Latest news with #Pepe
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.'
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
PEPE Slides 5% as Hype Fades Despite Elon Musk's April Nod
Pepe (PEPE) PEPE, one of the most prominent meme coins, is struggling to hold investor interest, falling 4.7% over the past 24 hours to $0.000009499, according to CoinDesk Research's technical analysis model. As for the broader memecoin sector, the CoinDesk Memecoin Index is down 3.87% in the past 24-hour period. The token's sharp decline marks a continuation of its recent downtrend, which has been marked by intense volatility and heavy intraday selling. Once a retail darling with viral momentum and even what appeared like a nod from Elon Musk back on April 9, PEPE has since slipped in market influence as attention shifts back to Bitcoin. Musk had briefly adopted a PEPE-themed profile picture that day, a move that sent waves through the meme coin space. Still, the hype has largely faded. This downturn is part of a broader shift across crypto markets, where Bitcoin's dominance has now climbed above 65%, a level not seen in over two years. The trend suggests growing investor preference for BTC over smaller altcoins, especially during periods of uncertainty and declining risk appetite. That shift is being felt acutely by high-beta assets like PEPE. Despite brief price rebounds, PEPE remains under pressure, facing resistance near $0.00001013. Its failure to sustain rallies reflects broader rotation away from meme coins, and its future performance may hinge on whether market sentiment returns to riskier assets or stays anchored in large-cap names. Technical Analysis Highlights PEPE-USD traded within a 16.1% range, falling from $0.00001017 to $0.00000940 between 25 June 09:00 and 26 June 08:00 UTC. Strong resistance formed at $0.00001013 during heavy selling between 25 June 14:00 and 16:00 UTC. A short-term support zone developed at $0.00000946–$0.00000950, where price bounced repeatedly on moderate volume throughout late 25 June and early 26 June. During the final 60 minutes of the analysis window, from 26 June 07:07 to 08:06 UTC, price moved from $0.00000959 to $0.00000955. A spike of 91.9 trillion units at 07:17 UTC on 26 June coincided with a brief 3.1% rally. Prices slipped 0.9% in the final minutes before close, reflecting short-term profit-taking. Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Shaw and Partners Reaffirms Their Buy Rating on Tasmea Ltd. (TEA)
Shaw and Partners analyst Philip Pepe maintained a Buy rating on Tasmea Ltd. (TEA – Research Report) today and set a price target of A$4.10. The company's shares closed today at A$3.74. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter According to TipRanks, Pepe is an analyst with an average return of -1.7% and a 38.89% success rate. Pepe covers the Industrials sector, focusing on stocks such as Acrow Formwork and Construction Services Limited, Austin Engineering , and Lindsay Australia Limited. Tasmea Ltd. has an analyst consensus of Moderate Buy, with a price target consensus of A$3.40. The company has a one-year high of A$3.47 and a one-year low of A$1.46. Currently, Tasmea Ltd. has an average volume of 246K.
Business Insider
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Shaw and Partners Reaffirms Their Buy Rating on SRG Global Limited (SRG)
Shaw and Partners analyst Philip Pepe maintained a Buy rating on SRG Global Limited (SRG – Research Report) today and set a price target of A$1.80. The company's shares closed today at A$1.70. Confident Investing Starts Here: Easily unpack a company's performance with TipRanks' new KPI Data for smart investment decisions Receive undervalued, market resilient stocks right to your inbox with TipRanks' Smart Value Newsletter According to TipRanks, Pepe is an analyst with an average return of -1.7% and a 38.89% success rate. Pepe covers the Industrials sector, focusing on stocks such as Acrow Formwork and Construction Services Limited, Austin Engineering , and Lindsay Australia Limited. SRG Global Limited has an analyst consensus of Moderate Buy, with a price target consensus of A$1.75.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
5 Cryptos to watch as bitcoin (BTC) dominance peaks: Altcoin and meme coin season could soon be underway
