Adobe Stock/ Rafael Ben-Ari
During Passover, pick up a matzah pizza pie complete with Kosher toppings. This Passover-style pop-up was created by a nine-year-old Armonk resident.
The idea for Yalla Matzah Pizza developed last year when Josh Greenstein and his son, Hudson, picked up a salad from Nick’s Pizza for dinner during Passover. Josh explained to his son why, as reformed Jews, they couldn’t order a pie during Passover. However, this conversation got Josh thinking of alternatives.
“I have a case of matzah in my car that I just got. How about if I bring it in and ask if he’ll make us a matzah pizza,” Josh recalls thinking. After retrieving the matzah from his car and having the owner of the Armonk-based Nick’s Pizza, Anthony, top it with the usuals, Josh and Hudson had the first unofficial taste test.
The two realized how good the matzah pizza tasted and wanted to share the creation with all of Westchester. After a whole year of planning and perfecting the recipe, Yalla Matzah Pizza pop-up opened within Nick’s Pizza and Ice Cream. They offer full pies or personal matzah pizzas with Kosher toppings available through Passover.
“It’s the best thing I could do with my son, this project,” says Josh.
Not only does Hudson have his eyes set on matzah pizza, but he’s also expanding his knowledge on starting and managing a business. “He would always get joke books or Lego books from the library, but once we started talking about this, he was coming home with business books,” Josh explains.
Prior to establishing the pop-up, the Greensteins would chow down on homemade sauce and cheese-crowned boards hoping they would satisfy cravings. This strategy proved to be unsuccessful. And with Josh’s late mother being a chef, cooking his own alternative to a classic pizza pie wasn’t out of the question.
The pizza at Nick’s is made using Hudson’s grandmother’s recipe, matzah from Streits Matzos, and a special, top-secret pizza spice powder. This delectable powder is created by top spice blender, Lior Lev Sercarz, who works with renowned chefs to concoct personalized spice blends.
With the help of his parents, Josh and Allyson Greenstein, nine-year-old Hudson is sharing his creation with Westchester. The trio are also expanding the dining options for those who celebrate Passover. Portions of the pizza proceeds will be donated to the Greensteins’ local synagogue.
“Now that we’re seeing success with it, I would love to be able to branch out in different cities,” Josh says. Looking ahead, he hopes to expand his son’s pop-up outside of Westchester, as well as to include more options for Passover-friendly dinners.
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