For travelers wanting an authentic taste of Italian pizza, the obvious choice is to fly across the pond to indulge in the real thing, right? That, or just go to Leña Pizza + Bagels in the Mississippi Delta.
On Wednesday, Leña owner and founder Marisol Doyle received recognition in Naples, Italy, when her Cleveland pizzeria was named among the top 50 in the world. 50 Top Pizza named Leña the 38th-best pizzeria in the entire world.
Leña is known for, as the name suggests, serving pizza and bagels in the heart of the rural Mississippi Delta. With a unique blend of music and culinary history, Mississippi is the perfect place for a highly recognized restaurant like Leña.
“Leña, which translates to firewood, makes dough from scratch and brings it to life with traditional proofing practices,” the pizzeria wrote on its website. “Our pizza is inspired by pizzaiolos (professionals trained in pizza making) of Naples, Italy, and we strive for memorable bagels that are enhanced by the blistering of our wood-fired brick oven.”
Leña was not only among the top 50 pizzerias in the world, but it was also recently named the 9th best in the United States.
Doyle has worked in the restaurant industry for more than 20 years, gaining valuable experience studying at the prestigious Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana in Naples, Italy, and at Scuola di Pizzaiolo just outside the city. However, she didn’t start working with dough until 2016, when she started her bagel company in the Magnolia state.
With a weekly rotating menu, Leña caters to all palates and pizza lovers, no matter the preference.
“We’re on a mission to share food that’s handmade and heartfelt.”