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Category: Boston

Gary Bimonte showing off the jersey presented to him by visiting members of the Boston Red Sox

Gary Bimonte of Pepe’s Pizza in The VIP Lounge

June 17, 2016 / / 0 Comments

The VIP Lounge is a weekly Boston Globe interview of a usually D-list celebrity with some passing connection to Boston. The same eight travel-themed questions are asked of each interviewee — Aisle or window? Guilty pleasure when traveling? This week the VIP is Gary Bimonte, one of seven grandchildren of Frank Pepe, founder of the greatest pizzeria in the country, Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana in New Haven, CT. There are now eight Pepe’s pizzeria’s in the northeast, the most recent of which opened, very successfully, in Chestnut Hill mall in Boston. Mr. Bimonte is manager of quality control, popping around to the eight restaurants to ensure the pies are up to New Haven standards. Check out his VIP Lounge interview here.

Briny, salty, garlicky, juicy, oily, toasty, chewy... Pepe's New Haven, CT white clam pizza is the perfect food!

Pepe’s Pizza Makes Boston Debut 12/16

December 2, 2015 / / 0 Comments

It sometimes seemed like it would never really happen, but all doubts have been erased: Pepe’s will be bringing their incomparable New Haven pizza to Boston in two weeks. The Mall at Chestnut Hill opening is scheduled for December 16th. The oven will be identical to the New Haven original but word is there will be new toppings and salads. The char will remain. If it’s a success, there could be further Pepe’s openings in the Boston area. For you first-time Boston visitors, here’s some advice: no matter what else you get, order a white clam pie!

A glorious white clam pie as served at Pepe's Fairfield, CT location

Pepe’s Pizza Expansion News

June 11, 2015 / / 0 Comments

Eater spoke with Gary Bimonte of Frank Pepe Pizzeria Napoletana (originally of New Haven, CT). If you are a pizza fanatic who swears by Pepe’s pies (we are and we do!), it’s required reading. Some key points: the current expansion to eight restaurants was spurred on by the fact that Frank Pepe has seven grandchildren, and one store won’t support seven families. They hope to open a new store every 18 months, reaching a total of 20-30 restaurants in the northeast (not, in our view, the “massive expansion” of the Eater headline, but significant). They’ll focus on college towns, with three to five total in the Boston region.

Briny, salty, garlicky, juicy, oily, toasty, chewy... Pepe's New Haven, CT white clam pizza is the perfect food!

Pepe’s of New Haven Finally Coming to Boston

March 16, 2015 / / 0 Comments

In the on-again, off-again saga of Pepe’s Pizzeria‘s entry into the Boston market, the latest news is that Pepe’s (of New Haven, Connecticut, and America’s greatest pizzeria) really has found a home and really is coming. Last year, they had intended to set up shop in Brookline, until the occupant of the space they were moving into decided not to vacate. The location they found to replace it is in Chestnut Hill, in the mall, in the space formerly occupied by Papa Razzi. We relayed the news here last month but it sounded very tentative at the time. This news sounds more certain. Opening date is sometime this fall.

True French-style baguettes from Standard Baking Co. of Portland ME

LAF in the A.M. March 12th, 2015

March 12, 2015 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL BAKED SCALLOPS DAY!

An Interview with Owners of Portland’s Standard Baking

Sweet Water Cafe Part of Marquette Restaurant Week

VA’s Orlean Market Owner Takes On Partners, Plans Changes

NOLA’s Boucherie Moved Around Corner; Plans for Old Space

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Briny, salty, garlicky, juicy, oily, toasty, chewy... Pepe's New Haven, CT white clam pizza is the perfect food!

LAF in the A.M. February 8th, 2015

February 8, 2015 / / 1 Comment

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL MOLASSES BAR DAY!

New Haven’s Pepe’s Opening in Boston Mall

A Look Inside the New Shapiro’s Fashion Mall Deli

Sweet New Hampshire

Mike Hardin, Hodad’s Owner, Has Died

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Chopped pork, cool slaw, on a bun - the North Carolina barbecue sandwich as served at Ayden's Skylight Inn

LAF in the A.M. February 5th, 2015

February 5, 2015 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL CHOCOLATE FONDUE DAY!

