JOLIET \u2014 One year after Linda’s Pizza made headlines in the Joliet Patch by unveiling a new frozen pack of pizzas menu, the locally-owned Joliet favorite is back in the news again. This time, Jon Berman, son of owner Mark Berman, has introduced his new \u201cAlmost Margherita\u201d pizzas to the regular menu.<\/p>\n
The “Almost Margherita” pizzas are here for good, Berman vowed. It’s a pizza style you probably won’t find at other Joliet area pizza restaurants. <\/p>\n
“I’ve never seen a pizza like this anywhere,” Berman remarked. “Worldwide, the margherita is the most popular pizza there is. That’s why we call it the ‘Almost Margherita’ because it’s not a true margherita pizza.”<\/p>\n The traditional margherita pizza includes mozzarella cheese, tomato, basil and olive oil, Berman pointed out.<\/p>\n His Linda’s Pizza Westside creation adds another essential ingredient. <\/p>\n “The pesto gives ours more intense flavor,” Berman emphasized. “I’m hoping to keep this on the menu for a very long time. It’s not going to be for a limited time. <\/p>\n “People that have tried it, have loved it.”<\/p>\n Berman gives credit to Franco Pepe, a Naples, Italy, pizza chef featured in the six-season Netflix series called “Chef’s Table,” as his inspiration for his Joliet pizzeria’s new “Almost Margherita” pizza.<\/p>\n “In this Emmy-nominated series, meet culinary stars around the world who are redefining gourmet food with innovative dishes and tantalizing desserts,” the Netflix promotion touts.<\/em><\/p>\n Berman said the Naples, Italy pizza chef featured in the Netflix series “made a basil pur\u00e9e. We use pesto, so ours is a little more intense flavor. Once it comes out of the oven, we do lines of red sauce, which is our pizza sauce,” Berman explained. “The big difference is the fact we top it with sauce, the pesto, coming out of the oven, and that’s the biggest difference in anything we do here.”<\/p>\n Linda’s Pizza debuted the “Almost Margherita” Pizza on Sunday, July 21. It’s available at the Joliet Westside location only.<\/p>\n “If it goes well, yeah, eventually, hopefully, we do it on the east side,” Berman remarked.<\/p>\n To kick off the new pizza promotion, Linda’s has been giving away free “Almost Margherita” pizzas to the first three customers who call Linda’s Pizza Westside to place a food order Monday through Thursday.<\/p>\n “I want people just to try it,” Berman said. “It’s the same cost as a one-topping pizza. I’m confident if people try it, they’re going to like it.”<\/p>\n Berman said he spent several weeks perfecting his “Almost Margherita” pizza, first having the rest of the staff taste it. Then, branching out to family and friends of employees.<\/p>\nFind out what's happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.<\/h2>\n
Find out what's happening in Jolietwith free, real-time updates from Patch.<\/h2>\n