Would you travel to a farmers/flea market for pizza, especially in the middle of New Jersey? Yes, some parts of the state are in the middle of nowhere, but if you find yourself close to the Columbus Farmers Market you will find a variety of pizza worth searching.
In Columbus, New Jersey, two pizzerias are serving a style of pizza so regional that it isn’t served anywhere else in the country. Kate and Al’s and Pete’s Pizza have been cooking their brand of pizza in cast iron square pans for as long as their customers can remember and it is something that is not quite anything else you have had before.
Is it a tomato pie that they serve in nearby Trenton or like they do 30 minutes away in Philadelphia? No, the Trenton pies look more like a New York-style pizza, and the Philly pies are served at room temperature with no mozzarella cheese. Then what the hell is this type of pizza?
Pete’s slices feature a light and airy crust that tasted somewhat buttery to me at times. The sauce was dominant on this slice and slightly sweet to my taste buds, and the extra sauce seemed to skim around my plate. There was a little bit of a crunch from the edge of my crust and cheese was not the main attraction, but that sweet amount of tomato sauce that layered on the pizza slice.
Kate and Al’s have a similar pizza and the one I had was cruncher and thinner. There also seemed to be more cheese on this slice and still a heavy amount of sauce. The crust was denser and brought back some memories of some square pizzas I had growing up, but this version was far superior.
Both places have their legions of fans and many have stated that they have never eaten at the other location; I felt somewhat odd having slices from each location, but that is not the case for patrons who will only eat pizza at either Pete’s or Kate and Al’s.
One gentleman had his son with him who was trying Pete’s for the very first time. He said the pizza was not greasy and had a slight crunch from the burnt cheese that he loved. A few more customers said they only eat at Pete’s, because this was the first place they had pizza at as a kid.
Over at Kate and Al’s boxes were stacked on top of one another waiting to pick up, a line of customers waited around the take out area for their slices. There are a few tables on the inside and outside of the building, but over at Pete’s the countertop is a perfect way to enjoy your pizza and talk to others who all seem to have been brought up on this style of pie.
Then there is the red cream soda that a few say compliments the taste of the pizza. It is the number one soda sold at Pete’s and after 10 minutes, about five customers requested the red soda. A local vendor produces the syrup and only a few places offer it at their restaurants.
Fans pick up pies to take home for football games, Fridays during lent, and any other day of the week. The pizza is different from what you would find in the state, but think about it as a saucy Detroit-style pizza without the crispy edges. Whatever it is, it’s quite delicious.
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Follow all of Marc’s stadium journeys on Twitter @ballparkhunter and his YouTube channel. Email at Marc.Viquez@stadiumjourney.com
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