Josh Reviews Pizza: A Love Story

Having grown up near New Haven, CT, I know what all denizens of that area know: that the best pizza in the world can be found at three small pizza places located within just a few blocks of one another: Sally’s Apizza, Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana, and Modern Apizza.

Gorman Bechard’s wonderful documentary Pizza: A Love Story is a delightful salute to the astonishingly delicious pizza (or, if you prefer, apizza), made at those three New Haven restaurants.

The doc digs deep into the history of pizza in general and New Haven pizza in specific, and it tells the story of the families who created and then continued to run those three restaurants.  I loved getting to discover the history of these restaurants that I’ve loved so much.

The doc explores what distinguishes New Haven pizza from other famous pizza styles/locations (New York, Chicago, etc.) and investigates the various theories held by both the pizza professionals and also the New Haven locals as to what makes this pizza so magical.  (Is it the ovens?  Is it the sauce?  Is there something in the New Haven water?)

Mr. Bechard and his team have assembled a fantastic array of interviews, as well as all sorts of incredible old photos and other artifacts, to chart the history and development of New Haven pizza.  It’s fascinating to hear from the the people in the families behind Sally’s, Pepe’s, and Modern.  There are some surprising celebrity interviews and also some fun appearances by what I’d call New Haven celebrities.  Lots of great stories that are told.

The only problem?  I was crazing New Haven pizza after watching this film!!!  I wanted to get in my car immediately and drive down to CT to get on line outside Sally’s.  (Everyone who grew up or lives around New Haven has their favorite spot: for me, it will always be Sally’s.)

Pizza: A Love Story is available to stream on Amazon (though you have to sign up for a “CuriosityStream” trial) and elsewhere.  I watched it on the Roku Channel.

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