On November 8, 2013, I got engaged in New York City with dream-come-true views of the Manhattan skyline and Brooklyn Bridge.
Before basking in the beautiful, breathtaking sights, I had to survive a full day of surprises. Delightfully, the first surprise involved pizza — my favorite food. We started the day in Midwood Brooklyn, stepping into Di Fara Pizza, an unassuming corner pizzeria with fluorescent lights and outdated floors. Crowded in the longest line, when we finally got to the counter, the cashier pulled out a pen and pad to take down our order.
This was the point we realized we were in for an experience. . .
Legend has it, Domenico “Dom” DeMarco, founder of Di Fara Pizza, has made pizza the same way since he emigrated from Provincia di Caserta in Italy to Brooklyn, New York and opened the pizzeria in 1965. When I say Di Fara Pizza is Brooklyn’s best pizza, it’s not sentimentality or a stretch of the imagination. Truly, as declared by New York Magazine, Di Fara Pizza is, “The holy grail of classic New York–style pizza,” while the New York Times says, “Domenico Demarco defined the New York slice.”
Still, Di Fara Pizza is Brooklyn’s best pizza not just because of how the pizza tastes, but because of how it’s made.
That day, as my then fiancé (now husband) and I stood there waiting for our order, we watched Dom unhurriedly spread slow-cooked sauce on the pizza pies, unhurriedly sprinkle mozzarella di bufala (mozzarella made from buffalo milk), and unhurriedly scatter snipped basil and hand-sliced pepperoni atop each pie. I say “unhurriedly” because Dom prepared each pie at a speed countercultural to the fast-paced mode of most New Yorkers.
To give an idea of just how unhurriedly Dom worked — we waited well over an hour for a total of three slices of pizza.
By the time we got our three slices, I was hungry and hangry. We ate our pizza on-the-go because the unexpected long wait made us late for the next scheduled surprise. I grabbed a slice from the box, folded it in half, and took a bite as grease gathered in the nooks and crannies of crust and melted cheese. My goodness, that slice of pizza was, indeed, the best we’d ever had. We felt bad that we’d complained about the wait and were kicking ourselves for only ordering three slices to split between the two of us.
Fast forward to November 2024, just months after our ten-year anniversary, my husband and I made our way back to Brooklyn. During our visit, we placed an order for pick up, this time a whole pie. With just one bite, we sat in the car (yes, again) astonished that — even after the passing of Dom in March 2022 — Di Fara Pizza hadn’t changed.
Surprisingly, reflecting on Di Fara Pizza and Dom’s legacy inspired me to ponder my faith in God in some deep and delightful ways. Here are a few things I learned that I hope will encourage you, too.
God stays the same. I’m amazed that Di Fara Pizza tasted exactly the same as it did over a decade ago. But my life is so very different… My body has changed due to health issues (I’m now gluten- and dairy-free, but I gave myself this one exception). My marriage, in simplest terms, is well beyond the honeymoon stage. And yet, as I contemplate how much my life has changed, I ponder the consistency of God — how God is the same today, yesterday, and forevermore. There’s a kind of reliable comfort in that, like coming back home to your favorite food.
God is intimately involved. Part of what makes Di Fara Pizza so treasured is the legacy of Dom’s approach to making pizza. It’s been said he believed that only one person should make the pies. He didn’t hand off the tedious work of spreading the sauce or turning the pizza by hand in the hot oven. He did the work himself, each day showing up to make pies, up to 150 pies a day. It reminds me of how God is intimately involved with each of us, deeply dedicated to even the seemingly trivial details of our lives.
God’s plan is always worth the wait. I still kick myself for complaining all those years ago. While Di Fara Pizza continues to be family-owned and operated, I’ll never get the chance to have a pie made by Dom himself. Sometimes in my life (okay, most times), I still feel like newly-engaged Rachel, huffing and puffing at the pizza counter, wanting the line to move faster and the pizza to come quicker. One lesson that I’m working on learning this year is to trust God’s plan (and timing), even when it feels foggy, frustrating, and slow.
