Do you love cheese? Then you might enjoy a pizza bianco or white pizza. This kind of pie skips the tomato sauce and piles on the cheese instead. Moreover, when looking for some of the best pizza in the Piedmont, stop by Mario’s Pizza.

A Brief History Of White Pizza

According to legend, bakers in Naples tested the oven temperature by placing a small piece of dough inside. Later on, this test piece became a versatile treat enjoyed at any time of the day.

Typically, pizza bianco in Italy resembles focaccia more than pizza as we know it, but with a drier, chewier texture. Usually, it’s lightly brushed with olive oil, sea salt, and occasionally topped with mozzarella, figs, prosciutto, or chard. However, this version changed when Italian immigrants arrived in America.

Beginning in the late 1800s, waves of Italians settled in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. Along with their culture, they brought their beloved recipes with them. However, the new world brought changes to many favorite dishes.

For example, in Italy, bakers used wood fired ovens to make pizza. However, American bakers had coal fired ovens that burned hotter. The difference in fuel had a profound effect on pizza crust. Instead of pillowy Neapolitan style, NY style pizza baked crispier. This variation in cooking also helped change Italian pizza bianco into the American version of white pizza.

Ingredients For A NY Style Crust

Generally, pizza consists of a few simple ingredients that bake into a wonderfully tasty dish. Yet, every great pizza begins with its foundation, a pizza dough recipe. For NY style crust, you need only 6 ingredients:

  1. High Protein Flour

Using a dough with 13-14.5% protein content will yield a firmer, stronger crust. A stronger crust enables diners to pick up a slice and eat it with their hands.

  1. Yeast

Either instant or active dry yeast works well with pizza, but each requires different water temperatures. Typically, any temperature will activate instant yeast. However, active dry yeast requires warm water.

  1. Olive Oil

A good quality olive oil will give your crust additional flavor. Moreover, olive oil also helps retain moisture in the dough for a softer structure.

  1. Sugar

A little bit of sugar promotes an evenly browned crust while tenderizing the dough. It also imparts subtle flavoring.

  1. Salt

Like sugar, salt is much more than just a flavor enhancer. It also plays an important part in the yeast fermentation process and impacts gluten development. Salt slows down yeast activity just enough to allow complex flavors to develop. Additionally, salt strengthens gluten bonds resulting in a stronger, more elastic dough.

  1. Water

Each type of flour has a hydration level ranging from 59-64% in proportion to the amount of the flour. If you use too much, you’ll have a sticky dough that’s hard to manage. While using too little water will result in a denser crust.

How to Make NY Style Pizza Bianco

Once you’ve mixed up your dough ingredients and sufficiently kneaded it, it’s time to let your dough proof. Most pizza chefs choose the cold fermentation process to enhance the flavor of the crust. This involves letting the dough sit in the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

When it’s time to make pizza, you need to remove it from the refrigerator 2-4 hours before use to warm up. Then, it’s time to stretch the dough to your desired pie size. After stretching, brush a bit of water over the surface to keep the crust from drying out.

Next, drizzle the crust with olive oil and sprinkle it with garlic. While powder is the easiest to use, you can also opt for roasted or fresh garlic. Then, place little dollops of ricotta on the pizza followed by shredded low moisture mozzarella. You can also add Pecorino Romano or parmesan cheese on top.

If this sounds like a lot of work, why not stop by Mario’s Pizza? Since 1981, we’ve been serving some of the best pizza in North Carolina. We serve traditional hand tossed NY style pizza as well as pizza bianco. Moreover, our recipes are authentic Italian family recipes brought over from Calabria.

FAQs About Mario’s Pizza

Want to know more about our pizzeria? Below we answer a few commonly asked questions about our Italian restaurants.

Do You Serve More Than Pizza?

While pizza is our specialty, we have many other items on our menu. First, we have over a dozen appetizers including favorites like wings, toasted ravioli, and garlic knots. Our menu also includes salads and hot and cold subs. We also serve strombolis, calzones, and several authentic Italian entrees. And, to finish off your meal, we have several sweet treats.

For our littlest diners, we have a special menu in smaller-sized portions. Plus, we price all these items at $5 or less.

Where Can I Find Mario’s?

We have several convenient locations throughout the Piedmont Triad area:

  • 2205 Cloverdale Ave., Northwest Winston-Salem
  • 1066 Hanes Mall Blvd., Winston-Salem
  • 266 Harvey St., Winston-Salem
  • 1469 River Ridge Dr., Clemmons
  • 2645 N Main St., High Point
  • 5824 Samet Dr., High Point
  • 4215 W Wendover Ave. Greensboro
  • 1575 New Garden Rd. Greensboro
  • 3354 W. Friendly Ave. Suite 142 Greensboro

Do You Offer A Dine-in Option?

All of our Italian restaurants offer dine-in options. We’ve also partnered with delivery services to bring your meal to your doorstep. Of course, we also offer take out.

Craving cheesy, white pizza? Why not stop by the nearest Mario’s Pizza and pick up a pie?

For many Americans, ordering a slice of pizza means a crust covered with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. Generally, many people believe this is the original version of pizza. However, long before tomato-based pizza, ancient people ate a version of pizza bianca. If you’re searching for great-tasting white pizza near me, stop by Mario’s Pizza.

