What's not to love about Pizza! The Smithsonian magazine (August edition) had an interesting article about Neapolitan Pizza: "The Art of Pizza." You can read the article here.Back in 2002 while visiting Naples, the food was one of the only things I really liked about the city, the traditional home of pizza. Interestingly enough, a law was passed three years ago specifying exactly what real Neapolitan pizza is. For example, the dough must be made from a specific kind of flour and yeast, must be round and no more than 14 inches in diameter, and cooked in a wood fired oven at a temperature above 905 degrees F. The pizzas have top quality ingredients, two of the most famous being San Marzano tomatoes and mozarella di bufala campana.
Currently there is a law being considered by the European Union giving the three offical pizzas Marinara (tomato, garlic, and oregano), Margherita, and Extra Margherita (both with tomato, basil, and Mozzarella) the same name protection as fine wine.
Pizza is taken very seriously in Naples which has a long history with pizza. Pizza was a staple in Naples by the 18th century and was frequently served on ships sailing from the Port of Naples (that is reportedly how Pizza Marinara got its name!). The Margherita pizza was said to be invented in 1889 in Naples when a local pizzaiolo added mozzarella to the tomato and basil to make the pizza the color of the Italian flag: red, white, and green.
The Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN), considered an authority of the true Neapolitan pizza, has started training chefs and certifying restaurants around the world, specifically in Japan and the U.S. about Neapolitan pizza. As of now, 16 restaurants in the U.S. have veen certified by the VPN.
The article features the Ristorante Umberto pictured below, which has been serving pizza in Naples since 1916. Some place to definitely check out!
Ristorante Umberto
Via Alabardieri, 30/31
Piazza dei martiri
Napoli 80121, Campania
+39081418555
Via Alabardieri, 30/31
Piazza dei martiri
Napoli 80121, Campania
+39081418555
To make you even more hungry, check out Ristorante Umberto's pizza menu here. I wonder if they deliver to Charlottesville?!?!?
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2 comments:
Hi there! we are heading to Asciano, small town 20mins from Siena to marry this September and would like a "pizzaiolo" to come to the venue and cook up pizza's for the post wedding luncheon. We thought this would be a more affordable way and a really nice treat for us and our guests. Can you please recommend or know anyone close to Asciano area who would do this?
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