Bene is a new Italian culture magazine that will be distributed in "150 of the best Italian restaurants in the United States, starting May 15th." Why am I telling you this? Well Bene's Editorial Director, Joanna Goddard, wrote me recently to see if I wanted to write for them. "Umm," I wrote back, "You know I'm not Italian right?" She wrote back "yes, not a problem" and then offered to take me to dinner. This is the story of that dinner.
As you can tell by the picture above, Joanna took me to Una Pizza Neopoletana. This made me very happy because I've never been to Una Pizza Neopoletana but I've heard all about it. It's on the same block in the East Village as Hearth, one of my favorite New York restaurants. Joanna met me outside and then we went inside to talk business.
Joanna: Let's talk business.
Adam: Ok!
Joanna: I think we should order two pizzas--two different kinds and we can each have half of the other's.
Adam: Excellent.
Joanna: I really like the Filetti--I had that when I was here with my cousin.
The filetti is described as having "fresh cherry tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, fresh garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh basil and sea salt."
We also ordered the Margherita: "San Marzano tomatoes, buffalo mozzarella, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh basil and sea salt."
Here they are, hot from the oven. First the filetti:
Then the margherita:
These pizzas were absolutely, undeniably fresh and delicious and wonderful. "Mmmm!" I moaned in ecstasy.
"So anyway, we'd like you to write, maybe, starting--"
"MmmmMMM!" I continued to groan.
"--and we really like your humor so we'd like--"
"ARRRRRM!!! ERRRRM!!! YUMMMM!!"
"--unless you're too busy writing your book."
"AAOHOU:HYOAU:YH UOAYHA:OUHY!!!!"
"Adam?"
"Oh, yes, I'd love to write for you."
This is what we'd call a successful business meeting. It was even more successful because I didn't have to pay which, actually, is the only set-back to dining at una pizza napoletana: the price! Each of those pizzas cost close to $20. That's pricey for a small pizza. But it's a divinely authentic small pizza and you have to decide what your values are. If your values involve getting taken to dinner, then head straight to una pizza napoletana--you won't regret it.
