Pepe's at the request of friends and co-workers who 'crave it that badly.' 'Apizza' the history 16 Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, the legendary coal-fired pizzeria out of New Haven, Conn. — beloved by A-listers and hometown heroes alike — just hit the big 1-0-0. kirkikis – Advertisement 16 Frank Pepe and his wife Filomena (above) fired up their no-frills 'apizza' joint on June 16, 1925 — and New Haven's been hooked ever since. The coal-fired classic helped put tomato pies on the map and inspired a century's worth of die-hard fans. Courtesy Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana The pizzeria's long history kicked off when Pepe — who immigrated from Italy to the U.S. in 1909 — returned from WWI and settled in Wooster Square. After marrying fellow Italian immigrant Filomena Volpi, he hustled tomato pies out of a bakery where he worked at the time, balancing trays of his signature 'apizza' on his head as he peddled them through the market. By 1925, he'd saved enough money to open Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana, which quickly became a neighborhood staple. Advertisement 16 The New Haven location has become a Connecticut landmark. Courtesy Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana In 1937, he moved the operation into a bigger space next door — still the main Pepe's Wooster Street location today — where he and Filomena lived upstairs with their two daughters, Elizabeth and Serafina. By the early '60s, Pepe was ready to hang up his apron. With no sons to take over the coal-fired pie shop, selling the business seemed like his only option. But his daughters had other plans. Advertisement 16 Jennifer Bimonte-Kelly (left) and her sister, Genevieve Bimonte. Courtesy Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana Elizabeth and Serafina stepped in to keep things afloat while their mother, Filomena, continued to be the bookkeeper for over 40 years. Today, following the passing of her mother and aunt, 68-year-old Bimonte-Kelly is keeping the family legacy alive as co-owner of Pepe's original New Haven spot. Fired up 16 Pepe's helped create New Haven's signature style pizza. The Washington Post via Getty Images Advertisement The pep in Pepe's famous pizza is its base. New York pizza dough is usually whipped up with American bread flour — with a dash of sugar and oil in it — giving it a thin, foldable crust with a crispy edge. On the other hand, the New Haven landmark uses a wetter, longer-fermented dough, which helps it develop a rich, almost ciabatta-like texture. Pepe's pizza is then crisped in 100,000-pound brick ovens heated with coal — replicas of the original built a century ago. 16 The Washington Post via Getty Images 16 The white clam pizza, created by Frank Pepe, is made with fresh clams, garlic, oregano, grated pecorino romano cheese and olive oil. Courtesy Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana Every ingredient used in the pies is handpicked — from the tomatoes grown in volcanic soil near Mount Vesuvius to the clams shucked daily from the Long Island Sound. Even the pecorino cheese is imported from Sardinia, Italy. New Haven vs. New York 16 Pepe's dough is unique compared to other pizzerias in the tri-state area. Courtesy Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana That exceptional combination is what has kept Pepe's lights on and its doors open for the past 100 years — and what's sparked an 85-mile pizza rivalry between NYC and New Haven, as some diehards swear Pepe's blows Manhattan's slices out of the water. 'New York style is what I call a 'lifestyle pizza' — made to be sold in slice form, on a cheap white plate, on the go. New Haven style is meant to be eaten at the table with family and friends,' Frank Zabski, founder of New Haven Pizza School, told The Post. Nicholas Aucella, a New York City resident who grew up in New Haven County, is also a fan and has been going to Pepe's with his family ever since he was born. 'It's a true, authentic experience,' he explained to The Post. 'The pizza is worth every minute waiting in line. The feeling you get from each pie is indescribable.' 16 Tarik Ali, center, and Lesley Gaillard work the counter at Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in March. Getty Images 16 Jennifer Bimonte-Kelly is proud to keep her grandfather's legacy alive 100 years later. Chris Volpe Despite the praises from hungry customers, Bimonte-Kelly believes Pepe's real secret sauce is a heaping dose of humility and gratitude. 'My grandpop taught me in life to treat people with honor and respect,' Bimonte-Kelly said. ''You don't boast,' he'd say. There's nothing to boast about because it could be taken away from you like that,' she added, snapping her fingers. And it's not just the delicious pizza that brings in hordes of customers — the New Haven location is also a place of nostalgia for locals. 16 Bimonte-Kelly (above, serving apizza at the restaurant) waitressed at the original New Haven location for over 30 years and 'loved serving the customers and seeing them bring their families to the restaurant.' Chris Volpe 'When you look at old pictures of Wooster Street and Pepe's, it all looks the same,' Pascale said. 'Nothing tops the old school atmosphere. I love getting a good seat in the restaurant with a view of Wooster Street and watching people walk by.' 'Energy, humility, presence and passion' 'I'm just so grateful and humbled. I appreciate the love that the customers give to us. I'm always so blown away,' a teary Bimonte-Kelly told The Post of her grandfather's long legacy. 'I'm just so grateful and humbled. I appreciate the love that the customers give to us. I'm always so blown away. 'I go out into the line whenever I visit, and I thank the customers for coming in and for waiting in line,' she continued. It's something she learned from her grandpop, who she says used to 'tip his hat' at people lining up for his pizza and greet everyone with a welcoming smile. 'I look around the restaurant to this day and feel the energy, humility, presence and passion of the people from the past and the present. I feel light, energy, love, togetherness, teamwork and resilience.'
