Posted on 02/11/2016 4:11:33 PM PST by nickcarraway
It's a double treat today for two New York culinary staples -- not only is it National Bagel Day -- it's also National Pizza Day.
So which one of these iconic New York City foods reigns supreme among locals? CBS2's Emily Smith took to the streets to find out.
In honor of National Bagel Day, Smith stopped off at Bagel Boss -- one of the oldest bagel chains to open on Long Island.
Benny LoPiccolo, of Bagel Boss in Roslyn Heights, says It costs about 30 cents to make it homemade, and they sell it for $1.25.
According to LoPiccolo, plain bagels are their top seller.
"We can't keep up with them," LoPiccolo said.
But it's far from the only option.
"Lox, tomato cream, cheese -- toasted," Gabriel Leviav said.
"I don't toast it -- I like it the way it is," Joe Cino, of Cino's Hot Bagels in Bethpage, said.
So if it's National Bagel Day and National Pizza Day in the same day, doesn't that make it 'National Pizza Bagel Day' too?
Joseph Pappalardo, of Pappalardo's Pizza Cove in Massapequa, has been in the pizza business for 43 years. On Tuesday, he shared some of his tips:
"It starts out with making your pizza dough fresh every day," Pappalardo said. "You've got to buy the top ingredients -- tomatoes from Italy, pizza cheese from Wisconsin."
Pappalardo says it costs about 95 cents to make a slice and it sells for $2.25.
The long-time pizzeria owner also shared his love for Lombardi's, on Spring Street. The Manhattan pizzeria was the first in America, established in the early 1900s.
"They had a great calzone and slice of pizza," Pappalardo said. "And they really are the original and the first."
Brooklyn's Spumoni Gardens opened in 1939. Fourth-generation owner Louis Barbati says people travel from all around the world to have one of their famous squares.
"We put the cheese on then the sauce it's a different style," Barbati said.
But which is better -- pizza, or bagels?
"I did both for a long time, and I think bagels is the king of New York," LoPiccolo said.
"I like the pizza, I like the pizza," said Dan Cheshire of Shirley.
However you slice it, bite it or top it, there's clearly room for both here in this big city.
Yes! Great pizza.
Pizza
Combo...anything but fish
Thin crust but will eat thick if that’s all that’s available.
::drool::
Bkmk
Pizza! http://www.saluggis.com
The worst bagel is better than N.Y. pizza.
Me i just smoke a couple bowls of some great stuff
or the bottom of a mcgirdle
As my late mother would say “youal dam right you will “
Is that windbag still on the air? Wait, what were we talking about?
Ditto.
Begals in NY are probably somewhat better than the rest of the country, but their pizza is OUTSTANDING, without equal.
My kids would sometimes get gift certificates for Pizza Hut as awards in school (for little personal pies), and when we had enough for all of them we’d take them there. When you grow up with the “real deal”, it is impossible to eat that stuff. They opened a Papa John’s near me, and it is the same thing - can’t hold a candle to the “real deal”. Sadly, my kids now think that Franken-pizza is “pizza”...
Thank you
Been there, eaten that. It’s merely bread with sauce and cheese on it.
Dunno what is special about NYC pizza vs. any other quality stuff. Maybe the stench of auto fumes or whatever urban thing makes it better? I'll pass, will never have it, never miss it.
Where I am now 3 minutes away on Beverly Blvd. Larry King has a Brooklyn Bagel place in Beverly Hills and it is pretty good. Always best when served hot.
Pretty much spoiled me after that. Can't stand the stuff stores sell.
Brooklyn HAD fresh warehouse bakeries when I was a kid. No more I think. I agree, when you get quality you become spoiled.
I make the best pizza myself. I cook the dough first letting it rise and darken a little before I put sauce and other stuff on it.
The difference is that with my way there is no raw dough between the crust and sauce. My pizza won’t cause digestive problems.
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