New Yorkers love pizza! And everyone’s got their most treasured pizzeria. But did you know that it’s easy to create that scrumptious pizzeria flavor right in the comfort of your own home?
Installing a built-in pizza oven as part of your kitchen renovation means your family will never have to watch the big game without feasting on your favorite pie. Before you know it the neighbors will be calling YOU up for delivery!
Here are a few of the details you’ll want to think over before taking the plunge.
Answering the age old question
Just as BBQ gurus squabble over the virtues of gas versus charcoal grills, pizza enthusiasts too can be divided into two camps: wood-fired or gas. Let’s examine the pros and cons of each:
Wood-fired
Pros:
The light, warmth, aroma and atmosphere provided by a wood-fired brick pizza oven take you back to the old world. And while some argue the taste difference is a myth, others will swear that the smoky flavor of a wood-fired pizza makes all the difference.
Cons:
With wood-fired you need to plan far in advance as it can take a long time to get the oven hot enough for baking. Clean up and ash removal is also a hassle.
Gas
Pros:
Gas ovens make it possible to flick a switch, set the thermostat and quickly enjoy consistent, constant heat at just the right temperature. No more buying firewood and disposing of ash. What’s more, built-in gas pizza oven models are now available for indoor installation in your kitchen.
Cons:
Well, aficionados will argue that it’s not the real deal.
Calling in the stone mason
If you decide that an outdoor brick oven is just what the doctor ordered, you’ve got a few different options.
DIY: If you’re at all handy, building your own wood-fired oven is actually easier than you might think. You can find instructions online utilizing a wide variety of styles and materials.
Oven kits: Well-known pizza oven manufacturers like Forno Bravo and Mugnaini ship their kits all across the United States.
Hire a specialist: You could find a contractor that specializes in constructing custom wood-fired ovens, but realistically any skilled mason will be able to build you an oven.
Rolling out the propane
Gas pizza ovens come in all shapes and sizes, from tabletop models for easy installation to gourmet modular units that can become the shining star and centerpiece of your kitchen.
The type of oven you choose will depend greatly on the extent of your renovation and the overall size of your kitchen space.
Adding extra goodies
To complete your “Italy” themed kitchen makeover, consider upgrading your kitchen faucet to a luxury European-style Brizo fixture from the Venuto collection along with Kohler’s new Prolific™ under-mount stainless steel sink.
And you can’t go wrong with a classy wine refrigerator to keep all those bottles at just the right temperature so they’re ready to go when the pizza’s piping hot!
