NYC Pizza Expert – Tour, Sightsee, & Learn on this Food Tasting Excursion (New York City, NY) | Scott's Pizza Tours
Howdy, my name is Scott Wiener and I like pizza. A lot. Cover it with pepperoni, potatoes, prosciutto or pears and I’ll taste it. I might not like it, but I’ll try it, I'll remember it, and I'll definitely write about it in my Pizza Journal. Growing up just across the river from NYC in the beautiful state of New Jersey, I encountered great pizza at an early age. But it wasn’t until I drove cross-country with my band between college semesters, a little homesick and a lot broke, that I really took note of the regional differences in pizza. I started to record my experiences — analyzing the crust, the sauce, the blend of cheeses — and my childhood love of pizza morphed into a serious obsession.
I got home and took a solid job in audio production, but I found myself spending all of my weekends driving around the area to try different pizzerias. I organized field trips for my friends and tapped into New York’s strong pizza community. It all culminated on my 26th birthday when I rented a yellow cheese bus and took 30 of my friends to a few of my favorite spots. By the time I returned the bus, I knew I had found my calling. Some people deliver pizza to people; I would deliver the people to the pizza.
Of course I had my doubts at first. Should I mix business with pleasure? But I knew I had to do it for the people who came to New York in search of a slice to remember, the native New Yorkers afraid to navigate the massive landscape on their own, and the other enthusiasts who could share their own knowledge. So I poured my heart and soul into learning everything about the history of pizza in New York and beyond. I got my NYC Sightseeing Guide license, drained my savings and committed to the mission.
It’s been three years and I haven’t looked back. I’ve been to Naples, the birthplace of NY style pizza, twice. I’ve seen the factories where the flour is milled and the farms where the tomatoes are picked. I’ve contributed to PMQ's Pizza Magazine, Pizza Today Magazine, and PizzaMarketplace.com. I’ve judged culinary competitions at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas and the America's Plate competition in New York. I’ve been given the opportunity to talk about pizza on the Travel Channel, the Cooking Channel, Discovery Channel, Fox News, and NBC’s Today in New York, and PIX’s Toni on New York. But the most rewarding experience has been sharing a pie with folks like you and hearing your insights about some of the finest slices of pizza on Earth.
*Scott does not run every tour but all guides are fully licensed and trained to best serve your pizza-obsessed needs.