Associated Press
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Dave Portnoy's One Bite Pizza Festival Returns - Bigger, Better, and More Delicious Than Ever Saturday, September 13, 2025 Randall's Island
New York's Leading Food Festival Featuring 40+ of America's Greatest Pizzerias: Ceres, Lucali, Sally's Apizza, Frank Pepe, John's of Bleecker, Di Fara, Joe & Pat's, De Lorenzo's Tomato Pies, Prince Street, and many more! Ticket On Sale: This Friday, June 20, 2025 at 10:00AM ET All-Inclusive Pizza Tickets Begin at $179.99 - Register Now! NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / June 16, 2025 / Pizza kingpin Dave Portnoy is back with the third and biggest-ever edition of his viral phenomenon, One Bite Pizza Festival, returning to Randall's Island on Saturday, September 13, 2025. Following two consecutive sellouts, including 10,000+ fans in 2024, Portnoy and Medium Rare are cranking the ovens to full blast for a day that promises more pizzerias, more slices, and more unforgettable pizza-inspired experiences than ever before. This year's festival partners include PEPSI®, Ninja, BILT Saputo, Verizon, Ferraro Foods, Marie's Refrigerated Salad Dressing, High Noon, Marra Forni, '47 Brand, Flatiron Pepper Co. Tickets to the festival will be available starting this Friday, June 20th at 10:00AM EST. Make sure to register for the pre-sale now to lock in the best pricing. This year's festival features 40+ top-rated pizzerias handpicked by Portnoy himself, dishing out all-you-can-eat slices from legendary names like Lucali, Di Fara, Frank Pepe, Prince Street Pizza, Ceres (VIP Only) and more. Expect a massive menu of New York style, Neapolitan, Sicilian, Tomato Pies, Grandma slices, Bar Pies, and beyond. Festival attendees can also indulge themselves in an authentic taste of Italy thanks to Ferraro Foods serving five new dishes this year at their activation and Pepsi is making sure everyone gets the most flavor out of their pizza 'bites' by giving a complimentary ice-cold Pepsi®, Pepsi® Zero Sugar, or Pepsi® Zero Sugar Wild Cherry to each ticket holder (while supplies last). For those with a sweet tooth, every ticket includes entry into an Italian Dessert Village featuring NYC's most indulgent treats from Sal & Jerry's Bakery, the Lemon Ice King of Corona, Ferrara Bakery & Cafe, The Espresso Guys, Eileen's Cheesecakes (VIP-Only), Veniero's Pastry (VIP-Only) and more. Along with fan favorite slices, guests will engage with a myriad of flavors and fun brought to them by our festival partners. New for this year, the 2025 rendition of One Bite Pizza Festival will host pizzerias within the Pizza Deserves Pepsi experience as well as Saputo's Pizza Plaza. Also, Ninja will be highlighting their all-new 5-in-1 pizza oven serving up four types of pizza slices - all with the touch of a button in the same oven. Taking place across two sessions, fans can select if they would like to purchase All-Inclusive Pizza afternoon or evening tickets starting at $179.99 or opt in for VIP experiences inclusive of open bar and early access should they choose to for $649.99. Session 1 will be held from 1:00PM-4:30PM with early access from 12:30PM-1:00PM for VIP guests. Session 2 will follow a similar format, opening from 6:00PM-9:30PM for general admission pizza lovers with VIP early entry from 5:30PM-6:00PM. If you are seeking the world's most luxurious pizza experience, snag a seat at the Chef's Tasting VIP Table featuring a full service nonstop buffet from the festival's 10 featured headliner pizzerias, a special dessert, and exquisite drinks delivered directly to your seat by dedicated servers. Tickets to the festival's two sessions will be available starting Friday, June 20th at 10:00AM EST. Make sure to register for the pre-sale now to lock in the best pricing. 'One Bite Pizza Fest is back for year three - and this time, the recipe's bigger, bolder, and tastier than ever, with even more legendary pizzerias in the mix! Over the past year, my team and I toured the country, devoured countless slices, and I handpicked 40+ of my all-time favorite spots to bring together in one epic, Pizza-filled day. Get ready for all-you-can-eat pizza, an irresistible Italian dessert village, awesome interactive brand experiences, and a whole lot more. One Bite, Everyone Knows The Rules!' -Dave Portnoy As the Official Soft Drink Partner of One Bite Pizza Festival, Pepsi is providing all attendees complimentary Pepsi, Pepsi Zero Sugar, or Pepsi Zero Sugar Wild Cherry so they can experience how its unique balance of flavor, sweetness, and refreshing crisp fizz are the perfect accompaniment to cut