Ohio Valley–style pizza is a pizza made with cold toppings sprinkled over a square crust that has been covered with a savory[1][2] or sweet tomato sauce. It originated in Steubenville, Ohio and is served in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia, mostly in and near the Ohio Valley region of those states.
 Two slices of pizza from DiCarlo's pizza in Pennsylvania; the right one is Ohio Valley style | |
| Type | Pizza |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Steubenville, Ohio |
| Created by | Primo DiCarlo |
| Main ingredients | Pizza dough, tomato sauce, shredded cheese |
History
editOhio Valley–style pizza was invented in Steubenville, Ohio, by Primo DiCarlo when he returned to the United States after serving in World War II.[3] DiCarlo had eaten pizza in Italy during the war, and attempted to recreate it in the United States. In 1945 he opened the Original DiCarlo's Famous Pizza Shop with his parents Michael and Caroline,[4] Italian immigrants who had opened up bakeries in Ohio and California.[5] Their shop was the first licensed pizza restaurant in Ohio.[6] They opened a second location in Wheeling, West Virginia,[7] four years later.[8] They subsequently opened locations in Weirton, Glen Dale, and Wellsburg, West Virginia.[9] A 1949 article in the Wheeling News Register described their pizza as "an Italian bread dough base garnished with a sauce of tomatoes, parsley and green peppers that's seasoned with oregano, served with anchovies, cheese, pepperoni or mushrooms."[7]
The pizza is known for its distinctive cold toppings which are added after the pizza is cooked. It was nicknamed "The Poor Man's Cheesecake" in the 1940s.[10] In 2018, DiCarlo said he did not remember why the pizza was originally prepared that way but speculated that it may have been to avoid burning the toppings.[4] The style became a part of local cuisine in Ohio and West Virginia,[11][9] and was replicated by several other chains.[12][13] However, its method of preparation is polarizing,[14] and it has been negatively compared to Lunchables.[7][15][16]
Description
editOhio Valley pizza is characterized by a square crust topped with a savory[17][18] or sweet sauce and baked in a rectangular sheet pan[6] at around 550 degrees Fahrenheit.[19] The sauce used on an Ohio Valley–style pizza is either a savory[20][21] or sweet,[11] lightly seasoned tomato sauce made with green bell peppers, oregano and olive oil. The sauce may be cooked or uncooked before spreading.[7]
It is removed halfway through baking and topped with additional sauce and small amounts of cheese.[10] The cooked pizza is then topped with cold ingredients including shredded Provolone cheese and often pepperoni or banana peppers.[5][22] The cheese melts slightly due to the heat of the pizza but the other toppings remain uncooked.[11][9]
The pizza is cut into square slices,[23] and served by the slice.[11] Some restaurants allow customers to purchase additional shredded cheese in a bag to sprinkle on top of their pizza.[24]
References
edit- ^ "A new kind of pizza in Westerville - T&CMedia". www.tandcmedia.org. 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ Hall, Alex (2020-03-31). "Not Your Average 'Za: DiCarlo's Pizza". Falls Free Press. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ "The Best Pizza in Every State". Food & Wine. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ a b "The Story of Ohio Valley-Style Pizza - PMQ Pizza Magazine". www.pmq.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ a b "DiCarlo's Pizza comes to Knoxville with Ohio Valley style pizza at its 'first dine-in concept'". Knoxville News Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ a b Kaiser, Brian. "3 Ohio Pizza Styles and Where to Get Them". www.ohiomagazine.com. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ a b c d "Pittsburgh's Unique Pizza Styles and Where You Can Get Them". Pittsburgh Magazine. 2021-02-10. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ Jones, Kevin (2020-01-09). "Ohio Valley-Style Pizza: The Midwest's Unique Take on Pizza". Pizza Need. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ a b c Team, Candace Nelson WV Culinary (2022-05-28). "WV Culinary Team: Ohio Valley Specialty – Cold Cheese Pizza is the best pizza. Here's why". Charleston Gazette-Mail. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ a b "Cold Hands, Warm Slices: What is Ohio-Valley Style Pizza? – Slice Pizza Blog". THE SAUCE. 2019-02-06. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ a b c d Deto, Ryan. "Why Pittsburghers should brag about Ohio Valley Pizza". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "DiCarlo's Pizza set to bring piece of Ohio Valley to uptown Westerville with July 1 grand opening". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ Morris, Jeremy (2022-11-04). "DiCarlo's Pizza: A Cultural Icon". Weelunk. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "Beto's Pizza Review - Cold Toppings on a Pizza in Beechview". 2016-02-23. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "There's A Pizza Place in Pittsburgh That Serves Cold Cheese And Toppings". www.foodbeast.com. 2017-04-20. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "America's Most Obscure Regional Pizza Styles". Atlas Obscura. 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2023-06-14.
- ^ "A new kind of pizza in Westerville - T&CMedia". www.tandcmedia.org. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ Hall, Alex (2020-03-31). "Not Your Average 'Za: DiCarlo's Pizza". Falls Free Press. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ "Takeout: Nine Pizza Styles and Where to Find Them in Columbus". Columbus Monthly. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ "A new kind of pizza in Westerville - T&CMedia". www.tandcmedia.org. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ Hall, Alex (2020-03-31). "Not Your Average 'Za: DiCarlo's Pizza". Falls Free Press. Retrieved 2024-10-08.
- ^ "From Iconic to Unusual, Here Is Your Ultimate Guide to Regional Pizzas". Taste of Home. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ Walsh, Karla (2019-07-10). "15 Iconic Regional Pizza Styles, Explained". Eat This Not That. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
- ^ Harold, Zack (2022-08-26). "Wheeling Is Crazy For Cold Cheese Pizza. But Which Restaurant Serves The Best Slice?". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Retrieved 2023-06-13.