Need help identifying secret ingredient

[bad-hat-harry]

Hi All,

Growing up I always had this local NY style pizzeria that was the best pizza I ever ate.  It had a very unusual taste in that even a plain cheese pizza had a VERY slight mushroom-like flavor.  Don't get me wrong, I don't really think it had mushrooms in it - it was just mushroom-like.  I never tasted anything like it.  Well, years later the pizza shop closes down and I assumed I will never have a pizza that great again.  One summer I took a vacation to Niagara falls on the canadian side and decided to try a pizzeria called Antica pizzeria.  While the pizza was quite different (it was like a margarita) it had that same mushroom-like flavor!  I can't figure out what it could be.  I'm pretty certain it is the cheese that has that flavor but I'm pretty unfamiliar with most cheeses.  Maybe mushroom-like isn't the best word to describe the taste but it is the closest I can think of.

Can anyone help solve this 10 year old mystery?

Bill

[Snowman]

Could it have been YEAST?  Mushrooms are fungi, and yeast is well... yeast, but they have a relation in the "crap that grows all by itself". 

It may also have been a whole milk cheese vs part-skim that most places use. 

I'd bet you though if you called that place, spoke to the owner, and asked, you might get an answer.  If there's anything we like, it's talking about our masterpieces. 

[bad-hat-harry]

Thanks,  It's definitely in the toppings, though.  Is there any kind of cheese with this characteristic?

Bill

[Rjfpicc]

what about provolone cheese? That has a unique flavor and taste?

rjfpicc

[Pete-zza]

Could it have been truffle oil? It's expensive but you don't need very much.

Peter

[scott r]

this is a really yummy to get a truffle/mushroom flavor.  I mix it with olive oil than drizzle over the pie for a change of pace.

http://www.zigantetartufi.com/eng/index.php3?p=3