Perfect Your Pizza

For his new cookbook, “Joy of Pizza,” he teamed up with fellow New Jersey native, Katie Parla, a Rome-based food writer and culinary expert, to deliver a gorgeously photographed, methodical encyclopedia of all things pizza. We’ve compiled some of our favorite, easy-to-execute tips to immediately improve your pizzas.

Living in Northern California, we are such fans of the wealth of local produce, meats, and seafood, and we always try to include those ingredients into whatever we do. One of my favorite delicacies is Dungeness crab and I eagerly look forward to celebrating crab season every year. In San Francisco, they have a crab mac and cheese that is one of the best meals I have ever eaten. The way the sweet crab complimented the warm, savory, cheesy goodness of the pasta was both satisfying and comforting. I wanted to make something that reflected that sense of place and translate some of that cheesy goodness into a pizza format.

• Pair with DIAMOND COLLECTION PROSECCO

At least once a year, our family takes the drive to Cape May, NJ, this beachfront, Victorian-era town is steeped in history. We have lunch at the Blue Pig Tavern, known for sourcing produce from a local partner farm. This experience prompted me to reflect on how the identity of New Jersey often remains undiscovered beyond its borders. Both local and indigenous, the humble blueberry takes the lead as the most lucrative crop within the state. As we set out to create this unique pizza, our aim was to celebrate the inherent contrasts of flavors. The bursts of sweet and tart berries, reminiscent of the blueberry’s vibrant character, harmonize delightfully with the creamy symphony of cheeses. To further elevate the ensemble, the crisp saltiness of pancetta emerged as the perfect counterpoint. And, to make this pizza truly sing, the zest of lemon and the sweet tang of balsamic glaze join forces to accentuate every nuance and amplify the sensory experience. Named after the tavern that inspired the choice of ingredients, we find the Blue Pig’s mix of salty and sweet pairs best with the crisp acidity and fruity notes of a chilled glass of Diamond Collection Appellation Series Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc.

• Pair with DIAMOND COLLECTION APPELLATION SERIES SAUVIGNON BLANC