Mustard Pie (mustard on pizza)

Schuster’s Tomato Pies on Whittaker Avenue in Trenton, New Jersey, had a banner, “The Home of the Mustard Pie.” Supposedly, in the late 1970s or early 1980s, a drunk customer came in and asked for a “mushroom” pie. However, he slurred his words, and was given a “mustard” pie. Schuster’s closed in the 1980s, and the mustard pie tradition was taken up by Papa’s Tomato Pies of Trenton, in business since 1912. In 2013, Papa’s moved to Robbinsville, New Jersey.
 
Papa’s Tomato Pies website states: “Small Mustard Pie * $18 14” thin layer of spicy brown mustard between the crust and cheese topped with tomato. Feel free to add other toppings! (...) * Mustard Pie is a local delicacy. Mustard is put onto the dough before the pie is baked, some people love it, and others don’t get it. Why don’t you try one and be the judge?”
 
It’s possible that other countries had the “mustard pizza” idea first. “I’ve used mustard on pizza since 1982. Learned of using mustard on pizza while visiting Copacabana beach in Rio De Janerio” was posted on the newsgroup alt.culture.ny-upstate on January 29, 2001. “You can buy pizza in Jamaica with mustard cooked into the sauce on it. Must be a south of the border thing,” was a response. “Here in Brazil, São Paulo people are generally the purists. They get mad on us, from Rio, because we use condiments on pizza. Ketchup, mayo, and mustard are offered in every pizzeria” was posted on Twitter by elisesdelune on January 9, 2019. “Trinis (Trinidad—ed.) put condiments on pizza” was posted on Twitter by Chilly™ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴ ᴍᴀɴɢᴏ on November 21, 2019.
 
It can’t be known who the first person was to take a pizza slice and just grab the restaurant’s mustard bottle and add the mustard themselves. “Spread love its the Brooklyn way MUSTARD ON PIZZA 🍕 BROWNSVILLE STAND UP” (along with a short video) was posted on Twitter by 108DRAGONSTV on February 18, 2023.
 
   
Papa’s Tomato Pies (since 1912) 
19 Robbinsville Allentown Rd
Robbinsville, NJ 08691
(...)
Small Mustard Pie * $18
14” thin layer of spicy brown mustard between the crust and cheese topped with tomato. Feel free to add other toppings!
Large Mustard Pie * $19
16” thin layer of spicy brown mustard between the crust and cheese topped with tomato. Feel free to add other toppings!
* Mustard Pie is a local delicacy. Mustard is put onto the dough before the pie is baked, some people love it, and others don’t get it. Why don’t you try one and be the judge?
     
Google Groups: alt.culture.ny-upstate
Favorite pizza?
BJ Carr
Jan 29, 2001, 4:55:21 AM
“Martin Oliver”

wrote in message
news:YT6d6.2878$r%.238609@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net…

> In Poughkeepsie, either Benny’s 10th Inning or Emiliano Pizza.
> However, you can’t beat Emiliano’s large cheese pie for $5.25 on
> Mondays($5.50/Sundays)
>
> I’ve used mustard on pizza since 1982. Learned of using mustard on pizza
> while visiting Copacabana beach in Rio De Janerio. Surprised many since
> then, but those who try it, like it. The Brazilian mustard tastes
different
> than anything in the USA. My favorite mustard is French’s classic yellow,
> but that’s my preference. Try yours. Bet you like it!
>
>
 
You can buy pizza in Jamaica with mustard cooked into the sauce on it. Must be a south of the border thing. You can also get jerk pizza there, but that’s only to be expected in a country where most of the food is flavored
with jerk.
       
The Daily Meal
Pepper Flakes At Papa’s Of Trenton: You Can’t Even See The Pie Sometimes
By Arthur Bovino|April 9, 2012 10:29 am EST
(...) (Interview with Nick Azzaro, owner of Papa’s Tomato Pies in Trenton, N.J.—ed.)
I make a mustard pie; I’ve never heard of it being done anywhere else before. I make four to five a week. I put Gulden’s mustard on the dough and then layer on the tomatoes.
 
Mustard? Where does the mustard go?
I put the mustard on the crust of the pizza. It has to be Gulden’s spicy brown mustard.  A guy used to [make it in his] pizzeria down the street and I don’t know where he got the idea from, but he ended up closing down, so I don’t know if that’s an omen, but when he did, some workers came in who used to visit his pizzeria. They asked me to make them a pizza this way, with mustard, then tomatoes, then cheese. You put it in oven and cook it. You ever hear of a Philly pretzel? Well, that’s what it tastes like. Everybody’s different, Art. That’s the answer. That’s the solid answer.
 
