Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana

Witness an actual demonstration of how to make a clam Pizza at Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria Napoletana.

The dough is stretched to the correct shape which is actually an oval shape rather than a round shape.
This is the signature dish at Pepe’s. While many other pizzaiolo and chefs will try to duplicate the Calm Pie, there really is only one clam pizza.
The clam pizza starts with fresh clams and their clam juice. One of the reasons for the success of Pepe’s clam pizza may be the local seafood that is used. These are actual New England fresh clams. Many parts of the country are unable to get the actual clams used. These are native clams of the East Coast.

Slice of Bacon Pizza and a slice of clam

The clam pizza is cooked with almost no cheese. There will be a sprinkling of Parmesan, but no mozzarella is used (pronounced mootz in New Haven).

Pepe’s Clam Pizza

Also take note of the huge amount of clams that are put on each pizza. They do not skimp on clams at Pepe’s. The Clam Pizza is a white pizza, you will not find any tomato sauce here. Then there is an amount of Parmesan Cheese put on the pizza. Spices and a sprinkle of olive oil finish off the pizza. Another feature that adds to the taste of Pepe’s pizza is coal fired oven used to cook the pizza. The oven can get up to 900 degrees F. The pizza is cooked quickly and completely.

Pepe’s Clam Pizza

You can see the actual way to make a Pepe’s Clam pizza in the following video:

Once the pizza is finished it comes out of the coal fired oven and then put on a serving try where the pizza is cut inot slices. These serving trays are placed on your table and really make a unique holder for the pizza.

I was able to interview Gary Bimonte, grandson of Frank Pepe on the history of the clam Pizza. Gary explains that the clam pizza was actually an accident. Gary states that the clam pizza was invented right on Wooster street.

The Frank Pepe Pizza Box