Pizza Czar by Anthony Falco – Hardback Cookbook

Pizza Czar is a hardback cookbook by Anthony Falco, the former pizza czar of Brooklyn's Roberta's turned international pizza consultant, that teaches you to make world-class pizza at home, from thin and crispy pies to pan pizza and Sicilian squares. It's packed with hacks he picked up opening pizzerias around the globe.

Pizza know-how stamped in every passport

After eight years at Roberta's, Falco took his dough on the road, consulting on pizzerias from São Paulo and Bogotá to Bangalore, Taipei and Istanbul. He's made great pizza at altitude and in the tropics, and the book is loaded with the techniques that come from solving problems everywhere.

What's inside

It starts with the three pillars of pizza (wheat, tomatoes and cheese) and practical lessons like how to open up dough, then works through the styles with step-by-step photography. Many doughs use a sourdough starter, and the publisher has posted guidance online for cooking from the book without one.

Recipes include Thin and Crispy dough, a classic Tomato Pie, a Buttercrust Pan Pizza, a Cheesy Pan Pizza and a Garlic, Caramelised Onion, Anchovy and Breadcrumb Sicilian, with travel stories from places like Brazil woven between the recipes.

Who it's for

Pizza nerds who want to know how and why, and owners of home ovens or pizza ovens keen to master more than one style. It's detailed, so it suits committed beginners and experienced bakers alike.

About Anthony Falco

Anthony Falco spent eight years at Roberta's in Brooklyn, finishing as its pizza czar, before going independent as an international pizza consultant in 2016. He has consulted everywhere from New York, Chicago and Seattle to São Paulo, Bogotá, Lisbon, Madrid, Bangkok and Ulaanbaatar, and also works as an illustrator for pizza brands and small businesses.

The Rub Smuggler's Verdict

Every shelf needs one pizza book that's been around the world, and this is it. Falco's lessons on wheat, tomatoes and cheese teach you to think like a pizzaiolo, and his Buttercrust Pan Pizza, golden and crackling at the edges, has Darryl plotting a getaway with the whole tray. Snap it up and your pizza will travel further than you do. Pair it with Pizza Camp, Joe Beddia's cult Philly classic, and Slice for 30 crowd-pleasing pizza recipes, then season your sauce with Cattleman’s Grill Italiano Seasoning.

Questions answered

Who wrote Pizza Czar?

Pizza Czar was written by Anthony Falco, the former pizza czar of Roberta's in Brooklyn and now an international pizza consultant.

What's inside Pizza Czar?

The fundamentals of wheat, tomatoes and cheese, dough technique and step-by-step photos, then styles from thin and crispy to pan pizza, tomato pie and Sicilian, plus travel stories.

Do I need a sourdough starter for Pizza Czar?

Many doughs use one, but the publisher has posted guidance online for using the book without a starter.

Is Pizza Czar a hardback, and how many pages?

Yes. It's a 272-page hardback published by Abrams in 2021.

Is Pizza Czar good for beginners?

Yes, for committed beginners. It's detailed, with step-by-step photos for techniques like opening up dough.