Reminds me when I visited my grandma on Federal Hill. She would always make a treat for me which was day old Italian bread spread with a little water, olive oil, sat, and pepper and heated in the old black oven. Delicious.
This story had me salivating. I know it is only 11AM, but I need to make a pizza right now! By the way Ed, I grew up on Chalkstone Avenue and attended Nathaniel Greene Jr. High. My dad had a store called Hospital Spa across Oakland Ave. from the school. He was there 40 years and I worked there with him from the age of 12 for 10 cents an hour. MY dad used to sing O Sole Mio with a beautiful voice when I was there with him. Such great memories. My mom was always in the kitchen too. I remember eating eels, chicken legs and other unusual delicacies. MY siblings and I used to rush to read all the newest comic books as they arrived, but first we had to remove the outdated ones and stamp the new ones with the hand held date stamp. I love your stories. They bring back those simpler times with great affection.
Thank you Barbara. I went to West, but I remember your Dad's spa because qe played ball across the street. Your parents sound like fun people. I wish I knew them. But . . . your mother would never get me to eat eels.
I had 86 comic books that somehow got jettisoned in a move. Not sure who did it, but I have my suspicions. I should have gone to the spa to restock.
Thanks for sharing your traumatic pizza caper. Excitement, reward, faulty planning, discovery, fear, interrogation, punishment, and redemption summarized in a brilliant short story. Kudos, my friend.
Thanks, Larry. It's as real today as it was then. I resent even more having to chuck the second piece in the bucket. I'll bet she ate it. My psychiatrist is helping me accept it all😅
Ed you slippery young scamp? Actually I can completely understand the temptation as DeLuise’s was always my dad’s favorite bakery. Even after we moved from our home in the Killingly/Greenville Ave location in Johnston to Cranston in 1946 he continued to frequent it regularly. Their pizza slices (especially corners) were my favorites but so much there was tempting! I remember bringing one of their delicious apple pies to your mom back in the ‘90s. A close second place must go to the now closed Solitro’s in Knightsville which made, only in the summer months, a delicious fire roasted, fresh off-the-vine, plain tomato pizza. Again as your Nonna well-knew, by instinct and experience, the simplest of ingredients usually makes the best pizza! Another great read Ed. Tom
Ed, a dilemma for sure, but the wisdom to devour the end slice made the ordeal not so bad. Ed, yes, the warden err guidance teacher definitely scooped up your basket slice. Ann thought that might be your cousin Elaine next to you at grandma's birthday party.
I'll check, and post if I do. I have some of her recipes written in Italian...which my grandparents taught me to speak at a very young age. They took care of me while my parents worked.
Come si fa la pizza Italiana...How you make Italian pizza. I'll translate the best I can.
3 full cups of flour, 1 full cup of milk, 1 Tbs. lard, or spry (crisco), 1 Tbs. salt, 1 yeast cake powdered.
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix with flour, lard & salt. Let rise about 2 hours or until it is risen. Let rise again. Prepare the pizza with sauce, garlic, pepper, cheese.
If you try making it, please let me know how it turned out.
Great article! I could taste the pizza as I read. Too bad you had to give it up. My wife and I attended the HOF affair on Saturday. You gave a touching acceptance speech. The reference of the “trunk” was very poignant. Congratulations!
Reminds me when I visited my grandma on Federal Hill. She would always make a treat for me which was day old Italian bread spread with a little water, olive oil, sat, and pepper and heated in the old black oven. Delicious.
Perfetto
This story had me salivating. I know it is only 11AM, but I need to make a pizza right now! By the way Ed, I grew up on Chalkstone Avenue and attended Nathaniel Greene Jr. High. My dad had a store called Hospital Spa across Oakland Ave. from the school. He was there 40 years and I worked there with him from the age of 12 for 10 cents an hour. MY dad used to sing O Sole Mio with a beautiful voice when I was there with him. Such great memories. My mom was always in the kitchen too. I remember eating eels, chicken legs and other unusual delicacies. MY siblings and I used to rush to read all the newest comic books as they arrived, but first we had to remove the outdated ones and stamp the new ones with the hand held date stamp. I love your stories. They bring back those simpler times with great affection.
