Umbria Gourmet Pizzeria served gourmet pizza, calzones, pasta, sandwiches and gyros in Bloomington, Minnesota. The restaurant has closed, but its menu inspired this library of guides: 20 in-depth articles grouped into four topics.
Gourmet Pizza: The Complete Guide to Styles, Crusts and Toppings
What makes a pizza gourmet? A practical guide to dough, crust styles, sauces, cheeses and topping combinations, from the kitchen of a Bloomington, MN pizzeria.
- Hawaiian Pizza: History, Toppings and How to Make a Better OneWhere Hawaiian pizza really came from, why ham and pineapple work together, and how to build a gourmet version like Umbria Gourmet Pizzeria's Hawaiian Sensation.
- Build Your Own Pizza: 15 Topping Combinations That WorkThe best build-your-own pizza topping combinations, from classic pairings to gourmet mixes, plus the rules pizzerias use to keep toppings balanced.
- Pizza Crust Styles ExplainedNeapolitan, New York, tavern-style thin, pan, Detroit, Chicago deep dish and Sicilian: how each pizza crust is made, how it tastes, and which toppings suit it.
- Vegan Pizza: Dairy-Free Cheese, Toppings and Ordering TipsHow to order or make great vegan pizza: which crusts are usually vegan, the best dairy-free cheeses, plant-based toppings and what to ask at a pizzeria.
Calzones, Pasta and Italian-American Pizzeria Classics
A guide to the calzones, stromboli and pasta dishes found on Italian-American pizzeria menus: how they are made, how they differ, and how to enjoy the leftovers.
- Calzone vs. Stromboli: What’s the Difference?Calzone vs. stromboli explained: shape, fillings, sauce, origin and how to order each. A quick comparison table plus tips from a pizzeria menu.
- Vegan Calzone: Fillings, Dough and Dairy-Free TipsHow to make or order a vegan calzone: egg-free dough, dairy-free ricotta, the best vegetable fillings and how to stop it getting soggy.
- Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo: Where It Came From and How to Make ItThe Roman origin of fettuccine alfredo, how the American creamy version developed, and a simple pizzeria-style chicken fettuccine alfredo method.
- How to Reheat Pizza, Calzones and Pasta the Right WayThe best ways to reheat leftover pizza, calzones and pasta using a skillet, oven, air fryer or microwave, plus safe storage times for leftovers.
Pizzeria Sandwiches and Gyros: Hot, Cold and Mediterranean Favorites
A guide to the hot sandwiches, cold subs and gyro dishes found at American pizzerias, from Italian beef to salami and Swiss to gyro platters and salads.
- The Italian Beef Sandwich: What It Is and How to Order ItEverything about the Italian beef sandwich: its Chicago roots, dry vs. wet vs. dipped, hot vs. sweet peppers, and how to make one at home.
- Salami and Swiss Sandwich: How to Build a Great OneHow to build a great salami and Swiss sandwich: choosing salami, why Swiss cheese works, the best bread and toppings, plus the classic Italian sub.
- Gyro Hummus Platter: What’s On It and How to Build OneWhat comes on a gyro hummus platter, how gyro meat is made, and how to build a Mediterranean platter at home with hummus, pita, salad and tzatziki.
- Gyro Salad: A Lighter Way to Eat GyroWhat goes in a gyro salad, the Greek dressing that ties it together, and how to make a pizzeria-style gyro salad at home in 15 minutes.
Pizza in Bloomington, MN: A Local Guide
A local guide to pizza in Bloomington, Minnesota and the south metro: the history of Umbria Gourmet Pizzeria, local styles, party planning, catering and pickup tips.
- Tavern-Style Pizza and the Party Cut: Minnesota’s Thin CrustWhat tavern-style pizza is, why Midwest pizza is cut in squares (the party cut), and how the Minnesota thin crust compares to New York and Neapolitan styles.
- How Much Pizza to Order for a PartyHow much pizza to order per person, with a size chart (slices and square inches), a quick party calculator table and tips for kids, teens and office lunches.
- Pizza Catering: A Planning Guide for Office Lunches, Parties and EventsPlan pizza catering for an office lunch, party or event: quantities, dietary mix, sides, timing, keeping pizza hot, and a printable checklist.
- Pizza Pickup vs. Delivery: Which Is Better?Pickup, carryout or delivery? Compare cost, freshness, timing and winter weather, plus tips to keep pizza hot and crisp on the way home.
This guide is published by the team preserving the Umbria Gourmet Pizzeria website. Umbria Gourmet Pizzeria at 521 W 98th St, Bloomington, MN has permanently closed; this page offers general food information and is not an offer to order.