A Short History Of Pizza

From ancient times and throughout the centuries, people ate a form of flatbread with toppings. For example, the ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians baked pita bread topped with native ingredients. Typically, early versions didn’t use tomatoes so these early versions resembled white pizza.

It wasn’t until about 1550 that Italians began cultivating and incorporating tomatoes into their dishes. Before then, Europeans believed it was poisonous. As Americans discovered the benefits of tomatoes, news traveled back to the Old World. Then, around the late 1880s Italian bakers began using tomatoes on pizza.

When Italian immigrants landed on the American shore, they brought their culture and old-world recipes. Soon, many New Yorkers were also consuming Italian flatbread or pizza. As the love for pizza spread, so did variations. Chefs created thicker crusts and different sauces. They experimented with varying cheeses and pizza toppings.

Oddly, some of these “new” originals are simply similar versions of ancient peoples’ cheese topped flatbread. For example, white pizza, or pizza bianca, is very close to the meal eaten in Europe about 6 BC.

Pizza Bianca

A chief characteristic of pizza bianca is the lack of tomato sauce. Without the bright red color of tomatoes, the pizza has a white appearance. Hence, its nickname. However, the lack of tomato sauce isn’t the only defining characteristic. For example, chicken barbeque pizza uses barbeque sauce instead of tomato, yet it’s not pizza bianca.

Additionally, you’ll find different versions of white pizza that differ from traditional pizza bianca. However, the traditional Roman pizza bianca uses a few simple ingredients. Typically, chefs begin with a thin crust. They top this with olive oil, garlic, and mozzarella cheese. Sometimes, chefs will also use ricotta and other traditional pizza toppings.

Traditional White Pizza Near Me – Try Mario’s

Pizza bianca is a simple, yet delicious and comforting meal, especially when eaten fresh and warm from the oven. The best place to get your white pizza is from Italians who know their way around a kitchen. Brothers Vinny, Tony, and Mario grew up in a large Italian family in Brooklyn, NY. After relocating to North Carolina in 1981, they began selling their delicious pizzas.

In addition to Mario’s authentic NY-style pizza, we also make a traditional white pizza. We top our version with ricotta, fresh garlic, and mozzarella cheese. Plus, we offer plenty of regular and premium toppings to individualize your pizza:

  1. Pepperoni
  2. Sausage
  3. Sliced sausage
  4. Beef
  5. Ham
  6. Chorizo
  7. Mushrooms
  8. Onions
  9. Banana peppers
  10. Bell peppers
  11. Roasted peppers
  12. Black olives
  13. Fresh garlic
  14. Spinach
  15. Pineapple
  16. Salami
  17. Fresh tomatoes
  18. Jalapenos
  19. Green olives
  20. Beef roni
  21. Eggplant
  22. Meatball
  23. Bacon
  24. Canadian bacon
  25. Grilled chicken
  26. Crispy chicken
  27. Steak
  28. Feta cheese
  29. Artichoke hearts
  30. Broccoli
  31. Anchovies
  32. Kalamata olives
  33. Sun-dried tomatoes
  34. Roasted red peppers

Whew! That’s plenty of pizza toppings to choose from! You can try a different combination for a new flavor each time.

FAQs About Finding Great Tasting White Pizza Near Me

Not every pizzeria offers white pizza. Moreover, finding great customer service is just as important as locating delicious white pizza near me. Here at Mario’s Pizza, we believe in giving you a great experience from beginning to end. Here are a few things you should know about our family-friendly pizza restaurants.

Do You Only Serve Pizza?

Undeniably, pizza is our specialty! In addition to pizza bianca, we also serve veggies lovers, meat lovers, and NY-style pizzas. Plus, we offer a variety of sizes – 10, 15, 17, 19, or 24-inch pies. We also make a cauliflower crust in a 10-inch pizza and gluten-free pizza in both 10 and 14-inch pies.

However, we also excel at strombolis, calzones, and subs. Our extensive menu options also include authentic Italian dishes like parmigiana, lasagna, and ravioli. Plus, you’ll also find an assortment of salads, appetizers, and desserts.

Can You Handle A Large Catering Order?

Absolutely! Whether you’re having a small or large crowd, let Mario’s Pizza help relieve the stress of food preparation.

We offer several party trays of favorite Italian dishes. Plus, with advanced notice, we can customize your order to meet the needs of your guests. Contact your nearest Mario’s Pizza for more information.

Where Is The Nearest Mario’s Pizza?

Luckily, if you live in the Piedmont Triad area, you won’t have far to travel to find one of our pizza restaurants. We currently have 9 convenient locations:

  • 5824 Samet Drive, High Point
  • 2645 North Main Street, High Point
  • 1066 Hanes Mall Boulevard, Winston Salem
  • 2205 Cloverdale Avenue, Winston Salem
  • 266 Harvey Street, Winston Salem
  • 4215 Wendover Avenue, Greensboro
  • 1575 New Garden Road, Greensboro
  • 3354 W. Friendly Ave Suite 412 Greensboro (Friendly Center)
  • 1469 River Ridge Dr. Clemmons

What About Special Deals?

You can find both luncheon and daily specials on our website. Moreover, in addition to offering daily specials, we announce great deals on our social media pages. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for amazing limited-time valuable offers.

Plus, we offer a fabulous loyalty program that can earn you free food. You can sign up on our app or by letting your server know the next time you order.

Convenience, customer service, and great tasting food make Mario’s Pizza one of the area’s favorite restaurants.