“You can have the best cheese and the best sauce, but if your crust has no flavor it falls short.” – Miriam Weiskind, The Za Report & Yum’s of PDX
Welcome back to our food. curated. documentary series on inspiring food artisans and passionate culinary masters in the food space!
More Than Just Pizza—It’s a Neo-Neapolitan Pizza Movement
For Miriam Weiskind, pizza isn’t just food—it’s a calling. A way to connect, to give back, and to tell a story through dough and fire. From slinging thousands of pies for charity out of her small Brooklyn apartment to spreading the empowering message of The Za Report, Miriam believes that good pizza should do more than just feed people—it should bring them together.
Now, she’s taking that mission cross-country from NYC to Portland, Oregon, where she’s preparing to open Yum’s of PDX, her first full-service pizzeria. But make no mistake—this isn’t just another pizza shop. It’s the next evolution of her signature neo-Neapolitan pizza and a new home for pizza lovers who crave more than just a good slice.
The Crust That Changed Everything
Miriam’s pizza has always been about the crust. Light, airy dough, great crunch, with just the right chew—crafted with patience, love, and a multi-day fermentation process that makes each bite unforgettable. With her pizza, don’t be surprised if you dive in crust first.
“For anyone who has had my crust, you already know—it’s one of a kind,” she says. “50% of it is the magic I bring to it. The other 50%? The time, the care, and the fermentation that makes it sing.”
Even with her move to the West Coast, Miriam stays true to her craft. Portland’s water may be different, the air a little crisper, but the heart of her dough remains the same. “My NYC fans will come visit, and maybe they’ll even move after they taste just how great the pizza has gotten,” she jokes. “OK, OK—maybe I’ll open another Yum’s back in NYC someday.” We can only keep our fingers crossed!
Nevertheless, Miriam knows the key to building a brand is being a BIG FISH in a small pond, not a small fish in a giant NYC ocean. By joining Portland’s growing pizza scene, we hope her voice echos even louder.
The Future of Pizza Is Female
“The very first pie I baked — I say that it was love at first bake.”
Miriam joins a powerful community of female pizzaiolos in Portland—the city with the highest number of female-led pizzerias per capita in the U.S. She’s not just here to make a living; she’s here to inspire the next generation. Prove that women belong at the forefront of the pizza world. More than anything, she’s here to show that taking risks, trusting your gut (and your dough), and building something from scratch are always worth it.
For Miriam, the biggest milestone in Year One is simple: “Getting open, breaking even, and proving that any dream is worth going after if you dare to chase it.”
A Pizzeria With Heart—And a Sauce Flight
Opening a restaurant is never easy—especially as a woman in the pizza industry, doing it solo. But Miriam thrives on challenges. She named the new pizzeria Yum’s after her mom, who lovingly called her “Miri-yumyum.” The space is her way of honoring that memory.
At Yum’s of PDX (located at 830 SE 8th Ave, Portland), she’s creating a space that feels like home. A place where pizza isn’t just eaten—it’s experienced.
“We’ve built Yum’s to be a special place, from the warmth of the space to the way the pizza is served,” she says. “And, well, we have a sauce flight and root beer on draft…” And for a wink back to NYC? Look for her signature Black & White cookies for dessert. (Miriam is secretly cookie-obsessed.)
Her menu will feature the wood-fired neo-Neapolitan pies that made her pop-ups a hit. Plus, a limited run of 7-day Sicilian pizzas each day. As an insider bonus, a select group of lucky locals can even join The Silver Platter Club, earning a custom-engraved pizza tray and free pizza every week for a year. How could you say no to that??
“Everything I’m doing is to honor my mom, to take her legacy, and to continue to do good and to be good to others because kindness is such a small gesture that can carry us so far.”
🔥 Follow along as she builds Yum’s of PDX with tons of love, community, and kindness—and if you’re in Portland, get ready to taste what makes her neo-Neapolitan pizza crust so legendary.
For now, I hope you enjoy Miriam’s fun ORIGIN story. Do you eat all your crusts, I’d love to know!
Thank so much for watching and supporting food. curated. 💜 Happy eating!
xx Skeeter (@SkeeterNYC)