New York City is renowned for its bustling streets, iconic skyline, and, of course, its legendary pizza. At Mike’s Pizza, we pride ourselves on crafting the quintessential New York slice, a tradition that combines rich history with meticulous preparation. This blog takes you through the entire journey of our pizza-making process, from the initial dough creation to the moment it arrives steaming hot at your doorstep.
The Dough: The Foundation of Perfection
The heart of any great pizza lies in its dough. At Mike’s Pizza, we start with the highest quality ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt. Our secret lies in the precise measurements and the time we allow the dough to ferment.
Selecting the Ingredients
We source our flour from local mills that provide a consistent, high-gluten product. This ensures that our dough has the right texture and chewiness. The water, often overlooked, is crucial as well. New York City's tap water is reputed to be one of the best for making pizza dough due to its mineral content.
Mixing and Fermentation
The ingredients are mixed to form a cohesive dough, which is then left to ferment. This fermentation process, lasting up to 48 hours, allows the dough to develop its complex flavors. The yeast ferments the sugars in the flour, producing carbon dioxide and alcohol, which gives the dough its airy texture and rich taste.
The Sauce: A Tangy Symphony
Next up is our sauce, which is another cornerstone of our perfect pizza. Our tomato sauce is made from vine-ripened tomatoes, ensuring a sweet yet tangy base.
Fresh Tomatoes and Aromatic Herbs
We use San Marzano tomatoes, known for their balanced acidity and natural sweetness. These tomatoes are pureed and seasoned with a blend of oregano, basil, garlic, and a touch of olive oil. The herbs are sourced fresh to provide an aromatic depth that canned or dried herbs simply can't match.
Simmering to Perfection
The sauce is simmered gently to blend the flavors together. This slow cooking process not only enhances the taste but also thickens the sauce, ensuring it clings to the dough without making it soggy.
The Cheese: Melting Magic
The cheese we use at Mike’s Pizza is another crucial element. We believe in using only the finest mozzarella, known for its creamy texture and perfect meltability.
Choosing the Right Mozzarella
We source our mozzarella from local dairy farms that adhere to traditional cheese-making methods. The cheese is fresh, with a high moisture content, ensuring it melts evenly and provides that quintessential stretch that every pizza lover desires.
Balancing the Flavors
We grate the mozzarella just before sprinkling it over the sauce, ensuring maximum freshness. The balance of cheese and sauce is key; too much cheese can overwhelm the flavors, while too little can leave the pizza feeling sparse. We strike the perfect balance, creating a harmonious blend of tangy sauce and creamy cheese.
Toppings: A Symphony of Flavors
At Mike’s Pizza, we offer a wide variety of toppings, each prepared with the same care and attention as our base ingredients. From classic pepperoni to gourmet options like arugula and prosciutto, our toppings are always fresh and flavorful.
Classic and Gourmet
Options Our classic toppings include pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, and bell peppers. For those seeking something a bit more adventurous, we offer gourmet options like caramelized onions, truffle oil, and goat cheese. Each topping is chosen for its quality and flavor, ensuring it complements our base pizza perfectly.
Preparing the Toppings
All our toppings are prepared in-house. Vegetables are sliced and sautéed to enhance their natural flavors, meats are cooked to perfection, and specialty ingredients are sourced from the best suppliers. This attention to detail ensures that every bite is a burst of flavor.
Baking: The Art of the Oven
The baking process is where all these elements come together to form our perfect pizza. Our pizzas are baked in a traditional stone oven, which provides the high, even heat necessary for that perfect crust.
Preheating the Stone Oven
Our stone ovens are preheated to a blistering 900°F (482°C). This high temperature is essential for achieving the characteristic New York-style crust: crispy on the outside, yet soft and chewy on the inside.
The Perfect Bake
The pizza is placed directly on the hot stone surface, where it bakes for just a few minutes. The intense heat cooks the dough quickly, creating a slight char and those beloved leopard spots on the crust. The cheese melts to a bubbly perfection, and the toppings meld together into a harmonious symphony of flavors.
Delivery: Fresh and Hot to Your Door
Once the pizza is baked to perfection, it’s carefully boxed and dispatched for delivery. We understand the importance of receiving a hot, fresh pizza, so our delivery process is designed to maintain the pizza’s integrity.
Efficient Delivery System
We use insulated bags and dedicated delivery vehicles to ensure the pizza stays hot and fresh. Our delivery team is trained to handle the pizzas with care, ensuring they arrive in perfect condition.
Customer Feedback
We value our customers’ feedback and are always striving to improve our delivery process. Whether it’s a busy Friday night or a quiet weekday afternoon, we ensure that every pizza reaches its destination as quickly as possible without compromising on quality.
Conclusion: The Perfect Slice Every Time
At Mike’s Pizza, our dedication to quality is evident in every step of our pizza-making process. From selecting the finest ingredients to mastering the art of baking, we are committed to providing our customers with the best New York pizza. We believe that each pizza we make is a reflection of our passion for perfection. So, the next time you crave a slice of New York’s finest, remember that every bite from Mike’s Pizza is crafted with love and care, from dough to delivery.