The Advantages of Wood Fired & Artisan Pizza

Artisan Style Pizza Crust, Toppings & History

Pizza is a classic, delicious choice at any time, but some pies rise above the rest in taste and quality. Artisan wood fired pizzas may sound new and trendy, but this style of pizza has been around for hundreds of years and hearkens back to the original methods of preparing pizza in Italy. 

These pizzas are handmade with the highest quality ingredients and can include a variety of wood fired pizza toppings. They cook faster than other methods and can even be healthier than other types of pizza. This guide will discuss all the benefits of delicious artisan wood fired pizza and where to find the best wood fired pizza restaurant in Lewes, DE: Crust & Craft. 

What Is Artisan Pizza?

The term "artisan" is generally used to define someone who has extensive knowledge and training of a certain craft. When the word is applied to food, it means it is prepared using traditional methods instead of machines and with the highest-quality ingredients. 

All pizzas used to be made completely by hand, but as technology and industry pushed forward, much of the pizza-making process became mechanized to create faster, cheaper pizzas for the masses. This method satisfies the demand, but results in an inferior product. Today we use the term artisan pizza to refer to pizza that's made fresh, by hand and with care for the process and quality. 

When you're ordering an artisan pizza, you can be assured there's an experienced chef at the pizza oven, ready to prepare the pizza from scratch and have hands-on control of ingredients, quality and customization. Chefs of artisan pizzas can also be innovative and creative with the flavors and toppings, using combinations that are unique and delicious. Usually, artisan pizzas are baked in wood fired ovens, although electric pizza ovens are also common.

What Is an Artisan Crust?

Artisan pizza starts with a great crust — but what makes a crust artisan? The best pizza chefs know that good crust starts with high-quality, Italian-style flour. Flour is graded on its quality, with Grade 00, or Tipo 00, being the highest quality available — and the best for making great pizza crusts. 

Flour, water and salt are the basic ingredients of pizza crust, but the crust can be as simple or creative as the chef determines. And whether the crust is deep, thick and chewy, or thin and crispy, an artisan crust is crafted by hand. Crusts made by hand have a distinctive, delicious flavor that is enhanced even more when baked in a wood fired oven. 

What Toppings Make an Artisan Pizza?

An artisan pizza can have basic, traditional toppings or something more creative, but it's the freshness and quality of the ingredients that make a pizza truly artisan. At Crust & Craft, we've got pizza toppings to satisfy any craving. You can choose from creative combinations or customize your own blend of delicious artisan pizza toppings. 

For an upgraded version of classic cheese pizza, try The Queen — a house favorite with homemade crushed tomato sauce, mountains of mozzarella and fresh basil. Or for more adventurous flavors, go for The Funghi topped with grilled mushrooms and caramelized onions. Have some fun and experiment with a new combination of toppings — you may even find your new favorite.

Why Is Artisan Pizza Popular?

It seems that you see the word "artisan" popping up more and more on pizza menus across the country these days. This trend is driven by a consumer desire for better quality ingredients and more handmade items. With so many processed foods flooding the market, people crave something better. 

There is also joy in creating good food, and more chefs are interested in crafting pizzas from scratch and using higher quality ingredients. The results are more authentic and taste so much better, so consumers seek out these better-quality pizzas when dining out. 

Get More Flavor in Every Bite

For a truly artisan pizza flavor, you need a brick oven. Wood fired brick ovens have been around for hundreds of years, and are seeing a resurgence in popularity along with the artisan food trend. 

A wood fire inside the oven radiates heat around the brick dome, resulting in a much higher temperature than found in electric ovens — and it's these higher temps that make for better pizza. In a brick oven, you'll get a better crust and crispier toppings. In addition, the wood fire gives a distinctive, subtle smoky flavor to the pizza that can't be replicated with other cooking methods. 

Artisan Wood Fired Pizza Cooks Fast

Aside from the great taste, one of the best benefits of a wood fired oven is that the pizza cooks very quickly. Due to the higher temperatures in this type of oven, and the way the heat is stored in the walls, a whole pizza can fully cook in just a couple minutes. This means you still get delicious, handmade quality and incredibly fast cooking times. Order your pizza at the restaurant, and it's ready before you know it. 

Health Benefits of Artisan Wood Fired Pizza

Artisan wood fired pizzas taste better — and they can be better for you too. Often, the topping choices include healthy vegetables like tomatoes, spinach, olives, mushrooms and more. Better quality ingredients and a wide variety of healthy toppings to choose from mean your pizza will be packed with vitamins and far less of the unhealthy additives that come with more processed varieties. 

The nature of the wood fired oven means your pizza cooks much faster and retains more of the healthy nutrients and antioxidants of the toppings. Longer cooking times with other ovens can deplete these valuable nutrients, reducing the overall nutritional value of the pizza. 

Wood Fired Artisan Pizza in Rehoboth Beach

Now that you know about all the amazing advantages that wood fired pizza has over other types of pizza, it's time to try out the best in Rehoboth Beach. Crust & Craft has perfected wood fired artisan pizza, with an amazing selection of customizable toppings to choose from. 

Come enjoy our warm, welcoming atmosphere while you indulge in our delicious pizzas. We have nightly specials and a wide variety of salads, sides and craft beer. 

Join us for happy hour — or any time — and experience the best wood fired pizza in Rehoboth Beach.