through delectable cheesy pizza bites. The Pizza Deserves Pepsi experience will feature popular pizzerias: Squan Tavern, The Galley Pizzeria, and Nonna's, showcasing firsthand how their delicious pies deserve only the best cola - Pepsi. By the end of the festival, attendees will agree: Pizza Deserves Pepsi. Get ready to witness innovation in action - Ninja is showcasing their high performance 5-in-1 outdoor oven at the Ninja Artisan One Bite Backyard. Don't miss their live activation featuring four unique pizza creations cooked to perfection before your eyes along with all your favorite lawn games! Guests will have the ability to step up and taste whichever kind of slice their pizza palette desires - from Neapolitan and Thin Crust to Pan and New York Style. Bilt is returning for the second year as the Official Rewards Program partner of One Bite! Bilt is the housing and neighborhood commerce network that transforms spend into rewards and benefits for everyone involved-including at their favorite local pizza spots. Bilt Members can purchase or use their Bilt Points to get tickets to the One Bite Pizza Festival. Once they're in, they'll enjoy exclusive experiences within the festival, including expedited access to the Bilt Neighborhood onsite at One Bite! Not a Bilt Member? Not a problem; you can sign up on-site or today to join in on the fun! Visit or download the app here. Saputo is bringing next-level flavor with rich, artisan cheese creations that elevate every bite. Festival attendees can savor Saputo's premium cheeses featured at two standout pizzerias; Regina's Pizza and East Village Pizza, located at the Saputo Pizza Plaza, where melt-in-your-mouth moments are guaranteed. Stay connected during Dave Portnoy's One Bite Pizza Festival. Verizon has you covered as the exclusive wireless and cellular partner of Dave Portnoy's One Bite Pizza Festival. Verizon customers can score exclusive tickets to the event through Verizon Access and enjoy expedited entry via a dedicated fast lane, making it easier than ever to join the celebration. Ferraro Foods, the premier Italian foodservice distributor, renowned for supplying the finest ingredients to your favorite pizzerias & beyond for 50 years, is back for their third year with the beloved Ferraro Piazza - an ultimate Italian village experience. Visitors can enjoy delicious samples from their famous brands, capture memorable photo moments, and immerse themselves in a vibrant setting filled with authentic Italian charm. From five exclusive dishes to a photo-worthy activation, Ferraro is delivering the goods (straight from Italy to your feed). Marie's Salad Dressing is bringing a bold twist to the One Bite Pizza Festival by taking your slice to the next level. Stop by their one-of-a-kind dressing wall to sample their rich, creamy dressings, drizzle or dip your pizza, and discover why Marie's is the ultimate sidekick to your slice. High Noon is returning to the One Bite Festival grounds this Fall! Look for Dave Portnoy's drink of choice which will be available in 5 flavors throughout the grounds for fans 21+. High Noon will be serving their #1 Best Tasting* Vodka & Tequila Seltzers alongside their newest addition, the non-carbonated Vodka Iced Tea. High Noon is made with real spirits, 100 calories or under, is gluten free and has no added sugar. High Noon. Sun's Up! *Source: The Tasting Panel, September 2023. Sun Sip Responsibly. ©2025 High Noon Spirits Company, Modesto, CA. All rights reserved.*Select flavors rated blind tasting of industry professionals. Vodka Flavors: Peach, Pineapple, Watermelon, Grapefruit. Tequila Flavors: Lime, Strawberry. Marra Forni, the globally renowned and fastest-growing manufacturer of brick and deck ovens, with a wide range of fuel options including wood, coal, gas, and electric, is set to return to the One Bite Pizza Festival for the third consecutive year-celebrated for its innovation, customization, and exceptional quality. With nearly 40 Marra Forni ovens on site, some of One Bite's top pizzerias will once again have the opportunity to cook their pizzas using the finest wood- coal & gas-fired commercial ovens in the industry, as well as the most advanced stackable electric ovens available. '47 is serving up serious style at One Bite Pizza Festival as the Official Merch Partner. From classic caps to limited-edition festival gear, fans can rep their pizza passion in comfort and style. Swing by the '47 booth to score exclusive merch made just for the fest-because great pizza deserves great threads. Delicato Family Wines is bringing your favorite wine pours from Coppola Wines to One Bite-perfectly