North Carolina Sandwiches

Zimmern Does Boston

Green Dragon of Ephrata Begins Rebuilding

How Does Shake Shack Do It?

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Bissinger's turkey

LAF in the A.M. November 9th, 2014

November 9, 2014 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

Take a Look Inside the New Bissinger Factory


Bissinger’s chocolate arrived in St. Louis, from Europe, in the 1920s and they’re still going strong. They recently opened a new downtown facility in a former railroad depot. Watch the video for a look inside. Continue reading

Dahlonega's Smith House is an inn built on a vein of unmined gold. They are famous for the bountiful spread of country cooking served daily.

LAF in the A.M. November 3rd, 2014

November 3, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Gold and Fried Chicken

The Smith House in Dahlonega, Georgia is an inn with a history. The house was built atop a vein of gold that remained unmined because the 19th-century town fathers did not want the noise and disturbance to the town that mining would bring. Today, The Smith House is famous for the generous feasts they put out daily. You might want to give some thought to spending your Thanksgiving here, when The Smith House pulls out all the stops. Here’s what will be on this year’s Thanksgiving menu: Continue reading

Many deli mavens name Katz's on Houston Street in New York as America's greatest deli.

LAF in the A.M. October 29th, 2014

October 29, 2014 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

The Future of Katz’s Deli

The ever-present disquieting thought in the backs of the minds of New York deli mavens, as they wait for their Katz’s Deli slicer to build their pastrami sandwich is, how long can this good thing last? The neighborhood keeps improving, real estate prices keep rising, yet here remains Katz’s, slicing cured meats since 1888. In Jordan Weissmann’s fascinating story for Slate about Katz’s, and its owner Jake Dell, we learn that there are additional financial pressures on the deli business in general. For instance, wholesale brisket prices have tripled since just 1988. Delis pretty much sell cured meat as a loss leader, making most of their profit on everything else. Continue reading

Grilled Pizza Margarita as served at Al Forno of Providence, RI - named by Food & Wine magazine as one of the best pizza places in the U.S. (although Al Forno is much more than a pizza place).

LAF in the A.M. October 22nd, 2014

October 22, 2014 / / 1 Comment

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

America’s Best Pizza, Chosen by Food & Wine

Top Pot Watch

Ina Pinkney Comes Home

Attack of the Killer Pumpkins!

Sad News from Memphis

Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me! Tries the Pitts-burger

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Roast beef sandwiches at Kelly's of Revere, MA, ready to be dressed

LAF in the A.M. October 21st, 2014

October 21, 2014 / / 0 Comments

A Morning Menu of Stories We Think You’ll Find Interesting

Good Eats in Revere MA

CNN Ranks the 12 Best Meat-Eating Cities in the U.S.

Comedian Jim Gaffigan Loves Eating, Especially in Chicago

A Visit with the Owner of Geno’s Steaks

Difficult Times for the Owners of Mr. Mac’s Canteen

Shake Shack Watch

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Pepperoni pie at Coalfire in Chicago

Take a Pizza Tour!

October 1, 2014 / / 0 Comments

Pizza tourism is popping up all over! Check out this story by Caryn Rousseau of AP, in which she details pizza tours you can take in Chicago, New York, Boston, and Milwaukee (Milwaukee?!). Some are walking tours, most are by bus, and prices range from $39 in Boston up to $80 in Brooklyn, NY. We know people who’ve taken some of these tours and we’ve heard nothing but raves. It’s a good way to get an understanding of the local pizza styles.

Pepe's Boston arrival will be delayed, at best.

Pepe’s Interruptus

September 23, 2014 / / 1 Comment

Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana of New Haven, CT and the city of Boston have been conducting a courtship dance since March. It looked like a done deal. The Fireplace, of Brookline, was to close its doors in December, and Pepe’s was to move into that vacated spot. The people of Boston rejoiced! Alas, Pepe’s penetration into the Boston market was not to be, as the owner of The Fireplace, Jim Solomon, withdrew his offer to make way for the Connecticut pizzeria. Like a wallflower who is suddenly dazzled by the attention, Mr. Solomon decided to stay and enjoy the party. Not that we blame him. But the birth of a Boston Pepe’s will just have to wait.

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