By now you probably know the deal: New York City peddles some of the best pizza and bagels in the world, and for years, New York City residents have claimed it owes to the city’s uniquely “soft” water supply, so named because of its low concentrations of calcium and magnesium.
This seems to be one of the many devil’s bargains denizens make with New York: in exchange for pizza like this and bagels like these, we give up our humanity and agree to live in what’s essentially a sewer with trains that sometimes work.
The theory, of course, has been somewhat debunked over the years, but that hasn’t stopped a startup called New York WaterMaker from selling a system that claims it can replicate New York’s famed tap water.
To make things absolutely clear: someone made a machine that mimics New York water so people can make authentic New York City pizza and bagels wherever they are. “Through the innovation system,” a company press release reads, “recipes will be tastier, bread will be crispier, and pizza and bagels will be authentic New York City style (not an imitation).”
As ridiculous as it sounds, New York WaterMaker just debuted its system at the Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, so we know for sure it’s real. It does beg the question: Could the next frontier of pizza be a fascination with terroir?
Until we find out, your correspondent is happy simply eating New York pies in New York.
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Brian McNeal
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