What to Eat

Here Are All of the Pies Competing in Franny’s Annual Pizza Bracket

The winner will be declared Friday.
The winner will be declared Friday. Photo: Noah Fecks

If you look at your calendar, you will see that it is now March, the month in which people start to realize winter is ending and spring will be here soon (70 degrees tomorrow!), St. Patrick’s Day revelers dutifully line up stupid early outside McSorley’s to get a jump on day drinking, and various businesses that have nothing to do with college basketball nevertheless present ideas in bracket form in hopes of capturing some of that ever-elusive March Madness. In point of fact: This last phenomenon can be very exciting when applied to food, especially when the food in question is pizza.

And so, as they do every year, the good people at Franny’s — the extremely popular pizza place in Brooklyn — are in the midst of their third-annual Pizza Madness week. The deal is this: The kitchen presents 16 pies (15 pies and a calzone this year, actually, including two variations on the fabled Franny’s clam pie), and winners are determined each night via sales. The list is whittled down by half each day until a victor is added to the permanent menu on Friday. Things kicked off last night, so that means only the eight best sellers will be on the menu tonight, the Final Four happens Wednesday, etc., etc. Either way, this is mostly just a great excuse to look at some photos of truly excellent pizza. Get there sooner rather than later this week to give them a try:

The Carbonara: pancetta, chilies, eggs, fior di latte, Pecorino Romano.
The Carbonara: pancetta, chilies, eggs, fior di latte, Pecorino Romano. Photo: Noah Fecks
Grand Torino: brown-butter-braised cabbage, anchovy breadcrumbs, Grana Padano, lemon, black pepper.
Grand Torino: brown-butter-braised cabbage, anchovy breadcrumbs, Grana Padano, lemon, black pepper. Photo: Noah Fecks
The Spicoli: prosciutto cotto, salt-baked pineapple, basil, red onion, mozzarella, chili oil.
The Spicoli: prosciutto cotto, salt-baked pineapple, basil, red onion, mozzarella, chili oil. Photo: Noah Fecks
Middle Ouest: marinated feta, fior di latte, za'atar, marinated vegetable salad.
Middle Ouest: marinated feta, fior di latte, za’atar, marinated vegetable salad. Photo: Noah Fecks
Salsa Verde Gives Trump a Bad Hair Day: pancetta, red onion, ricotta, provolone, chilies, salsa verde.
Salsa Verde Gives Trump a Bad Hair Day: pancetta, red onion, ricotta, provolone, chilies, salsa verde. Photo: Noah Fecks
Curry Up and Eat: roasted carrots, hot peppers, cumin, curry oil, scallion, pesto, fried chickpeas, crème fraîche.
Curry Up and Eat: roasted carrots, hot peppers, cumin, curry oil, scallion, pesto, fried chickpeas, crème fraîche. Photo: Noah Fecks
Clams Casino: clams, garlic, pancetta, onion, parsley, chili oil, breadcrumbs.
Clams Casino: clams, garlic, pancetta, onion, parsley, chili oil, breadcrumbs. Photo: Noah Fecks
Chicken Parm: tomato, garlic, chilies, basil, fried chicken breast, mozzarella, provolone, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano.
Chicken Parm: tomato, garlic, chilies, basil, fried chicken breast, mozzarella, provolone, Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano. Photo: Noah Fecks
Shaq-Shuka: tomato, piquillo peppers, pine nuts, onions, egg, cilantro, preserved-lemon yogurt.
Shaq-Shuka: tomato, piquillo peppers, pine nuts, onions, egg, cilantro, preserved-lemon yogurt. Photo: Noah Fecks
Friar Sal: pork sausage, Calabrian chilies, broccoli rabe, garlic, fontina, Pecorino Romano.
Friar Sal: pork sausage, Calabrian chilies, broccoli rabe, garlic, fontina, Pecorino Romano. Photo: Noah Fecks
Federal Hill: tomato, sausage, wax peppers, garlic, oregano, provolone dolce, Pecorino Romano.
Federal Hill: tomato, sausage, wax peppers, garlic, oregano, provolone dolce, Pecorino Romano. Photo: Noah Fecks
Peasant's Delight: wood-roasted onions, smoked bacon, lemon zest, almonds, fennel pollen, Grana Padano.
Peasant’s Delight: wood-roasted onions, smoked bacon, lemon zest, almonds, fennel pollen, Grana Padano. Photo: Noah Fecks
Fried Clams "Fra Diavolo": tomato, fried littleneck clams, garlic, basil, chilies, parsley, Pecorino Romano.
Fried Clams “Fra Diavolo”: tomato, fried littleneck clams, garlic, basil, chilies, parsley, Pecorino Romano. Photo: Noah Fecks
Salty, Hot and Bitter Love: wax peppers, fontina, capers, arugula, Pecorino Romano.
Salty, Hot and Bitter Love: wax peppers, fontina, capers, arugula, Pecorino Romano. Photo: Noah Fecks
Tricolore Piccante: tomato, broccoli rabe, capers, anchovies, garlic, ricotta, provolone piccante.
Tricolore Piccante: tomato, broccoli rabe, capers, anchovies, garlic, ricotta, provolone piccante. Photo: Noah Fecks
Old World Paesano Calzone: pork sausage, broccoli rabe, ricotta, mozzarella, tomato, Pecorino Romano.
Old World Paesano Calzone: pork sausage, broccoli rabe, ricotta, mozzarella, tomato, Pecorino Romano. Photo: Noah Fecks

Here Are All of the Pies Competing in Franny’s Annual Pizza Bracket