The Weekender: Three pizza shops stacking on old-world pepperoni
Old-world pepperoni has managed to push itself back to the top of the pizza topping pyramid — so much so that Hormel has started to sell a mainstream version called Pepperoni Cup n’ Crisp. Most people identify old-world pepperoni by its cup and char, but this topping staple is also smaller in diameter, spicier, and naturally cased, which is how when baked it produces the trademark cup. If you are looking to top your homemade pizza, many late-night deep dives led me to Weiland’s Market and Columbus-based Ezzo Sausage Company for a tasty take-and-bake option.
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• Bexley Pizza Plus exploits their Maximum Pepperoni pizza by making it the base for most specialty offerings. Combining large margarita style pepperoni that hugs flat to the cheese and generous amounts of Patrick Cudahy mini pepperoni, Plus creates an intriguing profile of deep herbs and old-world spice. Only utilizing same-day dough, Plus develops a crust with a crisp snap and airier interior texture that complements its herbaceous sauce of vine-ripened California tomatoes and house-aged provolone and mozzarella. The char and spice provided by the old-world “mini” pepperoni make my thirty-minute drive worth it.
Insider tip – they are now offering thin crust!
•Carlucci’s Pizzeria tops their razor-thin crust with Ezzo’s Supreme Pepperoni. Carlucci’s refers to these old-world pepperonis as “flavor bombs,” and I definitively agree. This Columbus-style pizza is fired in a stone oven and topped with a subtle yet impactful, house-made sauce and a blend of mozzarella and provolone that perfectly balances flavor, texture, and a welcomed kick of spice. If you love a cracker crust, Carlucci’s should be a regular in your pizza rotation.
Insider tip – if you want to up the old-world ante, get the pepperoni chips.
•Joseppi’s Pizza has been slinging Columbus-style dough for over fifty years and boasts numerous awards for their inspired pies. Joseppi’s Topper pizza is my go-to, layering a golden crust, house-grated smoked provolone, parmesan, daily made Californian tomato sauce, and an abundance of Ezzo’s Supreme Pepperoni (are we seeing a pattern). A long-standing family-owned business, Joseppi’s has made it a point to use family-owned suppliers supporting other small businesses that provide quality products. These crispy squares are enticing and easily shared.
The secret to those curled blackened edges –-they are always layered on last so the sugar in the pepperoni can caramelize. No matter what toppings you are piling on your pizza, these memorable pizza shops know old-world pepperoni amps up the flavor of any pie.
If you like this, read: The Weekender: Three places to find unconventional biscuits and gravy
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