Pala 148 might be one of Yorkville’s newest additions, serving up authentic Roman-style slices, but the chef is not new to Toronto’s food scene — and he’s certainly not new to pizza.
Simone Martinotti always had a passion for savoury pies, but after moving to Canada 12 years ago, he found himself selling Italian pizza ovens and pasta machines to commercial kitchens. It was a step into the industry but still far from the food he truly loved.
“Pizza wasn’t as good back then, and so I started making it at home as a creative outlet,” he says. “It’s always been my passion.”
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Four years ago, Martinotti and his wife launched Alto Pizza, an interactive catering business where he crafted pizzas on the spot using a wood- fired oven at private events, weddings and celebrations. After its success, Martinotti set his sights on Yorkville as the ideal location for Pala 148.
“It was a beautiful opportunity because there is nothing like takeout or ‘grab-and-go’ pizza in the area, so we wanted to create that real Italian feeling,” he says.
Pala 148 gets its name from the “pizza alla pala,” style popular in Rome, with the “pala” referring to the wooden paddle used to put the pies in the oven. The pizza dough is made from flour imported directly from Italian mills and with a high water content, which gives the pizza that Roman-style crisp.
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“It results in pizza that you can bring home, reheat another time, and it will still come alive again,” Martinotti says. “A Napolitano pizza is not good for takeout because it gets chewy and soggy, and that’s why Roman style is so famous, because it can last and be reheated.”
In addition to Pala 148’s staple pizzas, like the soppressata and the mortadella, which is made with a mascarpone and pesto cream base with Italian mortadella, stracciatella cheese and topped with pistachio kernel, Pala 148 serves a housemade focaccia and simple salads.
Find the restaurant at 148 Cumberland St.
