For five years, six men journeyed through the wilds of New York City to document the experience of the city's most iconic eatery: the humble neighborhood pizzeria. They photographed the shops, the chefs, and the customers who make up these bastions of fine food. The result of their labors is a 192-page coffee table photo book called The New York Pizza Project.
Why is it important? Betty, a regular customer at My Little Pizzeria in Brooklyn Heights explains:
It strikes me that pizzerias are sort of like the old malt shops - what I see about malt shops in the movies. People go and hangout and—because I'll see teenagers all come in and they each get a slice—and I think the slices probably weigh more than the girls do. And they sit in the back and they decompress from the day, and uh, it’s just a—oh, I don’t know... it’s sort of a community thing. There aren’t that many of those around anymore. You have to set them up for old people, the senior centers, and you set up the day cares and the play dates for children, but for everybody between the ages of five and under the age of 60, you gotta fend for yourselves, or find a pizza place.
Browse more experiences with photos, audio, and interviews at the New York Pizza Project.
-via Messy Ness Chic