My Towns 4 – Forza Napoli!

Continuing on the topic “My Towns” . One might ask what Napoli has in common with Cleveland (Ashtabula), OH and Rochester, NY. To me it’s simple, they are all underappreciated, underdogs if you will. As a result of this shared “under-dogged-ness”, I have strong affinities to these towns. In these towns, we tend to stick together.

Table of Contents

1. NAPULE E’ – PINO DANIELE
2. Nebalatan Word of the Day (Grandpa Tony-ism) – Pasta Shoot
3. Leo’s Bakery and Deli, Tomato Pie – East Rochester, NY

I could be on my bike in Florida and notice someone walking with a Browns hat. And I yell “Go Browns!” And in return, I’ll likely get, “Woof, Woof, WOOF!“

I’ve said, “Forza Napoli” in a cab, on a train, in a transport, on the streets of Napoli, even in a restaurant in Sarasota. And, the reply, “Sempre!”

There’s no such symbol of togetherness in Rochester, except, maybe, “I was laid off by Kodak in….and you?”.”Yeah, it was….”

Rochester could probably use the universal symbol of appeal, Genny Cream Ale, as a rallying cry!

NAPULE E’ – PINO DANIELE

The Nebaladan way of life is best captured in a song Napule (Neapolitan for Napoli) E’ from the 1990’s from Pino Daniele.

Napoli is not just a team, nor a city, it’s a way of life.  It’s a life that I admire and find with Clevelanders, although, it seems to be missing in Rochester.  I’m not sure if that’s due to the lack of a major league team or something else, but it’s definitely lacking.

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Nebalatan Word of the Day (Grandpa Tony-ism) – Pasta Shoot

• In honor of my father, who’s 96th birthday would’ve been this week, we visit another term of endearment used by my father, Pasta Shoot. In context, in a conversation with my dad (Grandpa Tony):
  • Dad – calling out to my son as a baby, “Hey, Pasta Shoot!”
  • My son – just smiles as babies do when they feel love.
  • Dad – calling out to my son as an adult, college football player, “Hey, Pasta Shoot!”
  • My son – just smiles as adults do when they feel love.

I didn’t realize that Pasta Shoot is likely a REAL WORD, the Italian word, pastaciutta. I had just assumed it was simply a Grandpa Tony-ism. Of which, there are many, words that Grandpa Tony just made up!

In researching, pastaciutta, I found two potential meanings. It means:

1. dry pasta – from here – https://www.savoringitaly.com/what-is-pastasciutta/
2. Or, more interestingly, it was an anti-Fascist dish in Northern Italy (which was the capital of Fascism in Italy before WWII) – see here https://www.repubblica.it/il-gusto/2023/07/25/news/la_storia_della_pastasciutta_antifascista_dei_fratelli_cervi-408976277/

I’m currently reading a book about pre-WWII Mussolini and Fascism and their alliance with the Pope, and brainwashing, err…Catholicism. Both the article above, and the book, The Pope and Mussolini (see link) are very interesting.

Leo’s Bakery and Deli, Tomato Pie – East Rochester, NY

One of my pizza “go to’s” in Rochester is Leo’s Bakery and Deli (website here) in East Rochester. I talked about ER in my last post (here). Leo’s appears in the “Bought” Table (click here) 3 times in the 100+ pizza reviews that I’ve done. That’s the most of any single pizza joint we’ve visited. Our most recent visit was on August 2, 2023.

Date	8/2/23	6/30/23	10/19/21
Style	Tomato Pie, Bakery	Tomato Pie, Bakery	Tomato Pie
Rating	Good	Meh	Good
Go Back?	Yes	Maybe	Maybe
Dough	Although airy, not super light, very, very thick!  Great bready taste!	Very airy, lots of little bubbles
Sauce	Fully covers cut, but very thin, just a hint of tomatoe flavor on this one, over powered by crust & cheese	Almost no sauce.  So thin how can it be called Tomato Pie? What was there was tastie, but much of the pie had none.  TRULY HELD THIS PIE BAC
Cheese	Nice coverage.  Seems to be Pecorino Romano, very sharp, very taste	Pretty good sprinkle of fake Parmagian.  Too bad they don’t use real.
Presentation	Available at the cash register as a 1/4 sheet in a platic bag.  Put in fridge when we got home, reheated cuts in the oven	Plastic bag like many bakery pizza
Notes	There’s a reason that I keep buying Leo’s tomato pie.  It’s because I love tomato pie and Leo’s does a decent, although not great job of fixing my wooley	A very disappointing pie

Leo’s is a classic bakery Tomato Pie. In terms of presentation and convenience, this pizza is available in a 1/4 sheet size, in a plastic bag, at the cash register. Upon reaching home, reheating in the oven is recommended to restore its warmth and freshness and further brown and crisp the bottom.

Not all pizza stands up well to re-heat. My cycling buddy, Paulie B., refuses to re-heat his pizza in a microwave. The same can be said for Leo’s Tomato Pie. Re-heating in the oven is best.

Starting with the dough, it’s noteworthy. While not overly light, it maintains a satisfying airiness. Its thickness is a standout feature, contributing to a substantial feel. The bready taste is a prominent aspect that shouldn’t be overlooked. I don’t like a bready taste in “regular” pizza, but a bready taste is a requirement for me when it comes to Bakery Tomato Pie.

Transitioning to the sauce, it fully covers the pizza but errs on the side of thinness. The tomato flavor is present, albeit subtly overshadowed by the dominating crust and cheese components. These elements seem to be taking center stage. This lack of sauce is what separates and lowers Leo’s Tomato Pie rating compare to other, great Tomato Pies that I’ve reviewed.

Moving on to the cheese, the coverage is commendable. The cheese type appears to be a Pecorino Romano, delivering a sharp and rich flavor that adds depth to the overall taste.

Breaking down the details. Leo’s receives a “Good” but not great rating.  Would I return for another?  The answer is a definite “Yes.” 

Leo’s is not great like other bakery pizzas; namely Pereccas or Portage Bakery, but Leo’s is far closer to home whereas Pereccas is 3 hours and Portage 2 hours away.

To sum it up, Leo’s tomato pie has secured a spot in my pizza rotation. While it may not reach the level of mind-blowing, there’s an intangible quality that keeps drawing me back. Whether it’s the nostalgia or the distinctive vibe, Leo’s manages to satisfy that particular craving for a quick at home-ish tomato pie.