Bluegrass Slices: Discovering the Hidden Pizza Gems of Kentucky

here’s more to explore when it comes to Kentucky’s evolving pizza scene. While Kentucky is traditionally known for its bourbon and Southern comfort food, the state’s pizzerias are pushing boundaries with bold flavors, local ingredients, and creative takes on this beloved dish. Here’s more insight into Kentucky’s pizza culture:

Louisville’s Pizza Renaissance:

Louisville has become a hotspot for food lovers, and pizza is no exception. Beyond BoomBozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse and Impellizzeri’s, the city offers a variety of unique pizza experiences:

1. Pizza Lupo: Located in Louisville’s Butchertown neighborhood, Pizza Lupo is known for its wood-fired pizzas with an Italian focus. Their “Salsiccia” pizza, topped with fennel sausage, roasted red peppers, and ricotta, is a local favorite. Pizza Lupo’s dough is made with locally sourced ingredients and naturally leavened, giving their crust a signature light, crispy texture. This pizzeria offers a great combination of Italian traditions and Kentucky’s farm-to-table culture.

2. Mellow Mushroom Louisville: Part of the larger chain but with a unique Kentucky vibe, Mellow Mushroom in Louisville is popular for its laid-back atmosphere and psychedelic décor. Their funky toppings and creative pizza names reflect their fun and approachable style. The “Holy Shiitake Pie,” topped with shiitake mushrooms, caramelized onions, and garlic aioli, is a favorite among vegetarian and gourmet pizza fans.

Lexington’s Pizza Innovations:

Lexington is not just known for horses and bourbon; its pizza scene is growing rapidly with exciting new concepts.

1. Goodfellas Pizzeria: With its old-school New York vibe, Goodfellas serves massive, New York-style pizza slices that have earned a cult following. Known for their “Kingpin” pizza, topped with pepperoni, sausage, and ricotta, Goodfellas has brought a taste of the Big Apple to Kentucky. Paired with their Prohibition-themed cocktail lounge in the back, this is a pizza experience unlike any other in the state.

2. The PieTana: Another Lexington favorite is The PieTana, a pizza truck turned brick-and-mortar establishment. They serve up delicious wood-fired pizzas with Southern flair, such as their signature “Tana,” which features smoked pork, onion jam, and pickled jalapeños. The blend of smokehouse flavors and pizza makes this spot a must-visit for BBQ and pizza lovers alike.

Regional Specialty Pizzas:

Some Kentucky pizzerias take inspiration from local flavors and ingredients, creating truly unique pizzas that can only be found in the Bluegrass State. These regional specialties reflect Kentucky’s agricultural heritage and culinary traditions:

1. The “Kentucky Hot Brown Pizza”: Inspired by the state’s iconic Hot Brown sandwich, several pizzerias, including Home Cafe and Marketplace in Bowling Green, have created pizza versions of this Kentucky classic. Topped with turkey, bacon, tomatoes, and Mornay sauce, this pizza pays homage to the famous open-faced sandwich invented at the Brown Hotel in Louisville in the 1920s.

2. BBQ Chicken Pizza with a Kentucky Twist: At several Kentucky pizzerias, you can find BBQ chicken pizzas that incorporate bourbon-infused BBQ sauces. These sauces, often crafted with local Kentucky bourbon, give the pizza a smoky sweetness that pairs perfectly with grilled chicken and caramelized onions. This fusion of pizza and Kentucky’s bourbon heritage offers a uniquely local flavor.

Gluten-Free and Vegan Options:

Kentucky’s pizza scene is also adapting to meet dietary needs with many pizzerias offering gluten-free crusts and vegan-friendly toppings. At Pies & Pints, for instance, you’ll find a gluten-free crust option as well as a range of vegetarian and vegan-friendly pizzas. The “Grape & Gorgonzola” pizza, made with fresh grapes, gorgonzola cheese, and rosemary, is a creative option that pleases both vegans and pizza adventurers alike.

Pizza and Kentucky’s Craft Beer Culture:

Kentucky is home to a thriving craft beer scene, and many pizzerias are tapping into this trend by offering locally brewed beers to complement their pies. Places like Goodwood Brewing Co. in Louisville serve craft beers alongside creative pizzas, making it the perfect pairing for a night out. Ethereal Brewing in Lexington partners with The PieTana to offer pizza and beer pairings at their brewery, creating a popular destination for foodies and craft beer enthusiasts alike.

