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Is it true that pizza in Italy comes without cheese?

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Is it true that pizza in Italy comes without cheese?

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Old Nov 11th, 2003, 11:29 AM
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Is it true that pizza in Italy comes without cheese?

Someone told me this. Are they just pulling my leg?
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Old Nov 11th, 2003, 11:30 AM
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depends whether or not it's a cheese pizza
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Old Nov 11th, 2003, 11:31 AM
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Cheese or no cheese, you make the call.
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Old Nov 11th, 2003, 02:02 PM
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Depends on what kind you order. The best pizza I ever tasted in Italy had not a shred of cheese on it. Only little grape tomatoes and basil, with a seasoning of salt. De-lish!!!!
 
Old Nov 11th, 2003, 02:27 PM
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On a pizza menu, each ingredient will be listed for each type of pizza. Some may not have cheese, so read carefully. Also, it will probably have less cheese than an American pizza.
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Old Nov 11th, 2003, 02:47 PM
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...yes and there are many small places that sell pizza by weight. There may be 4-8 pizzas on the warming table. You can buy a piece of each and then they charge you according to weight. Great pizza.
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Old Nov 11th, 2003, 07:19 PM
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And pizza (pizze, plural) can refer to a type of more or less ("just&quot bread - - rich with oil, and vaguely reminiscent of what is sometimes offered as bruschetta, in the United states.

It's all good.

Best wishes,

Rex
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Old Nov 11th, 2003, 07:26 PM
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The pizza selection is vast. Some places do offer pizza with just sauce and no cheese, pizza with olive oil and roasted veg and some offer a pizza with rucola and freshly sliced parmegiano. The crusts are thin and airy not thick as cake nor stuffed. Try it all you won't be disappointed.
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Old Nov 12th, 2003, 04:47 AM
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Hi,

I also discovered that, at least in the South, Italians eat pizza and French fries, sometimes pizza with fries on top.
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Old Nov 12th, 2003, 05:07 AM
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We had pizza several times in Italy, and it always had cheese.Other toppings such as meats, artichokes, mushrooms, etc were usually available. I believe what we would consider a sauce & cheese pizza is called pizza margherita(?) in Italy.
Most trattorias server 'individual' sized pizzas.- Beware of the pizzas at eating establishments called 'snack bars', it's almost always frozen pizza.
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Old Nov 12th, 2003, 05:08 AM
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reminds me of a programme I saw last week about the origins of pizza and how to make a good one. They showed a pizza "academy" in Naples where they demonstrated the way to make a perfect Neopolitan pizza (wood-fired ovens etc etc).

They then cut to a director of Domino Pizza Co. explaining how they've mastered the art of the perfect pizza, using gas-fired ovens, analysing the prcise toppings to bread ratio etc etc. He explained "Italy may have invented the pizza, but I think we've refined it beyond anything the italians would produce".

He was then asked:
"Have you ever eaten pizza in Italy?"
"No, but I'm sure ours are better".

Speaks for itself really. The real difference in Italy is the fresh, pure ingredients. Be adventurous, unlike Mr Domino, and try one without cheese just for the hell of it.
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Old Nov 12th, 2003, 05:15 AM
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Darling, someone's pulling more than just your leg.
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Old Nov 12th, 2003, 05:17 AM
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Kate, you've got to be kidding me! Thanks for the laugh. Do you remember Domino's old slogan, "We don't sell pizza, we sell delivery"? They said it!
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Old Nov 12th, 2003, 06:03 AM
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I love the thin crispy crusted Italian pizzas with light toppings. Anymore the thick, stuffed with cheese American pizzas make me feel ill.
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Old Nov 12th, 2003, 07:12 AM
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Believe it or not I had my first "Italian" pizza in an Italian restaurant in Paris and loved it (don't laugh, I had my first escargot in Santa Fe, NM). Learned later in Italy that it was indeed authentic. I too much prefer the thin crust and just a few toppings with or without cheese. It makes a great lunch with beer or a glass of wine. We have also had slices of pizza rather than the whole individual size that was pretty good.

Had to laugh at Kate's description of the program she saw. I personally hate Domino's pizza and "Mr. Domino" is either daft or in a dreamworld to even compare his product to Italian pizza, let alone claim it is superior.

Lex, hope you enjoy the pizza. It is different, unlike the American thinking that more is better, the fewer toppings and thin crust IMO make it much tastier.
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Old Nov 12th, 2003, 09:03 AM
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NOw that I'm hungry, the best "pizza" I had was at Il Forno on Campo di Fiori, was heavenly thin dough with tomato and basil---MMMM, wish I had some now!
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Old Nov 12th, 2003, 09:13 AM
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One delicious Italian pizza had thinly sliced potatoes and olive oil drizzled over. Lots of times you'll find pizza kiosks where you order by the slice and there will be several different varieties from which to choose--they hand it to you on a napkin or piece of butcher paper and off you go.
 
Old Nov 12th, 2003, 09:37 AM
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DH and I have a constant battle about Dominos.

He likes the pizza, I abhor Mr. Domino's politics. He is only allowed to order Dominos when I'm not home.

The vision of french fries atop pizza is truly revolting, imo.
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Old Nov 12th, 2003, 11:35 AM
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Koschka: If you're revolted by the vision of french fries on pizza, I can't imagein what you'd think of poutine--but that's a subject best left to the Canada board!
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Old Nov 12th, 2003, 01:18 PM
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laverendrye,

I've sampled haggis, so I'm not a nervous eater. I guess I can just imagine the feeling of my arteries hardening as I nosh.

"Poutine is a French-Canadian concoction
comprised of french fries, gravy, and cheese curds."

Who knew?

From: http://www.yrth.net/insects/poutine.php

"Because everyone deserves to die of a heart attack before they hit forty, the Quebecois invented poutine. Poutine is the best thing to happen to the potato since just about....ever. Essentially, what you have is a dish made of fries slathered in gravy and cheese curds. Often times people substitute melted mozarella or similar cheeses instead of using actual curds. This usually works."

What, no velveeta?
Koshka is offline  


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