Pizzeria competes for title of best slice

“They ordered pizza and it was a Gaby’s Pizza box,” said Kenny Smith, of Cunningham Heights, as he recounted watching characters from “The King of Queens” television show having a delivery made.
Now, the Jamaica-based pizzeria will make another cameo, this time on The Rachael Ray Show’s “New York vs. Chicago Pizza Throwdown,” in a bout to determine which city truly has the better slice.
Gaby’s Pizza, which is located in the Fran Hill Mall on Hillside Avenue and Francis Lewis Boulevard, is co-owned by Orlando Correale, brothers John, Guerrino, Stefano LoGuidice and Stefano’s son, Stefano Jr.
The LoGiudices had originally founded Gaby’s four storefronts away from its current location after migrating from Rome, Italy in 1964. It was a smaller space with only booths, few tables and a jukebox that played songs for 10 cents.
“There they produced a pizza that makes us ‘Number One’ today,” said Correale, who joined them in 1981.
Gaby’s pizza uses cheese that is aged in the shop’s refrigerators. It has its dough stretched out in olive oil and is topped with a sauce made from imported “Brankinelli” tomatoes before being baked upon a specially-made screen.
Every morning, the staff checks ingredients for freshness, and, all spoiled, unused sources are discarded at the end of the day.
“The secret to food is it’s not what you’re using but it’s how you combine them,” said Correale. “We also put a lot of love in what we make.”
This philosophy is what has garnered the adoration of so many. Famous locals such as LL Cool J, Salt-N-Pepa and Run DMC all “grew up” with Gaby’s Pizza, according to Correale, who also mentioned that Mario Cuomo’s daughter had worked there.
Maritza Kenneth, of Cunningham Heights, has been a customer since slices sold for 85 cents, and her seven-year-old daughter, Jasmin, has been employing her fingers as a crane at Gaby’s since she was three.
“My favorite part is the cheese,” she said as she pinched the cheese up off the pizza, suspending it in air, before dropping the cargo in her mouth.
Jude Celestin, a daily patron for the last 20 years, contended the sauce was the best. “I love their sauce,” he said.
The pizzeria is also a long-standing benefactor for the Jamaica, St. Albans and Hollis communities. They have sponsored fundraisers, athletic little leagues and even local models looking for a place to advertise their headshot. Every Christmas, Santa Claus visits children there to take pictures and bestow gifts.
“These are ways to give back to the community for making us number one. Without their help we’d be nowhere,” said Correale.
Gaby’s Pizza will take on Chicago’s Home Run Inn on The Rachael Ray Show set to air on WABC on April 10 at 10 a.m.
Andrea LoGuidice, son of Guerrino, is set to bake the competing pie for three judges using various cheeses, fresh tomatoes and spices. Stefano Jr. is confident in a win.
“Anyone can make a picture but making a Picasso, you need skill and you need love.”