Pizza and Community Events:

Pizza plays an important role in local festivals and community events across Kentucky. One popular event is the annual Louisville Pizza Week, where local pizzerias offer special deals and creative, limited-time pizza creations. This week-long celebration gives pizza lovers a chance to explore different pizzerias, try new flavors, and support local businesses.

Famous Pizza Stories from Kentucky:

• BoomBozz Wins Big: BoomBozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse gained national recognition when founder Tony Palombino’s pizza recipes won numerous awards, including “Best Gourmet Pizza” at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. Their signature “Pollotate Pizza” became a standout, helping BoomBozz gain a loyal following not just in Kentucky but also in other states.

• Impellizzeri’s Original Expansion: When Impellizzeri’s Pizza first expanded outside of Louisville, its reputation for massive, cheesy pies helped it build a loyal customer base. The pizzeria is known for hand-rolling its dough fresh every day, which has been a key part of its success. Stories of people traveling from neighboring states to try an Impellizzeri’s pie show the pizzeria’s regional influence.

Kentucky Pizza Festivals and Events:

Kentucky Wines and Wineries

If you’re looking to immerse yourself in Kentucky’s pizza scene, attending local pizza-focused events is a great way to do it.

1. Louisville Pizza Week:

   • Overview: Louisville Pizza Week is an annual event that showcases local pizzerias, offering $9 pizzas from a wide range of participating restaurants. It’s a fun way to discover new pizza spots, with each pizzeria offering special, limited-time pizzas during the week-long event.
   • Website: Louisville Pizza Week

2. Lexington Craft Beer Week (Pizza Pairings):

   • Overview: While not solely focused on pizza, Lexington Craft Beer Week often includes pizza and beer pairings at local breweries, with pizzerias like Goodfellas and The PieTana joining in. This celebration of craft beer and local food makes it a perfect event for pizza lovers who also enjoy great local brews.
   • Website: Lexington Craft Beer Week

Related Links:

• BoomBozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse
• Impellizzeri’s Pizza
• Pizza Lupo
• Mellow Mushroom Louisville
• Goodfellas Pizzeria
• The PieTana
• Smashing Tomato

Kentucky’s pizza scene is full of hidden gems and creative takes on this beloved dish. Whether you’re looking for an authentic Neapolitan pizza or a pie with a Southern twist, Kentucky offers pizza experiences that rival any major food city. From local ingredients to bold flavors, the Bluegrass State continues to surprise and delight pizza lovers from near and far.

Kentucky Beer and Breweries

Kentucky has its share of fascinating and memorable pizza stories that reflect the creativity and community spirit of its pizzerias. From award-winning creations to unique local traditions, here are some famous pizza stories from the Bluegrass State:

BoomBozz: A Pizza Empire Born in Kentucky

BoomBozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse is one of the most well-known pizzerias in Kentucky, with a story that begins with its founder, Tony Palombino. After growing up in a family of Italian restaurateurs, Palombino opened the first BoomBozz location in Louisville in 1998, and it quickly gained fame for its gourmet, innovative pizzas.

The name “BoomBozz” comes from the Italian slang “boombozz,” meaning “wild, crazy, and fun,” reflecting Palombino’s goal of creating a unique pizza experience. The pizzeria became famous not only for its high-quality ingredients but also for its creative pies, like the signature Pollotate Pizza, which combines roasted chicken, rosemary potatoes, caramelized onions, and cheeses—a fusion of Italian pizza with Southern comfort flavors.

One of BoomBozz’s biggest claims to fame is winning multiple awards at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. In 2002, Palombino’s “Fire Roasted Fajita Pizza” won the Best Gourmet Pizza category, putting BoomBozz on the national radar. Since then, the pizzeria has expanded beyond Kentucky into Indiana and Tennessee, but its roots remain firmly in Louisville, where it continues to be one of the state’s most beloved pizza chains.

Impellizzeri’s Pizza: The Louisville Legend

Impellizzeri’s Pizza is another iconic Kentucky pizzeria with a rich history. Founded by Benny Impellizzeri in 1979 in Louisville, this family-run business quickly gained a reputation for its oversized, hearty pizzas loaded with toppings. The original Impellizzeri’s was located in the Highlands neighborhood of Louisville, and its towering, thick-crust pizzas became legendary among locals.

One of the key elements of Impellizzeri’s success is its tradition of making dough fresh every day and piling pizzas high with cheese and premium toppings. Their pizza slices are famously large, and their commitment to quality ingredients helped build a loyal customer base.

