Local Flavor: 3 Palms Pizzeria & Bakery passes with flying colors: green, white and red
I like pizza as much as anyone. I’m good for at least a couple of slices a week. Pizza comes in all shapes, sizes and flavors: New York style, Chicago style, Sicilian, Neapolitan. Everyone has their favorites.
I stopped in the kitchen at DeVitis Italian Market one Friday to ask my friend Laura DeVitis which pie in town was her favorite. She knows a thing or two about pizza as her wonderful kitchen staff makes 40 sheet pizzas each week for the Friday lunchtime crowd. 3 Palms Pizzeria & Bakery was at the top of her list. So that’s where I headed the next day to order a pie.
3 Palms Pizzeria & Bakery is located in Hudson’s First & Main shopping district across the street from the Green. It’s the perfect location to get a bite to eat before the live music on the Green or when taking a break from window shopping downtown.
The pizzeria is in a cute and comfy Tuscan farmhouse setting.
Not only are the long-stem artichokes used in its wonderful $11 appetizer imported from Italy, so is the woman behind the counter. Erica Chiera, who hand-tosses the pizza dough as customers watch, came to Hudson eight years ago from Caulonia Marina, Italy, which is in the region of Calabria.
If you love hand-made, thin crust pizza, then 3 Palms Pizzeria & Bakery is the place to go.
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I was a little hesitant selecting an order of fried artichokes, because I recently wrote about a tasty artichoke creation by chef Joe Gallagher from D'Agnese's at White Pond. But I’ll definitely be back for another order of 3 Palms’ artichokes. It’s totally different than Gallagher’s appetizer, but an equally amazing rendition. After the long-stem artichokes are brought in from the boot, they are dredged in flour and deep fried. So light and tasty, served on a bed of arugula with a kiss of lemon aioli.
Since my last name ends in a vowel, I was under contractual obligation to sample the $8.75 meatball plate. The tennis ball-size meatball, made from beef, pork and veal, passed with flying colors. Green, white and red. Not only are those the colors of the Italian flag, they are also the color of your sauce choices. Green is the color of the pistachio pesto my server happily gave me a sample of. White is the grated Parmesan cheese sprinkled on top of the meatball. And red is the color of the marinara sauce that just might send your Nonna into an early retirement. There is also a turkey and chicken meatball and a veggie meatball to choose along with your sauces. And of course it came with a dollop of fresh ricotta cheese and a slice of freshly baked bread.
3 Palms has five salads on the menu that can be ordered in half or full sizes. Everything from Caesar and caprese to arugula, chopped Italian and Palms Salad.
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Pasta and chicken dishes are also on the menu for those not in the mood for pizza; however, I came for the pizza.
There are 10 pizzas on the menu, and all can be made gluten free. They only come in a 12-inch size. For this article, I sampled two pizzas in the same week. Lucky me.
On my first visit, the $15.75 Formaggio Di Capra was calling my name. I love goat cheese, prosciutto di Parma and heirloom cherry tomatoes. All that deliciousness on a thin crust with a little slivered garlic, EVOO and basil leaves. That’s about as far away from a chain pizza as you can get.
I popped in for lunch on my second visit and ordered a Picante Pepperoni pizza. I loved the slight spiciness of the pepperoni. Spicy-meat lovers can order the Diavola (“devil” in Italian) pizza with spicy Toscano salami, chili oil, red chili flakes, red sauce and mozzarella and parmesan cheese. My Picante Pepperoni was just right for me.
I was too full to indulge in one of the decadent, made-from-scratch desserts in the showcase up front. The temptation of the $3 cannoli, $5 blackberry key lime tart, $5 cream puff and the $6 triple chocolate mousse, to name a few, had my knees buckling. Did I mention they have cookies too?
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Need a loaf of bread for your Sunday pasta dinner? Pick up one on the way out. The bakery makes six different kinds of bread, including the $4 ciabatta, $4 classic Italian, $4 semolina, $7 mushroom asiago, $5 olive and herb, and even a $4 Italian sourdough.
I almost forgot to mention the craft beer list, handcrafted cocktails and the wine list. Something for everyone, for sure. I selected an $8 glass of the Spinelli Montepulciano. You know: When in Rome. I usually select a Montepulciano wine when it's on a small wine list as it always gives you bang for your buck and is a really good food wine.
Details
What: 3 Palms Pizzeria & Bakery
Where: 60 Village Way in Hudson
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday; 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday
Information: palmspizzeria.com or 330-342-4545
Contact Phil Masturzo at philyourglass@gmail.com.
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This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Local Flavor: 3 Palms in Hudson serves hand-tossed, thin crust pizza
