OK, OK, I know you’ve read the title and are saying, “The guy takes a 2-week trip to Alaska — the largest state in the nation — and he has the balls to declare a restaurant as having the best pizza in the land of the midnight sun???”
Yes I do.
Finn’s Pizza in Homer, Alaska is as good as any pizza I’ve had outside of Manhattan and Brooklyn. No, I’ve not had any New Haven pizza, but I’ve eaten my fare share of others city’s pies. I’ve had what purports to be the best pizza in DC, Chicago, San Francisco and many other cities, and Finn’s beats all the others. And frankly, their pizza is as good as what I’ve had in New York.
The pizzeria is run by Sasha Raupp and Bjorn Larsen and is named after their son, Finn. Larsen makes the pizzas, using a beautiful, tiled wood-fired oven. He apprenticed for months with a pizza-maker in Italy. He uses only organic ingredients. He knows that a light hand is best. And the crust — oh, the crust — he knows how to char the bottom without burning it.
We ordered three 18-inch pies — very simple ones at that. A simple cheese pizza, a margherita, and a mushroom and thyme. When you have kids, you order simple. But the flavors of these pies completely defied their simplicity. Finn’s uses a mixture of dry and fresh mozzarellas on their pizze. The sauce is just pureed Muir Glen tomatoes. And the crust — a whole wheat version at that — is thin and loaded with nutty flavor.
Finn’s is tiny, but the solarium Bjorn built on the second floor gives you a great view of Kachemak Bay (we watched two bald eagles on the beach). And from the solarium, you can watch Bjorn and Sasha down below make the pizza — an interesting perspective at that.
August 7, 2008 at 12:48 pm
It’s been a while since I’ve been to Homer but next time I’m down there I’ll make sure to stop in and try one of their pizzas.
Thanks for believing that someone in Alaska could make pizza comparable to those made in New York.
August 7, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Finn’s is on the Spit, and they’re only open during the summer months.
August 12, 2008 at 3:55 pm
On a pizza related note, Peter Reinhart is opening an artisan pizzeria in Charlotte (or at least helping to establish one). Thought you’d like to know.
September 12, 2008 at 6:51 pm
FINN’S PIZZAS ARE THE BEST!!!
September 14, 2008 at 7:44 am
Hello, somebody could please inform me about how to contact with the Finn’s Pizzas owner, Bjorn Larssen ??? We are Cristina, Begoña and Isabel, a friends of him when he lived in Italy and we’d like to keep in touch!!! My email address is isallobregat@gmail.com
Any help will be appreciated, thank you in advance for your attention!
Cheers!
May 14, 2009 at 1:29 am
Props to you guys for being top notch!! I own Harborside Pizza in Cordova, Alaska. I have heard of your wood fired oven and great food. I also have a wood fired Italian oven, make my own dough, sauce, and use quality ingredients. My wife has family in Homer but haven’t been down there yet. I hope to visit your place and enjoy some great pizza… I’m from New York originally and understand the nature of true pizza people. Kudos and keep up the good work.
May 14, 2009 at 1:30 am
Alaska is small so please, if you’re in Cordova, stop in!!
March 5, 2010 at 3:22 am
To Isabel,
did you ever get ahold of Bjorn? I am a relative i might be able to connect you guys.