In the 1980s, Impellizzeri’s expanded its operations with multiple locations, but the original restaurant remained a local favorite. Despite the challenges faced by many family-owned businesses, Impellizzeri’s was able to stay strong, thanks in part to its devoted customer base. The “Louisville Special,” loaded with pepperoni, sausage, onions, mushrooms, and green peppers, became one of their signature pizzas, reflecting the hearty, satisfying meals that have made the pizzeria a Louisville institution.

The Creation of the “Kentucky Hot Brown Pizza”

The Hot Brown Sandwich is one of Kentucky’s most iconic dishes, invented at the Brown Hotel in Louisville in the 1920s. Made with turkey, bacon, tomatoes, and Mornay sauce, the Hot Brown is a decadent, open-faced sandwich that became synonymous with Kentucky cuisine. Over the years, several Kentucky pizzerias have created their own pizza versions of this famous dish, combining the ingredients of a Hot Brown with the structure of a pizza.

Home Cafe and Marketplace in Bowling Green is one pizzeria that has perfected the Kentucky Hot Brown Pizza. The restaurant’s version features a pizza crust topped with turkey, crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, and a rich Mornay cheese sauce. This pizza has become a local favorite and is often recommended to visitors who want to experience a true taste of Kentucky in pizza form. The combination of classic Kentucky flavors with the convenience of pizza showcases the state’s inventive and playful approach to traditional dishes.

Pizza Lupo’s Wood-Fired Success in Butchertown

Kentucky Foods

Pizza Lupo in Louisville’s historic Butchertown neighborhood is another success story that reflects the rise of artisanal, wood-fired pizzas in Kentucky. Opened by husband-and-wife team Max Balliet and Sarah Balliet in 2017, Pizza Lupo quickly gained a reputation for its creative pizzas made with fresh, local ingredients. The restaurant specializes in Neapolitan-style pizzas, but with a Kentucky twist, using locally sourced toppings and inventive combinations.

One of Pizza Lupo’s standout offerings is the “Salsiccia Pizza,” which features fennel sausage, roasted red peppers, caramelized onions, and ricotta. The pizzeria’s attention to detail, from its hand-stretched dough to its high-temperature wood-fired oven, has helped it earn accolades and a loyal following. Pizza Lupo is also known for its extensive wine list and intimate, community-oriented atmosphere, making it a favorite in Louisville’s competitive food scene.

The Goodfellas Pizzeria Story: From Kentucky to Nationwide Recognition

Goodfellas Pizzeria started in 2005 in Lexington, Kentucky, and quickly expanded its presence thanks to its massive New York-style pizza slices and classic Italian-American vibe. Founders Eric Boggs and Alex Coats wanted to bring a true New York pizza experience to the Bluegrass State, and their mission was a huge success. Goodfellas became famous for serving up pizza slices as big as your face and delivering a quintessential East Coast pizzeria atmosphere, complete with red-checkered tablecloths and mobster-themed décor.

What makes Goodfellas special is its attention to detail in replicating authentic New York-style pizza. Their pizzas feature a thin, foldable crust with a chewy texture, topped with generous amounts of mozzarella and classic toppings like pepperoni and sausage. The “Kingpin,” one of their signature pies, is topped with ricotta cheese, sausage, and pepperoni, offering a true slice of New York in the heart of Kentucky.

Goodfellas’ popularity grew so quickly that they expanded to multiple locations in Kentucky and beyond, including opening spots in Cincinnati, Ohio. They’ve also added speakeasy-style bars to many of their locations, creating a unique pizzeria-meets-cocktail-lounge experience that blends pizza culture with nightlife.

Louisville Pizza Week: A Celebration of Local Pizzerias

One of the more recent pizza traditions in Kentucky is the annual Louisville Pizza Week, a citywide event that brings together local pizzerias to offer special deals on their pizzas for a limited time. The event highlights the diversity of Louisville’s pizza scene, with participating restaurants offering creative, limited-time pizzas that can only be found during the festival.

Launched in 2018, Louisville Pizza Week has grown in popularity each year and is now a highly anticipated event for both locals and tourists. Pizzerias like BoomBozz, Pizza Lupo, and Mellow Mushroom participate in the event, offering unique creations that showcase their culinary creativity. Louisville Pizza Week celebrates the community’s love for pizza and offers a great way to explore new pizzerias while supporting local businesses.

