Altoona-style pizza
Altoona-style pizza is a distinct type of pizza created in the city of Altoona, Pennsylvania, by the Altoona Hotel. The definitive characteristics of Altoona-style pizza are a Sicilian-style pizza dough, tomato sauce, sliced green bell pepper, salami, topped with American cheese and pizzas cut into squares instead of wedges.[1][2][3][4]
| Type | Pizza |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Altoona, Pennsylvania |
| Main ingredients | Sicilian-style pizza dough, tomato sauce, sliced green bell pepper, salami, american cheese |
| Part of a series on |
| Pizza |
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Characteristics and preparation
Crust
The crust is made of a Sicilian-style pizza dough, giving the pie a thick and soft crust. Instead of the larger pie-like wedges typical of many pizza styles, Altoona Hotel pizza is typically cut into squares.[1][3][5][4]
Cheese
While originally topped with Velveeta, Altoona-style pizza is popularly topped with yellow processed cheese known as American cheese. The yellow squares of American cheese are a staple of this dish used instead of the mozzarella or provolone common to other styles of pizza.[1][3][5][4]
Toppings
The traditional toppings included on a slice of Altoona-style pizza are a sliced green bell pepper and cooked deli style salami with peppercorns, notable for being underneath the pizza's cheese topping.[1][3][5]
History
Altoona-style pizza originated at the Altoona Hotel, which was noted as serving "a unique pizza" in 1996 by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.[6] Following the destruction of the hotel in 2013 by fire, other local restaurants began serving Altoona-style pizza.[1]
References
- Deto, Ryan. "Altoona Hotel Pizza: The slice with yellow cheese from Central Pa. you've never heard of". Pittsburgh City Paper. Archived from the original on 2021-05-26. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
- "JORDAN DOES IT ALL WRONG!! Will the real Altoona Pizza please stand up?". WTAJ. 2020-05-05. Archived from the original on 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
- "Here's How To Make The Wonderfully Bizarre 'Altoona Style' Pizza". UPROXX. 2020-05-08. Archived from the original on 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
- "Hotel blaze hits home". Altoona Mirror. Archived from the original on 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
- ""Altoona-style pizza" baffles the nation—including Altoona itself". The Takeout. 6 May 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-05-27. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
- "Altoona Hotel pizza". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 1996-10-13. p. 78. Archived from the original on 2021-05-25. Retrieved 2021-05-25.