If you love food and think about it a lot (as I do), you’ve probably thought back to your early food memories. Those times you tried something different, something that imprinted you because you loved or hated it.
I grew up eating a lot of great food, but for some reason one of my strongest first food memories is a deep fried calzone. I was probably about eight years old, and my parents and I were sitting in New York City at a tiny outdoor table in front of Sal’s Pizza, off the Bowery. I remember how crispy the crust was and how the cheese oozed out as soon as I cut in. I remember how hot it was, and yet how I couldn’t stop eating.
Lucky for me, my husband discovered a delicious source of fried (and non-fried) calzones in Rhode Island – Napolitano’s Brooklyn Pizza. It’s a small but welcoming BYOB pizza place with calzones that definitely rival the ones I had in New York. The calzones are made to order and are totally delicious.
Garlic knots – fried knots of dough with plenty of fresh garlic, parsley, and coarse salt. I could imagine coming just for these, they are so good.
A classic deep-fried calzone filled with mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, and prosciutto. These are HUGE! You can also get the other calzones fried – I also recommend the spinach calzone, the one we had was stuffed with tons of whole-leaf baby spinach.
Napolitano’s Brooklyn Pizza
100 East Street, Cranston, RI (map)
Nice. Added to my hit list.
For your information: Please note that a fried calzone is not called a calzone its called a PANZZAROTTI since its deep fried. In Italy the panzzarotties don’t have much heavy ingredients as fillings, only simple but very fresh which become extra crispy outside & super juicy inside. The original ancient calzones were shaped round like a big pie baked in a large round casserole ,(family style size) then came the modern version of 1/2 moon shape for individual size portions. Panzzarotties are very popular & famous in BARI, PUGLIA !
omg, I haven’t seen garlic knots since I left New York! Napolitano’s is on our list for sure.
Thanks!
Thank you for the info. Love a gooey fried dough with cheese- panzarotti for me.
Grazie,
Frannyonthego