Bitcoin's dominance is hovering at recent highs. Currently, it stands at 64%, indicating a classic rotation window. Once BTC peaks, capital often floods into altcoins and meme assets seeking higher returns. With the altcoin and meme season possibly nearing, watching the right cryptocurrencies right now will position you for the market rally. Here are five cryptos worth watching now if you don't want to miss out on this year's gains. Little Pepe (LILPEPE): The First Meme-Layer Power Play Little Pepe ($LILPEPE) is far more than a meme token; it's a purpose-built Layer 2 blockchain for the entire meme economy. Trading at just $0.0012 in Stage 3 of its presale, LILPEPE has already raised nearly $4 million in token demand across the three stages. With 70% of Stage Three tokens sold out, Stage Four nears at $0.0013, offering a strategic entry at a deeply discounted price. What makes Little Pepe a core meme-season contender? First, it eliminates launch-day chaos with built-in anti-bot protections, ensuring buyers aren't front-run. Second, Pepe's Pump Pad launchpad supports fair, vetted meme project rollouts via liquidity locks and anti-rug mechanics—no blind launches. The ecosystem is layered with zero buy/sell taxes and staking rewards, cementing long-term holder trust and utility. The team is backing its launch with a $777,000 giveaway, with ten winners receiving $ 77,000 each. That level of community buzz is rare in presales and is successfully amplifying social visibility. However, this isn't hype without foundation: Little Pepe is architected to scale meme launches sustainably, establishing a structural foundation unseen in other tokens. When the broader market turns risk-on, LILPEPE won't just ride the wave—it's positioned to lead it. Given its low entry, strong tokenomics, and utility-driven pipeline, Little Pepe is poised for exponential gains in 2025's meme-driven altseason. Ethereum (ETH): Altcoin Season Anchor Even as BTC dominance tightens, Ethereum remains the bedrock of the altcoin world. This year, ETH whales have amassed record amounts of ETH. Over 871,000 ETH were added in a single day, marking the heaviest accumulation since 2017. Beyond price, network fundamentals are strong. Ethereum has seen weekly address growth between 800,000 and 1 million, a surging institutional push, and widespread staking engagement. As dollars shift from Bitcoin to altcoins, ETH stands to lead the pack. Its dominance in DeFi, NFTs, and the emerging RWA sector, along with continued whale accumulation, positions ETH to reclaim highs in the $5,000–$6,000 range in 2025. Arbitrum (ARB): Layer‑2 Growth to Watch Built atop Ethereum, Arbitrum continues to extend its reach in the Layer‑2 arena. With over $12 billion in TVL and more than 1,200 dApps, it's the largest scaling network, poised for its next growth phase. The upcoming DeFi Renaissance Incentive Program (DRIP) could further accelerate ecosystem adoption, pushing ARB into price discovery mode. As capital shifts from BTC to altcoins, ARB provides leveraged exposure to Ethereum's broader expansion. If momentum continues, price models suggest upside to $1.20+ by year-end. Bonk (BONK): Solana's Leading Meme Contender Solana's meme ecosystem remains vibrant, anchored by BONK. With a market cap of $933 million, Bonk is Solana's flagship meme token. Despite a dip to $0.0000120, predictions suggesting recovery to $0.00003–$0.000035 by year-end signal renewed investor appetite. As capital shifts away from Bitcoin, meme coins with strong brand equity on high-performance chains often experience aggressive runs. BONK checks both boxes. Sonic (S): Next-Gen DeFi Scalability Fantom's rebrand to Sonic and its high-performance roadmap make it more than a token play—it's a DeFi deep-diver. Its Sonic update enables 10,000 TPS, cross-chain bridges, and yield primitives. The network has also drawn $1.3 billion in net inflows during Q1, signaling institutional-level engagement. With BTC dominance turning, traders will seek scaling platforms with real utility. Sonic's infrastructure and capital inflows position it well to ride the wave of altcoin resurgence. Final Take A peak in Bitcoin dominance often presages the greatest outsized returns, but only for projects with novel utility and momentum. Little Pepe sits at the intersection of cyclical meme mania and structural innovation: a Layer‑2 pipeline built for meme launches, aligned with strong governance, anti-bot protections, staking and liquidity tools, and community incentives via a large giveaway. Alongside Little Pepe, Ethereum and Arbitrum offer broad altcoin stability, while Bonk and Sonic represent high-beta plays in Solana's meme arena and next-generation DeFi infrastructure. If Bitcoin's dominance has peaked, these five present a diversified and well-rounded playbook for the return of altseason and meme season in 2025. For more information about Little Pepe (LILPEPE) visit the links below: Website: Whitepaper: Telegram: Twitter/X:
