The Great NYC Coal Oven Caper: How Many Pizza Places Are Still Burning Hot (Literally)?
Ah, New York City pizza. A culinary masterpiece, a cultural icon, a source of endless debate (thin crust vs. deep dish, anyone?). But beneath the gooey cheese and crispy crust lies a burning question: how many coal-fired ovens are still heating up the Big Apple?
For those uninitiated in the ways of pizza perfection, a coal oven is the holy grail. It burns hotter than your average gas or electric oven, imbuing the crust with a smoky flavor and a satisfying char. It's the LeBron James of pizza ovens, the Beyonce of baking chambers.
Here's the thing, though: coal isn't exactly the cleanest fuel. Those sky-high temperatures come at a cost – air pollution. So, a few years back, NYC decided to throw some water on this fiery tradition. They passed a law saying "cool it" (pun intended) to coal-fired ovens, requiring pizzerias to install fancy filters or switch to a more eco-friendly heating method.
The Great Filter-or-Fold Situation
This law, like any good New York slice, had its layers. Some pizzerias, especially the old-school joints, cried foul. "This is an attack on our heritage!" they declared. Visions of shuttered storefronts and pizza-less wastelands danced in their eyes. Others, ever the pragmatists, crunched the numbers and decided the filter costs just weren't worth the dough (pun again, we're having a pun party).
So, how many coal ovens are left?
Now, here's the juicy part. Estimates say there were around 100 coal-fired ovens in NYC before the filter fiasco. Figuring out the exact number now is a bit like finding a decent parking spot in Manhattan – tough. Some pizzerias might have switched to gas or fancy electric ovens. Others might have coughed up the cash for those filters.
Here's the truth: nobody knows for sure. The NYC Department of Environmental Protection, the folks keeping tabs on the city's air quality, might have a better idea, but they haven't exactly been forthcoming with the info. Maybe they're afraid of a pizza uprising?
The Quest for the Coal-Fired Crust Continues
So, the quest for the exact number of NYC's coal ovens remains a mystery. But fear not, pizza pilgrims! There are still plenty of places serving up coal-fired goodness. Just do a little recon – ask around, follow your nose (that smoky aroma is a dead giveaway), and you'll be rewarded with a slice of pizza perfection.
In the end, the number might be fuzzy, but one thing's for sure: the love for coal-fired pizza in NYC burns bright. And who knows, maybe someday these pizzaiolos will invent a way to harness the power of coal without all the smoke and mirrors. Until then, we'll just have to keep searching for those hidden gems and savor every delicious, smoky bite.