OK, Nick, but hold on a sec, let’s talk mustard pizza.
We cover it like you’d cover a piece of bread with mustard. The other stuff takes over. It dilutes the flavor of the cheese and the tomatoes and mixes in with it. You can smell it and taste it.
   
Pizza Quixote
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Revisit: Papa’s Tomato Pies, Trenton NJ
A few months ago, we made our first-ever visit to Papa’s Tomato Pies on Chambers Street in Trenton NJ. We were amazed, and delighted, at the near-perfect execution of quintessential old-school Trenton pizza. Thin crust with a satisfying char and snap, hearty red sauce, judiciously applied cheese, and generous chunks of real Italian sausage.
(...)
But after our first visit, more than one Trenton native told me to try the “mustard pie” at Papa’s. Whaaaa? Here is what they do—spread a coat of mustard on the crust before the application of sauce and cheese. “Sounds weird, tastes great” was the universal endorsement.
   
Dj’eat? 
January 9, 2013 at 3:23 pm
Mustard pie
(...)
Most people you ask, if they have heard about Mustard Pies at all, will point to a long gone place on Whittaker Avenue called “Shuster’s”.  They were definitely known for their Mustard Pie and use to fly a banner from the front of the building declaring it “The Home of the Mustard Pie.” Yet even those that remember the place and the pie, don’t know how it ever came about.
 
I pressed Nick a little harder. “You offer it as a special here on Monday nights. How did that come about?”
 
“I had this kid come to work for me. He used to work at that other place {Shuster’s} before they closed. He said to me one night, ‘You should make a mustard pie.’  So I did.”
 
Twitter
Arthur Bovino
@ArthurBovino
Finally having mustard pizza at Papa’s Tomato Pies in Trenton. Tangy
@angmoore @thedailymeal http://thedailymeal.com/pepper-flakes-papa-s-trenton-you-can-t-even-see-pie-sometimes
6:17 PM · Jul 20, 2013 from Trenton, NJ
 
26 September 2014, New York (NY) Times, “Putting Tomatoes First, by Putting Them On Last” by Phoebe Nobles, pg. NJ10, col. 2:
Mustard pie, a regional specialty or quirk, depending on your view, has made the trip here, too. A layer of spicy brown deli mustard is spread over the dough before the other ingredients. It was my own foible, uninitiated, to try it with pepperoni — the combination evoked a bit too much hot dog. Plain or sausage mustard pies are more popular, I found out.
 
Twitter 
Insider Food
@insiderfood
This pizza uses mustard instead of tomato sauce 😳
This Is Mustard Pizza
Lions and Tigers and Squares in NYC serves Detroit-style pizza with a twist. The owners tried mustard pizza in NJ, and loved it so much they brought it to their restaurant. Would you try it?
(A video is shown.—ed.)
6:30 AM · Sep 4, 2018
 
Today
‘This should be illegal’: People are freaking out over this mustard pizza
A pizza involving mustard has recently gotten the internet talking, and people have some strong opinions about the combination.
Sept. 6, 2018, 4:32 PM EDT / Source: TODAY
By Julie Pennell
(...)
Surprisingly, the mustard pizza came into fruition from a simple misunderstanding at Papa’s Tomato Pies in Trenton, New Jersey, according to a video by Food Insider.
 
“A guy came in there, he was drunk,” said Francis Garcia, co-owner of Lions & Tigers & Squares Detroit Pizza in New York City. “He was slurring and he was trying to order a mushroom pie. The old Italian guy said, ‘Mustard pie? Give it to him!’ They put the mustard on the pie with the tomato sauce and it was a hit.”
     
6ABC (Philadelphia, PA)       
Mustard pizza causes a stir on the internet
Friday, September 7, 2018
(...)
It actually dates back to the 80s, but it’s getting new viral appeal, and a lot of opinions from people who haven’t tried it yet.
 
The original recipe, and story, starts at a place called Schuster’s Tomato Pies in Trenton.
 
They say a guy came in there, he was drunk, slurring his words and he tried to order a mushroom pie.
 
The owner laughed, “Mustard pie? Give it to him!” So, they did and apparently created a giant.
     