God’s goodness is too good not to share. Currently, Di Fara Pizza has 53K followers on Instagram, 4.2K reviews on Google, and 4.1K reviews (with 2.5K photos posted) on Yelp. Di Fara Pizza has been featured in a variety of YouTube videos and articles. Many pizza makers in New York City name Dom, and his signature style, as inspiration for their pizzerias. Affectionately cherished, it goes to show — when something, or Someone, is proven tried and true, others will unapologetically share the good news.
Amen and amen, may we always, unapologetically, share the Good News. . .
Friends — which of these life lessons are you currently learning? Comment below and share a little bit about what God is showing you — I’d love to hear your story!
Oh I am drooling. I was born and raised in Brooklyn. And my favorite food is PIZZA. Next week, my 71st birthday I will continue the tradition of having pizza as my birthday meal. I now live in rural Maine so the pizza of my youth is a memory to savor. And like you, I am gluten intolerant. So it will be a gluten free pizza for me. Growing up I had my go to pizza place and it sounds just like the one you visited. The same slow process, one person behind the counter making pizza. I had a slice every day either before dinner or afterwards. I thought it was a touch of heaven on earth. And now, reading this, it makes such sense. God stays the same, is intimately involved, God is worth the wait and too good to share. Thank you for such a delicious insight.
I’ll be honest, at first, when I read the title I thought pizza and God, hmmm!? But then, wow! The perspective is amazing. This was my take away (that will, by the way, stick with me for a LONG time so thank you) God cares so much about us that He prepares each of us carefully, with TLC like the pizza being prepared for its customers. God takes His time, not rushing, causing us to have to wait longer than we’d like sometimes. The other takeaway is just like the pizza place has such a great reputation and the ‘word’ is spread, our God has a reputation for being AMAZING and we keep coming back and spreading His word and His name for others to be able to experience God’s greatness!!
Thank you thank you! (Now I have to have pizza, lol!)
Dear Rachel………..Your words today brought me to tears, as I was married to my husband ( Italian on both his father’s and mothers side ). I am Pennsylvania Dutch. We grew up in an entirely different environment. I learned how to cook Italian and my husband learned to love my kind of food as well. Your pizza story and the picture was just so warming to me and I could actually taste that pizza. Pardon, my drooling. What a truly wonderful engagement story and your husband must really love you for planning all those surprises. We were married 52 years when I noticed that his mind was failing. I managed to get him to a neurologist, but he refused to accept their diagnosis and what he needed to do to slow the progress of this awful disease. Instead of stopping his heavy drinking, he increased it and flushed the medication down the toilet. My son did not believe me and told me I was a liar and no longer, my mother. Heartbreaking things one after another. I prayed so frequently, but now 6 years later, his dementia has progressed to the highest tier. I stayed with him for 3+ years and kept trying to get him back to the doctor, but to no avail and his doctors could not understand why he would not help me. He was 52 at the time. Those 3+ years were very bad for me as he drank so much all afternoon and ate no dinner which through into what they called “Dementia rages” where, every single night he abused me physically as well as emotionally until in 2022, he tried to kill me. That was the end and I was forced to have him evicted from our house of 40 years for my safety. There is so much more, but I have bored you too much. This is where your words written towards the end of the devotion really hit me. The one lesson I am working on this year is to trust God’s plan and timing even when it feels foggy, frustrating and slow. I know God has each of our plans, but as human beings, sometimes we just can’t fight through this. This always reminds me that Jesus went through these difficult times as well and then I get mad at myself. My son has not let me see or even talk to my 1 grandchild for 3 years. He is 14 now. I just can’t seem to forgive my son for doing this. I know his wife hates me, but my son has changed into her over the years. Thank you again Rachel for your wonderful story and the picture of that pizza was definitely Italian. We used to go to South Philadelphia for true, real Italian goodies. I will keep trying and also to be more patient. Your words, Rachel have definitely given me courage and strength to move on. Love and prayers to you and your family today. Betsy Basile
God stays the same is what I’m clinging to now. Several of my family members are facing upheaval in their lives with health issues, both physical and mental, and as they rely on me for support, I need the consistency of God’s peace and strength. On a side note, I’m finding comfort in reading your book The Matter Of Little Losses again. As I’m reading and journaling in the book, my mind and heart find rest.
Loved this article as she describes the realness of life that caused her to reflect on all things good!