Uncie Ro’s Organic Artisan Pizzas
On Sunday I visited the Menlo Park farmers market. Plenty of vendors were showcasing their produce. There was one booth that captured my attention, not because of fresh fruits or vegetables, but pizzas. Pizza at a farmers market? I had to check it out.
The man behind the pizzas was Roland Konicke, a New Yorker who moved to Santa Cruz to share his passion for pizza. It was here he founded Uncie Ro’s Take and Bake Pizza. First thing to keep in mind is Roland’s pizzas are far from being an ordinary take and bake pizza. I had a chance to talk with Roland about why his pizzas are so special.
I found out that his pizzas are focused on using locally available organic ingredients. Roland pointed towards the pizzas he had on display and said, “I just made these pizzas yesterday.”
His hand crafted pizzas use flour from a company out in San Francisco. What’s more impressive is that the toppings he uses are purchased at local farmers markets. His vision of supporting local farms seems to be the driving force behind the company. “Everything, but the cheese is locally grown. The cheeses on these pizzas were imported from Italy,” said Roland. I was sold. I took a Sausage & Pepper pizza home with me to try out for dinner.
The pizza was topped with four different cheeses – Provolone, Parmesan, Mozzarella, and Romano. The sausage was made from grass fed pork. What really catches your eye are the bright red bell peppers on the pizza. I was anxious to see how the flavors would marry together. I threw the pizza into oven and soon enough, the smell of the sausage and fennel filled the kitchen.
The taste of the sweet tomatoes complemented the light flavors of the sausage. I enjoyed each bite down to the crispy crust.
Currently, you can find Uncie Ro’s Take and Bake Pizzas at seven farmers markets from Santa Cruz to Menlo Park. The best way to find out if he has pizzas at your local farmers market is to email Roland and ask.
Wow, pizzas at the farmers market? Man, my farmers market needs to get with it and showcase stuff like this. So, pray tell, how much were these pizzas selling for?
He’s a really nice guy that makes great pizzas! He’s even selling slices at some markets now, and I’ve even seen his pizzas at Whole Foods. Definitely the kind of guy that you want to see succeed as we continue to get overwhelmed with the horrible mass-produced pizza places.
Hey Carolyn,
Depending on the pizza, you’re looking at around $11-$14 a pie.
Hi Chris,
I have to agree with you about Roland and the pizza that I had. I totally agree with what he is doing. His mission to provide fresh pizzas with locally grown organic ingredients is something that you can nod your head to. A mass produced pizza does not even come close to Uncie Ro’s.
Bought the arugula pizza at the campbell farmers market yesterday. Liked it alot but dont think for $12 I would buy it again.