Facebook
DeLorenzo’s The Burg
September 12, 2018 at 2:25 PM ·
The only thing FRENCH about this pizza is the MUSTARD!😆🤣🍕Mustard pie began in Trenton by Schuster’s Pizza which was located on Whittaker Ave. Since then the Mustard pie has made its way up the ladder and is now one of our customers favorite pies🤩 Here’s the making of a mustard pie, courtesy of our Wednesday morning pie maker, Matt C👏🏻🍕😇
   
Twitter
elisesdelune
@elisaduartem
Replying to @insiderfood
Here in Brazil, São Paulo people are generally the purists. They get mad on us, from Rio, because we use condiments on pizza. Ketchup, mayo, and mustard are offered in every pizzeria.  SP has a more italian traditional background than us.
7:46 PM · Jan 9, 2019
   
Twitter
Marcos Videira
@marcondesbv
Replying to @ClutchYadi and @shannongsims
Yes, rio’s pizza is specially bad, but São Paulo has a lot of awesome pizza places. And here we absolutely do not put ketchup or mustard on the pizza
6:39 PM · May 27, 2019
   
Twitter
Chilly™ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴜʀɴ ᴍᴀɴɢᴏ
@Rio_Watchusayin
Trinis put condiments on pizza. Yes…they take pizza…yes pizza… and squirt ketchup, mustard and pepper over it… I kid u not.
I’m still in shock
8:00 PM · Nov 21, 2019
 
NJ.com
Next time you visit this iconic N.J. pizza spot, go for the mustard pie
Updated: Dec. 09, 2019, 12:15 a.m.|Published: Dec. 06, 2019, 1:50 p.m.
By Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com
Take a trip to the historic Papa’s Tomato Pies in Robbinsville and you’ll notice a peculiar sign next to the front door: “home of the mustard pie.”
 
“A local favorite with a thin layer of spicy brown mustard between the crust and the cheese, topped with tomato sauce,” reads the menu entry, next to all those enduring pies that have kept the longest continuously operating pizzeria in the United States afloat since 1912 (located in Trenton until 2013).
(...)
The origin stems about 10 miles west of Papa’s, at pizza joint called Schuster’s in Trenton’s Chambersburg neighborhood, where the Schuster family’s German heritage was represented by a mustard pie of its own. When Schuster’s closed in the mid-1980s, people asked if Papa’s could help them get their mustard pizza fix.
 
NJ.com
This mustard pizza should be your next takeout order
Updated: Mar. 22, 2021, 11:15 a.m.|Published: Mar. 20, 2021, 6:00 p.m.
By Natalie Paterson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Our NJ.com foodies have been raving about the mustard pie from Papa’s Tomato Pies in Robbinsville for years.
(...)
The spicy brown mustard is drizzled onto the dough first. Then comes the cheese and, finally, the lightly sweet tomato sauce is spooned onto the top of the pie before going into the oven. The order of those ingredients guarantees a delightfully crispy crust that doesn’t droop when you pluck out your slice of choice.
     
Twitter
David Gaines Ⓥ 🇧🇷 🇦🇫 🇺🇦 🏑
@NatsAndCats
Replying to @Stonekettle
No pepperoni for me…....I was in a pizza joint in Rio de Janeiro and the guy handed me one of those yellow plastic mustard squeeze things diners have along with my pizza. I said are you kidding? And he said, “no you have to try it, we do this here.” And he was right. 👍🏻👍🏻
2:16 PM · Apr 17, 2021
 
Twitter
Kelps Sousa Alux 🇺🇦
@kelps
Replying to @kelps @kennethrohde and @matvelloso
And adding ketchup and/or mustard to pizza is a very regional thing too. Not common at all in São Paulo but very common in Rio de Janeiro, for example.
3:25 PM · Jul 1, 2021
   
Twitter
David Gaines Ⓥ 🇧🇷 🇦🇫 🇺🇦 🏑
@NatsAndCats
Replying to @the_dan
Wait until the Italians go to Rio de Janeiro and see their pizza served not only with tomato slices on top, but mustard also.
3:17 PM · Feb 7, 2022
 
Twitter
108DRAGONSTV
@108DRAGONSTV
Spread love its the Brooklyn way MUSTARD ON PIZZA 🍕 BROWNSVILLE STAND UP
@Italianclownz @Graphic_God @CerebralPaul1 @LordCognito @kingdavidotw @HipHopGamer @JAAY_ROCK_
THIS WHAT WE DO FACTZZZZ!!!!!!
(A short video is shown.—ed.)
2:41 PM · Feb 18, 2023