Joe Brignoni, owner of Joe’s Rotisseria in Roselle Park, New Jersey, is behind the elaborate creation, which has garnered millions of views on social media. The specialty slice, priced at $42.50, features mussels, fried calamari, and shrimp served on a garlic knot crust.
Brignoni, a graduate of the Disney Culinary Program, stated his intention was to "paint a picture" and "tell a story" with his pizzas, rather than adhering to traditional preparations. "I would always see these white clam pies, and I was like, ‘Let’s do it big, let’s do all the seafood on it,'" he told The Post.
Upon its introduction, the mega slice went viral on Instagram, accumulating over 10 million views and sparking discussions about its size and toppings. Brignoni noted that the inclusion of shells from the mussels is comparable to diners not consuming shells from a bowl of mussels marinara.
The 3-foot slice is prepared on a baking sheet pan. Brignoni explained that the price reflects the labor involved, including the preparation of sauces, fresh seafood, and the par-baking process for the dough. The pizza is assembled with sauce, cheese, and then topped with freshly fried calamari for crispness.
Brignoni purchased the pizzeria in 2015 and has since become known for other unique offerings, such as the "triple threat pie" which combines a calzone, garlic knots, and pizza. He also created a Waffle Pizza, a dish he developed for Food Network's "Guy's Grocery Games" when challenged to make a pizza without traditional dough, sauce, or cheese.
In addition to his brick-and-mortar restaurant, Brignoni operates a pizza truck on the Jersey Shore. He mentioned that customers are often surprised by the flavor of his unconventional creations, despite their attention-grabbing appearance.