Tomato
Organic tomatoes, gremolata (olive oil, parsley, garlic, lemon zest)
Pizza Week 2026 Participant
Two Bridges · ManhattanHots
Pizza
The Shop
The Story
From Starter to Storefront
The team behind Little Canal is now serving up New York-style sourdough pizza and slices at Hots Pizza on the Lower East Side. Owners Gorretti Layco and Jereme Barnas got their start the way a lot of people did during the pandemic — experimenting with sourdough.
They made their own starter and read everything they could find on fermentation, hydration, and flour. After plenty of trial and error — and no shortage of under- and over-proofed loaves — they started baking focaccia daily for Little Canal, and eventually began tinkering with pizza.
A tip from a friend led them to a nearby pizza shop available for rent. With their original starter in hand, they opened Hots at the top of 2026 — and the rest is history.
Owners
Gorretti Layco and Jereme Barnas
Pizza Week Special Slice
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The Special Slice
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