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wood-fired pizza

Wood-fired Pizza Gets “Fired Up” at the Farmers’ Market

January 14, 2020 By marketeditor

By Julia Howard

Fired-Up Pizza, photo by Pattie Garrett

Wood-fired, artisan pizza might be one of the most perfect foods on the planet. Crispy, cheesy, full of flavor — but it has to be done right. Locals Tina Rafferty and Paul Dudka discovered that the best pizza begins with fresh ingredients and the right oven.

Rafferty and Dudka own Fired Up Pizza that ‘opened shop’ at the Saratoga Farmers’ Market just 3 months ago. In that short time, Fired Up has become well known for its breakfast pizza and classic pepperoni, among other 10” specialty pies available every Saturday.

Photo courtesy of Fired Up Pizza

For Rafferty and Dudka, Fired Up Pizza is a pop-up pizza shop and retirement plan all-in-one. “I love the positivity at the farmers’ market,” says Rafferty. “As a new business, it’s a great place to offer and perfect our products, and customers love to watch their pizzas being prepared.”

At the farmers’ market, Dudka runs their custom-built, wood-fired pizza oven just outside the mall entrance. Dudka burns hardwoods to keep the oven at a constant 600 degrees no matter the weather. For him, this temperature guarantees the perfect, crisp crust with the right amount of char. Meanwhile, just inside the building, Rafferty creates pizzas made to order.

“We truly enjoy working together,” said Rafferty on beginning a business with her boyfriend. “And, we both love the farmers’ market,” she adds.

Photo courtesy of Fired Up Pizza

Pursuing a pizza business has meant a lot of trial and error for the couple. One of their biggest challenges has been perfecting their dough recipe to a consistency that, when dusted with cornmeal, will come off a peel without sticking. A ‘peel’ is the shovel-like tool used to slide the pizza into and out of the oven. Rafferty and Dudka have also had to experiment with cook times and temperature while getting to know their wood-fired oven.

Despite these challenges, Rafferty and Dudka’s goals have remained the same: to offer a great artisan pizza with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients.

What’s next for Fired Up Pizza? “We’re always experimenting and taste-testing,” explains Rafferty. “We are looking forward to expanding our offerings to calzones and pizza rolls in the future,” she says. The couple hopes to attend more local events and to offer catering options for private parties and gatherings in the near future. But, for now, you can find them at the Bow Tie entrance at the Wilton Mall serving up fresh pizzas to hungry shoppers every Saturday.

 

This week’s recipe: Breakfast Pizza

Filed Under: Featured Article, homepage feature, News Tagged With: Fired Up Pizza, new vendor, Pizza, ready to eat, winter vendors, wood-fired pizza

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This weekend we have special guests at the Saratog This weekend we have special guests at the Saratoga Farmers' Market for our first pop up holiday crafters market.  They will be joining our regular (and fabulous) weekly vendors for the beginning of our holiday season.  They are here for one week only!!!
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, December 2nd at the Wilton Mall in the Food Court.  The market is open from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. 
#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆 #holidaycraftfair #popupholidaymarket #supportlocallymade
We are the mall until 1:30 today! #saratogafarme We are the mall until 1:30 today! 
#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆 #smallbusinesssaturdaymarket
This week’s vendor specials for the market in ce This week’s vendor specials for the market in celebration of Small Business Saturday.
Saturday - 9:30 to 1:30 at Wilton Mall in the
Food court!
Sweet Treats by Jennifer:
Holiday cookie flavors are here! We'll have our red velvet cookies, decadent millionaire bars and many other delicious sweet treats for you to enjoy
Scotch Ridge Berry & Tree Farm:
Scotch Ridge will be in the market with our farm made all natural Christmas wreaths, Door Swags, Garland, Kissing Balls and pre decorated Table Top Trees.  All greens and trees (like everything) from our farm are produced with no pesticides or herbicides
Jireh Organic Farms & Livestock:
Purchase $40 of meat - get Non-GMO Eggs half price!  GMO Free Pork: Bacon, Hams, Tenderloins, Hot Italian Sausage links, Breakfast Sausage, Ground Pork, Hocks, Organs and more!!  GMO Free Chickens (whole & cut-ups), soup parts, feet for bone 
 #saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆 #smallbusinesssaturdaymarket #supportlocallymade #supportlocallygrown
We are very thankful for everyone who visits us we We are very thankful for everyone who visits us weekly. 
We hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving and look forward to seeing you soon!
#saratogafarmersmarket #saratogafarmersmarket🔆

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