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Brier Hill–style pizza
Brier Hill-style pizza was developed by Italian immigrants in the Brier Hill neighborhood of Youngstown, Ohio. It is Youngstown's best-known style of pizza. HistoryThe pizza was developed in the Brier Hill neighborhood of Youngstown, Ohio.[1] The neighborhood takes its name from the nearby Brier Hill Farm estate of Ohio judge George Tod and former Ohio governor David Tod and the family's Brier Hill Iron & Coal Company.[1][2][3] The area was where Youngstown's first Italian immigrants settled in the late 1800s to find work in the steel mills.[1][4] They developed the style during the Great Depression as a use for extra bread dough.[1] It was originally baked in communal brick ovens.[1] DescriptionBrier Hill pizza is characterized by a breadlike dough, thick tomato sauce, bell peppers and Romano cheese rather than the more-typical mozzarella.[1][4][5][6] The traditional toppings were used because home-canned tomatoes and peppers were common items in many Italian homes and Romano cheese can be stored without refrigeration.[6] PopularityBrier Hill is Youngstown's best-known style of pizza.[7] It is not well-known outside of the area, but examples exist in Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Columbus.[5][6] References
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