Thank you Barbara. I went to West, but I remember your Dad's spa because qe played ball across the street. Your parents sound like fun people. I wish I knew them. But . . . your mother would never get me to eat eels.
I had 86 comic books that somehow got jettisoned in a move. Not sure who did it, but I have my suspicions. I should have gone to the spa to restock.
Thanks for reading. Do you have any of my books?
Can’t add to what you said.
I hope everyone of your readers went through the pleasantries you did.
I certainly did!
And lucky us
Thanks for sharing your traumatic pizza caper. Excitement, reward, faulty planning, discovery, fear, interrogation, punishment, and redemption summarized in a brilliant short story. Kudos, my friend.
Thanks, Larry. It's as real today as it was then. I resent even more having to chuck the second piece in the bucket. I'll bet she ate it. My psychiatrist is helping me accept it all😅
My God Ed, there were Italian bakeries all over the neighborhood back in the day! Growing up on
Home Ave we would always go to one of the many bakeries after Mass at Blessed Sacrament every
Sunday. Brownies were my favorite. I think LaSalle bakery and the one at the corner of Mt Plesant and
Chalkstone are the only ones left?
Yes, Tom, I touched all those bakery bases over the years. Also loved brownies
Ed you slippery young scamp? Actually I can completely understand the temptation as DeLuise’s was always my dad’s favorite bakery. Even after we moved from our home in the Killingly/Greenville Ave location in Johnston to Cranston in 1946 he continued to frequent it regularly. Their pizza slices (especially corners) were my favorites but so much there was tempting! I remember bringing one of their delicious apple pies to your mom back in the ‘90s. A close second place must go to the now closed Solitro’s in Knightsville which made, only in the summer months, a delicious fire roasted, fresh off-the-vine, plain tomato pizza. Again as your Nonna well-knew, by instinct and experience, the simplest of ingredients usually makes the best pizza! Another great read Ed. Tom
Great note, Tom. We had an early connection: DeLuises. Still there. Still busy
Yes, I remember when you brought the pie to my mother. She loved it. Sad to hear about Solitro. Another destination..
Slippery scamp. Hardly. It was my only slip up, young need that I was.
Ed, a dilemma for sure, but the wisdom to devour the end slice made the ordeal not so bad. Ed, yes, the warden err guidance teacher definitely scooped up your basket slice. Ann thought that might be your cousin Elaine next to you at grandma's birthday party.
Yup, I think the Warden ate my slice.
Good call by Ann
Loved this! Could almost taste my Nonna’s pizza! Soft dough, homemade tomato sauce (not gravy, 😂), only topped with fresh, grated, Romano cheese!
So do you have the recipe for her dough? It's the key.
I'll check, and post if I do. I have some of her recipes written in Italian...which my grandparents taught me to speak at a very young age. They took care of me while my parents worked.
I would love that.
Ah, they took good care for sure.
Thank you!
This is the recipe I found:
Come si fa la pizza Italiana...How you make Italian pizza. I'll translate the best I can.
3 full cups of flour, 1 full cup of milk, 1 Tbs. lard, or spry (crisco), 1 Tbs. salt, 1 yeast cake powdered.
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Mix with flour, lard & salt. Let rise about 2 hours or until it is risen. Let rise again. Prepare the pizza with sauce, garlic, pepper, cheese.
If you try making it, please let me know how it turned out.
My Italian is very rusty!
Trying it today
Look forward to hearing how it turned out!
In later years, my Mom bought dough from the many Italian bakeries we used to have in Bristol.
Great article! I could taste the pizza as I read. Too bad you had to give it up. My wife and I attended the HOF affair on Saturday. You gave a touching acceptance speech. The reference of the “trunk” was very poignant. Congratulations!
Thanks, Mike. I'm so pleased that you were there. Open your trunk 😏