By Elise Meade
When you think about Italian food, pizza is probably one of the first things that comes to your mind. In the late 1800s, pizza was invented in Naples, and it quickly became popular due to its tastiness and quickness to prepare. Pizza was brought to the United States in 1905 by Italian immigrants, when the first pizzeria opened in New York. Since then, pizza quickly became popularized across the country and eventually the whole world. The simple dish of dough, tomato sauce, and cheese makes pizza adaptable to a variety of people and cultures, which is why pizza has become so successful globally.
In Italy, pizza became popular as a festive food, typically enjoyed with friends. Pizza is associated with going out because it is meant to be eaten fresh out of the oven. Also, the act of eating pizza is more intimate, as it is hard to eat pizza without being messy. For these reasons, pizza is generally associated with lovers in Italian culture, whereas pasta is associated with the family since it is easier to make at home.
In Southern Italy, people pride themselves on their pizza; in many ways, pizza chefs are comparable to celebrities there. The pizzaiolo or pizza chef, knows the exact amount of time for the pizza to cook, down to the second. In addition, one of the fundamental secrets to cooking pizza is stretching the dough by hand; rolling pins are forbidden! Many are familiar with the Margherita pizza, a pizza made in Napoli after the unification of Italy in 1889 to honor Queen Margherita. The colors of the pizza were made to mimic the colors of the Italian flag, and thus the pizza is topped with tomatoes (red), mozzarella (white), and basil (green). This is what is known as the classic Neapolitan pizza today.
When we visited Napoli, I tried the Margherita pizza, and it was indeed the best pizza I had ever had. Naples really knows what they are doing! However, I did find it really interesting that they expect you to cut the pizza yourself and eat it with a knife and fork here. The pizza is generally more gooey and soft, so it makes sense, but as Americans, we were struggling a bit to cut up the crust. After seeing this, the waiter even brought out a steak knife for one of us!
In Naples, they also make a pizza fritta, or fried pizza which was invented in the 1940s as a result of poverty during World War II. This was because Naples experienced a lot of bombings, and many of their pizza ovens were destroyed. As a result, pizza fritta was born, and it is now known as “the pizza of the people.”
I found that the pizza we ate in Rome was much different compared to the Neapolitan we had. Roman pizza has a crunchier crust, and it is easier to cut and eat by hand. One of my favorite parts about the pizzerias in Rome is that you can see all the types of pizzas on the counter and order whichever type of pizza you like, and then show them where to cut your portion so you can have exactly how much you want!
However, both Neapolitan and Roman pizza connoisseurs can agree that a good pizza consists of dry (not oily!) crust, with the edges scorched and bubbling. The sauce should be spread in a light layer, and the center of the pizza should be golden and gooey. One of the secrets to cooking a good pizza is to use a pizza oven that is over 400 °C. After eating pizza in Italy, I think that I will now be disappointed with any American pizza that I try in the future.
Over the years, Americans have come up with all sorts of bizarre pizza toppings such as pineapple and french fries. While there are a variety of toppings to choose from in Italy, the most popular pizza, the Margherita, is made from just 4 ingredients. It seems to be a common trend in Italian food where they let the ingredients speak for themselves, which is actually much more delicious than piling on different toppings and cheese! This seems to be a trend not only in just pizza, but also in other Italian cuisine. I believe this is because the produce here is much more fresh, as American produce typically is grown with lots of chemicals and pesticides. The produce here tastes so much better, and I have to admit that Italy has even converted me from someone who used to ask for no tomatoes to a tomato lover!
Italian cuisine is not only delicious, but it brings people together to bond over delicious meals. In Italian culture, eating is an event where you can catch up with friends and family, sharing stories and laughter throughout the meal. Ultimately, pizza allows people to share the experience of enjoying tomatoes and cheese on top of a gooey crust, all while in good company.
About the Author
Elise Meade is currently studying mathematics and chemistry at Colorado State University. She grew up in College Station, Texas, but hopes to stay in Colorado after finishing school. Her hobbies include hiking, camping, hanging out with her dog and just being outside in general! Currently, she works in a laboratory on campus studying plant pigments, but in the future, she hopes to go graduate school for medicine. She would also like to thank Dr. Carl and Dr. Julia for putting together such an amazing trip, and for being more than teachers but also friends and mentors to us as we navigate living in a new country.
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