New Haven White Clam Pie
The Place: Frank Pepe; New Haven, CT
The Pie: Celebrating 85 years in 2010, Pepe's can be credited with inventing the white clam pie. The New Haven favorite is topped with white or red sauce only (no cheese) plus olive oil and herbs. If you want mozzarella on it, you've got to ask ? but try not to. You wouldn't want to obscure the flavor of the freshest New England littleneck clams. Pepe's is so dedicated to that freshness, in fact, certain kitchen staffers are employed solely to shuck clams.
