Nicoletta Attacks Gotham City Friday

Ed Levine and Adam Kuban are the culinary version of Batman and Robin.  The difference is, crime doesn't motivate them, pizza does.  Ed Levine wrote a book called Pizza: A Slice of Heaven.  His pal Adam Kuban writes a colum for Seriouseats called Slice, a NYC based weblog that's dedicated to pizza.  Their extensive knowledge of all things pizza is why they're able to bring us this detailed, first-look at Nicoletta, Michael White's new pizzeria opening in the East Village this Friday, June 15th.

Nicoletta is a break from Michael White's refined, attention-to-detail driven Italian cooking made famous at Marea, Osteria Morini and Ai Fiori.  The East Village haunt is inspired by a place called Domenico's in White's hometown of Beloit, Wisconsin.  It will serve 12 and 16-inch pizzas, a traditional lasagna, and one flavor of gelato to guests dining indoors or out, in any of the 38 sidewalk seats.

A whole milk mozzarella from Wisconsin will top certain pizzas and beers from the same state are available to wash them down.  According to a Times article, "every table is fitted with metal sockets in which the stems of cantilevered pizza stands are placed."  This is done to free up table space.  Eater has some awesome pictures of an empty dining room, probably your last chance to see it that way.

(100th post!!) O Speedy Romeo, Speedy Romeo, Wherefore Art Thou Speedy Romeo

Speedy Romeo opened in January this year.  Justin Bazdarich is the chef.  He worked for Jean Georges at Perry Street.  His buddy Todd Feldman is the other half of the restaurant, which takes its name from his family's racehorse.  Speedy Romeo is at 376 Classon Avenue in Clinton Hill and they have a pizza called The Saint Louie.  It's got provel, Italian sausage, pepperoni, and pickled chilis.  Slice's Adam Kuban had The Saint Louie on a recent visit and throws the pizza into his Great Eight of 2012.

Lucali's Mark Iacono Lets Things Roll Off His Back

Lucali is the epitamy of a neighborhood joint.  It's on Henry street in Carroll Gardens.  It's small, casual, delicious.  From 6pm - 10pm all they do is make pizza and calzones.  If they run out of ingredients, they run out of ingredients.  Despite the lines that have been out the door since they opened in 2006, Lucali prefers to be closed on Tuesdays.

Chef and owner Mark Iacono was the talk of the town last spring.  But not for serving the likes of Jay-Z and Beyonce on a somewhat regular basis, not for his incredible pizza, but because of what he refers to as "an altercation."  He was involved in a knife fight in April of last year, and although we know he's back to making pizzas, there's still a lot of grey area surrounding the issue. 

Catch up with the man behind the pizza in this great interview Grubstreet did with Mark last Friday.

Elizabeth Falkner Makes West to East Pilgrimage

Elizabeth Falkner established herself in San Francisco with Citizen Cake and Orson.  Citizen Cake Ice Cream Parlor and Eats had a 14 year run.

The talented (pastry) chef closed both San Fran operations at the end of last year with her sites set on Brooklyn.  She will land in either Park Slope or Cobble Hill and open a cocktailcentric pizza place sometime in the summer.

Oh, the desserts will probably be pretty good too.

"I'll Be Right There, I Just Have to Cook Dinner for the President Really Quick"

Dan Kluger has his hands full tonight.  The executive chef will cook for the Chief Executive as ABC Kitchen hosts a $35,800 a head charity dinner. The Times gives a rundown of the evening and digestNY wonders if there will be pizza on the menu...

Dan Kluger, "Mushrooms, Parmesan, Oregano And Farm Egg Pizza" from Eater NY.

Patsy Grimaldi to Occupy Original Grimaldi's Space

Patsy Grimaldi has left a long trail in the history of New York City pizza.  It started in the 40s, when he learned how to make pizza under his uncle up in Harlem.  A legal battle in the 90s lead to the current Grimaldi's name and the end of the decade, 1998, saw Patsy Grimaldi's retirement from the pizza world.  A decision that never stopped haunting him.

Unpaid rent forced Grimaldi's out of the original 19 Old Fulton Street space at the end of last year.  They opened their new location half a block away, at 1 Front Street.

Patsy Grimaldi saw this as a perfect chance to come out of retirement.  He plans to open Juliana's, a name attributed to his late mother, in the original Grimaldi's location at 19 Old Fulton Street in DUMBO, BK.

Make pizza, not war.