CJ&D’s Trenton Tomato Pies and Eda’s Pizzeria are two establishments that debuted in Philadelphia that both offer styles of pie that are less mainstream, writes Michael Klein for The Philadelphia Inquirer.  

Philadelphia area bakers often use focaccia bread for their tomato pies. But once you cross over into The Garden State, the pie usually incorporates a circular, thin crust.  

The Trenton Tomato Pie is characterized by having cheese on the bottom crust topped with sauce. CJ&D’s can be found inside of South Philadelphia’s Cartesian Brewing.  

Founders Chris (CJ) Volk and Daria Silvestro are actually from Hamilton, New Jersey but have family from Trenton, and Silvestro, she has tomato pie in her blood. Her great-grandfather is the founder of what is regarded as the first Trenton tomato pie shop, Joe’s Tomato Pies, which closed in 1999.  

Lucky’s Trading Company, a Roxborough restaurant, is currently housing Eda’s Pizzeria. The establishment uses a gas oven to bake their New Haven-inspired pizza.  

This pizza has a super-thin charred crush and is usually 18 inches. Chris Barnes named the Pizzeria, which operates outside of the sandwich shop, after his mother.  

Read more about the emergence of these two pizzerias and their eclectic styles in The Philadelphia Inquirer.  

How to make Trenton Tomato Pie.