After 90 Years, the Legend of Zuppardi’s Apizza Retains Rising
Greater than 90 years in the past, Dominic Zuppardi, an immigrant from Italy and a veteran worker of assorted bakeries specializing in artisan Italian breads, opened his personal bread bakery in New Haven, Connecticut, together with his spouse, Angelina. He known as it Salerno’s Bakery, however it could finally get a brand new title that might change into legendary within the pizza trade: Zuppardi’s Apizza.
When Dominic suffered a stroke within the late Forties, his son Anthony took over the enterprise. By then, apizza (pronounced abeeetz) had been launched and offered alongside the well-loved loaves. Ultimately, although, Anthony had to decide on one or the opposite, and pizza—by this time gaining popularity—gained the battle.
In 1960, as Anthony and his spouse Frances grew the enterprise, they moved Zuppardi’s to West Haven, taking up and reworking an outdated laundromat, the place the pizzeria stays right now. “We grew up above the restaurant and lived there most of our lives,” recalled Lori Zuppardi, Anthony’s daughter and present co-owner along with her sister, Cheryl Zuppardi Pearce, in a 2013 interview with PMQ for the Pizza Corridor of Fame. “It’s been our lifestyle.”
Extra just lately, Cheryl advised NBC Connecticut that she began making pizzas on the store when she was simply 10 years outdated. She famous that the pizzeria nonetheless makes use of her grandparents’ recipes.
The ladies-owned pizzeria has integrated just a few newer toppings (suppose Buffalo hen and broccoli rabe) to fulfill fashionable clients for the reason that outdated days, however the menu has remained largely the identical. The pies are fastidiously crafted within the conventional New Haven fashion, with a slight char developed on the brick oven-baked crust.
Buyer favorites embrace the Conventional Plain Pie, recognized for being Anthony’s favourite and that includes a “wholesome quantity of tomato sauce and grated Peccorino Romano,” in addition to the Spicy Shrimp On line casino (a white sauce, mozzarella, shrimp, sizzling cherry peppers, bacon and garlic).
However there’s additionally the New Haven-style traditional, the Recent Clam pizza, thought of the most effective within the nation. It’s a white-sauce pie made with shucked-to-order Little Neck clams baked on contemporary dough with a mix of garlic and spices. Eater.com has mentioned Zuppardi’s clam pizza is solely “on one other degree,” including, “The sweetness of contemporary Little Necks mingling with parsley, dried herbs, and garlic is vibrant on the chewy, thick crust.”
Along with opening areas in Ansonia and Derby, Connecticut, the Zuppardi’s attain has expanded by way of frozen 10″ pizzas offered in native comfort shops and bars and for nationwide delivery by way of Goldbelly. The household has additionally added two meals vehicles—the Zupp’s Truck for catering and, in March 2023, the new Cellular Slice Store for occasions at faculties and universities and music venues.
“Our clients have become household; they’ve been with us by way of thick and skinny,” Lori Zuppardi advised PMQ within the 2013 interview. “These private relationships we’ve developed say quite a bit for the enterprise.”
After all, bigger entities have additionally helped unfold the phrase. Zuppardi’s has been singled out on main TV networks and in journey guides as the perfect pizza in Connecticut and has tallied quite a few awards within the native press. “We’re pleased with our awards, our household and our youngsters, and we worth each buyer,” Lori added. “It’s good to have the ability to work with a smile in your face every single day. You simply need to be ready to work—and be humble and grateful for all the pieces.”
This text has been edited and up to date from the unique model showing within the October 2013 situation of PMQ.