paired with a hot slice. Festival goers can sip and savor signature selections, and for the first time ever, enjoy the all-new Coppola Spritz-a refreshingly crisp twist made exclusively for the festival and available throughout the grounds! Bringing the heat once again, Flatiron Pepper Co. returns with their bold, small-batch pepper blends! They're dishing out free samples to spice up your slice and ignite your taste buds, all straight from the Flatiron flavor lab. DOWNLOAD HIGH RES FLYER ### About Medium Rare Lauded events, experiential, and management company, Medium Rare works at the intersection of Sports & Entertainment, partnering with well-known athletes and brands to create iconic media properties including Travis Kelce's Kelce Jam, Shaquille O'Neal's Fun House, Guy Fieri's Flavortown Tailgate, Sports Illustrated The Party, Rob Gronkowski's Gronk Beach, and more. Creating and executing iconic IP and events that draw in millions of views and fans from around the world, Medium Rare also reaps industry accolades, recognized with six Webby Awards, Forbes 30 Under 30, Pollstar Next Gen, and Variety New Leaders, INC 5000, and more. For more info, visit Contact InformationAmanda Brocato RMG, EVP of Corporate Strategies & Events 512.743.3941 SOURCE: Medium Rare press release
The Guardian
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘The moon came into view and I searched for the perfect place to stand': Eric Kogan's best phone photo
New York-based photographer Eric Kogan took this picture on a family day of furniture and thrift-store hunting in Shelton, Connecticut, about a 90-minute drive from their Brooklyn home. En route, they stopped off in New Haven for a pizza. 'The city is famous for its top-notch pizza restaurants,' Kogan says. 'And the one we chose, Frank Pepe's, is rumoured to have invented the first-ever pizza box!' After lunch they continued on to Shelton, pulling into the large parking lot of a furniture sample store a little before 4pm. 'It was so tucked away that we kept questioning if we were heading in the right direction,' Kogan says. 'The moon came into view as we made our way to the entrance. The sun had just set and it was semi-daylight out. I searched for the perfect place to stand. I also had to underexpose the frame a bit, turning it down until the moon felt right: luminous and detailed against its subdued surroundings.' Kogan decided to leave the security cameras in the image untouched. 'It might have been cleaner without them, but, besides cropping and adjusting values, it's not in my practice to remove things from photos.' Kogan's wife, Melissa Breyer, is also a photographer; her image of a deli worker washing a window featured in a Smart shot column in 2022. Kogan insists that, partly because their styles are so different, there is no competition between the pair. 'Works by both of us travel to so many places that they've almost taken on a life of their own. We met through photography and our photos have found themselves to Smart shot independently. It doesn't get better than that!'
Washington Post
07-04-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
At Frank Pepe's, a century of coal, clams and thin-crust pizza
Frank Pepe had a decision to make in the early 1960s. With no sons to inherit the popular pizza shop he'd opened in 1925 in New Haven, Connecticut's Little Italy, it seemed like it was time to sell the business. His daughters, Elizabeth and Serafina, had other ideas. 'My mother and aunt went to him and said, 'Give us the business,'' recalls Jennifer Bimonte-Kelly, Frank's granddaughter, now 68. 'He didn't think that women could run it, but as an Italian man, he managed to put his views to the side and hear them out.' After all, his wife, Filomena, had already been handling the bookkeeping for 40 years at that point.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Frank Pepe's honored for their lasting legacy in New Haven
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Frank Pepe's Pizza is being honored for their lasting legacy in New Haven. Local couple opens New Haven pizza-themed Airbnb The Greater New Haven Chamber awarded the pizzeria Thursday with the Corporate Heritage Award, celebrating 100 years of excellence and cultural impact in our region. Frank Pepe immigrated to America in 1909. While working at a bakery on Wooster Street, he started making his own version of his classic 'apizza.' He eventually saved up enough for a wagon to sell it out of and then took over the bakery. Since then, Pepe's has opened locations across seven states. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