From Pizza Truck to Brick-and-Mortar: The PieTana Story

The PieTana, originally a pizza food truck, became a brick-and-mortar establishment in Lexington in 2019. Founded by Chef Cody DeRossett, The PieTana quickly gained a reputation for its wood-fired pizzas that incorporate Southern flavors. One of their standout pizzas is the “Tana,” which features smoked pork, pickled jalapeños, and onion jam—a combination of flavors that reflect both Kentucky’s barbecue culture and the classic wood-fired pizza tradition.

The transition from food truck to a full-fledged restaurant was a testament to the popularity of The PieTana’s creative, high-quality pizzas. Their success story highlights how small, local businesses can grow through word-of-mouth and community support. Today, The PieTana continues to draw pizza lovers who appreciate unique flavors and Kentucky flair.

These famous pizza stories from Kentucky demonstrate the state’s deep connection to both tradition and innovation when it comes to pizza. From award-winning gourmet pizzas to local creations like the Hot Brown Pizza, Kentucky’s pizzerias reflect the creativity, craftsmanship, and community spirit that make the Bluegrass State’s pizza scene something truly special. Whether it’s classic pies or inventive flavors, Kentucky’s pizza stories show that this Southern state has carved out its own space in America’s pizza landscape.

The best pizza-related event in Kentucky is Louisville Pizza Week, a highly anticipated annual festival that celebrates the city’s diverse pizza scene. Here’s everything you need to know about it:

Louisville Pizza Week

• Location: Louisville, Kentucky

• Overview: Louisville Pizza Week is a week-long celebration of the city’s best pizzerias, where local restaurants offer unique pizza creations at special prices (typically $9 for a full pizza). This event brings together pizza lovers from all over the city and beyond, giving them a chance to explore different pizzerias and sample creative, limited-time pizza offerings. Whether you enjoy traditional pies or experimental flavors, Louisville Pizza Week has something for everyone.

  The event often includes a “Pizza Passport,” where participants can collect stamps from different pizzerias they visit during the week. Collecting multiple stamps enters attendees into prize drawings, making it a fun and interactive way to explore Louisville’s pizza spots.

• Highlights:

  • Special $9 pizzas at participating pizzerias
  • Limited-time creative pizza recipes
  • “Pizza Passport” prize giveaways
  • Over 20 participating pizzerias across the city
  • A great way to support local businesses

• Popular Participants:

  • BoomBozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse
  • Pizza Lupo
  • Impellizzeri’s Pizza
  • Mellow Mushroom
  • Manny & Merle
  • Union 15

• Timing: Louisville Pizza Week typically takes place in November, but the exact dates vary each year. Keep an eye on announcements leading up to the event.

• Website: Louisville Pizza Week

Why Louisville Pizza Week Is Special:

Stone Bridge-Kentucky Pizza

Louisville Pizza Week showcases the creativity of the city’s pizza chefs, who often create exclusive pizzas just for the event. It’s not just about discounts—it’s a celebration of Louisville’s food culture, encouraging people to step out of their usual pizza spots and try something new. The event highlights the culinary diversity within Louisville’s pizza scene, from wood-fired Neapolitan pies to deep-dish and everything in between.

Whether you’re a local or just visiting, Louisville Pizza Week is an excellent opportunity to explore the best pizza that the city has to offer while supporting small businesses.

Other Notable Events Featuring Pizza:

1. Kentucky Food Truck Championship (Whitley County)

   • Overview: Held during the annual Kentucky State BBQ Festival in Corbin, the Kentucky Food Truck Championship often features pizza trucks among its contenders. Mobile pizza vendors bring creative and gourmet pizzas, cooked in wood-fired ovens, to the competition. This event is a great opportunity to try pizza on the go while enjoying other Kentucky food staples.
   • Website: Kentucky Food Truck Championship

2. Lexington Craft Beer Week (Pizza Pairings)

   • Overview: Lexington’s Craft Beer Week often features pizza and beer pairings at local breweries, with pizzerias like Goodfellas and The PieTana offering special menus that pair perfectly with local craft brews. It’s an excellent event for those who enjoy pizza alongside great beer.
   • Website: Lexington Craft Beer Week

For pizza lovers, Louisville Pizza Week stands out as Kentucky’s premier pizza festival, offering a fantastic opportunity to experience the best of what the local pizza scene has to offer in a fun, community-focused event.