Gemma Gemma’s Square Pies
Roni Roni Pie – Hand Crushed Tomato Sauce, Gemma’s Cheese Blend, Basil, Pepperoni
Tomato Pie – Hand Crushed Tomato Sauce, Pahrump Valley Farms Tomatoes, Basil
Sunday Sauce Pie – Hand Crushed Tomato Sauce, Gemma’s Cheese Blend, Nana’s Slow Cooked Pork Ragu
ala Vodka Pie – Vodka Sauce, Gemma’s Cheese Blend
Cheese Pie – Hand Crushed Tomato Sauce, Gemma’s Cheese Blend
Roast Pork Italian Torpedo – Broccolini, Provolone Picante, Pan Drippings
Roast Beef Italian Torpedo – Herb Mayo, Pickled Red Onion, Arugula
Gorgonzola Wedge – Bibb Lettuce, Pickled Onions, Tomatoes, Bacon, Blue Cheese Dressing
Caprese Salad – Burrata Cheese, Balsamic Vinegar, Pahrump Valley Farm Tomato, Red Wine Dressing
Lemon Herb Chicken Cutlet
Calabrian Braised Rib Tips
Eggplant Caponata
Oreo Zeppoli
Arguably Las Vegas’ hardest working Chef, particularly since the onset of COVID-19, it was after several flawless lunches from Graffiti Bao and Locale that Marc Marrone agreed to debut his newest concept last Thursday, and just like everything else tasted to date Gemma Gemma’s Square Pies shine as a result of passion, practice and Ingredient quality.
Officially launched August 6th, pre-orders for Tuesday and Thursday take-out currently offered online, Gemma Gemma’s is a tribute to Marrone’s late-grandmother Anita Gemma Marrone while the cartoon Pizzaiolo on each box pays homage to Marc’s father, with whom he grew up making Pizzas as a child.
Citing Gemma Gemma as the person who inspired his culinary career, it is at a price-point similar to that of Graffiti Bao that Marrone has built a menu of Pies, Sandwiches, Salads and Entrees, everything including Bread made in-house just as it is under Marrone’s leadership at Egg Sammie.
Kicking things off with 6” “Signature Pies,” each built atop 72-hour fermented Dough that eats light with a crispy edge not unlike Detroit-style, Gemma Gemma’s opening menu features three varieties customizable to guest preferences, the Vodka Sauce standing out thanks to light heat while locally grown Tomatoes and Marrone’s slowly simmered Pork Ragu from Locale Italian Kitchen are also exemplary.
Catering a Caprese and Wedge Salad, neither on the opening week menu but both receiving rave reviews from staff, upcoming Entrees include pounded Chicken Cutlets kissed by Citrus and slow-cooker-style Ribs that are at times a bit fatty but fall-from-the-bone tender and vibrant in terms of taste thanks to Tomatoes, Herbs and Calabrian Peppers.
Not forgetting a few spoons of Eggplant Caponata, Capers and Peppers competing for the spotlight with Vinegar tying everything together, guests seeking something other than Pizza should dive right into $8 Italian “Torpedos,” both Beef and Pork succulent and well-seasoned amidst Cheese and Veggies plus fluffy Hoagie Rolls amicable to soaking up all the Juices.
Finishing with Oreo Zeppoli, which in Gemma Gemma’s case are Sandwich Cookies fried in makeshift Funnel Cake Batter, additional items on a menu sure to evolve include Garlic Bread, Garlic Parm Wings and “Mozzarella Stix” all at prices ranging $7-$9.
N/A: Making it blog policy to not ‘rate’ places based on catering alone, Gemma Gemma’s Square Pies sees Chef Marc Marrone add yet another concept to his cadre, and based on the project’s first catering gig Southwest Las Vegas has yet another option to be thankful for.
RECOMMENDED: Tomato Pie, Sunday Sauce Pie, Roast Pork Italian Torpedo, Roast Beef Italian Torpedo, Eggplant Caponata.
AVOID: A few of the Rib Tips were a touch fatty and would have been benefited by better trimming, while others were almost all-Meat and no Bone or Fat.
TIP: See the website for current offerings and follow @gemmagemmapizza + @chefmarcmarrone on social for specials.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.gemmagemmapizza.com
