I tried Italy's Best Pizza and Total Rip Offs!

Summary

Join the host on an exciting pizza journey through Naples, Italy, where they explore a variety of pizzas—from the iconic Margherita to deep-fried and potato-topped creations. With visits to famous pizzerias like Pizzeria Brandi, Sorbillo, and Suable, the host compares traditional recipes with innovative, unexpected variations. Along the way, they discover surprising flavors, with the standout being Pizza Foko, a unique potato pizza. The video captures not only the culinary delights of Naples but also the rich history and creativity that make Neapolitan pizza a global phenomenon.

Takeaways

• 😀 Naples is the birthplace of pizza, and the narrator explores both traditional and innovative pizza varieties in the city.
• 😀 Pizza Brandi is where the iconic Margherita pizza was created for Queen Margherita, made in the same original oven with traditional ingredients.
• 😀 Pizza portolio is a quick, street-food-style pizza in Naples, offering convenience but not the highest quality.
• 😀 Pizzeria Sorbillo gained fame through the movie 'Eat, Pray, Love,' offering a larger and wetter version of the traditional Margherita pizza.
• 😀 Pizza Fritta is a deep-fried pizza filled with mozzarella, cured meats, and a touch of tomato sauce, providing a completely different texture from traditional pizza.
• 😀 Pizza Foko, made with mashed potatoes, is one of the most unique pizzas the narrator tried, with a soft and marshmallow-like dough and a delicious combination of toppings.
• 😀 The dough for Pizza Foko has 90% hydration, making it challenging to work with, but the chef masterfully handles it to create a light and fluffy pizza.
• 😀 The number one-rated pizzeria in the world offers a highly anticipated pizza experience, but the simple Margherita pizza did not meet the narrator's expectations.
• 😀 The number one pizza in the world turned out to be a steamed, fried, and baked creation, topped with anchovies and olives, delivering exceptional flavor.
• 😀 After trying various pizzas, the narrator declares Pizza Foko as the most creative and flavorful, making it their top pick despite others being highly rated.

Q & A

What is the significance of Pizza Brandi in Naples?

Pizza Brandi is historically significant as the birthplace of the Margherita pizza, which was created for royalty with the colors of the Italian flag—tomato, mozzarella, and basil. It's considered a must-try for anyone visiting Naples.

How does the pizza at Pizza Brandi compare to other pizzas in the video?

The pizza at Pizza Brandi is a traditional, classic Margherita pizza, and is made in the same way it was for the queen. It offers a rich taste of history and authentic Neapolitan pizza, unlike the more modern variations or convenience-driven pizzas featured later in the video.

What is Pizza Portolio, and how does it differ from other types of pizza?

Pizza Portolio is a street food-style pizza that is convenient, fast, and easy to eat on the go. It is less about quality and craftsmanship, offering a quick, inexpensive option compared to traditional Neapolitan pizza.

What role did the movie *Eat Pray Love* play in the popularity of Pizzeria Sorbillo?

The movie *Eat Pray Love* helped make Pizzeria Sorbillo famous, but the video clarifies that it is not the birthplace of the original pizza. While Sorbillo’s pizza is large and flavorful, the video emphasizes that the true birthplace of the Margherita pizza is Pizza Brandi.

What makes Pizza Frita unique compared to traditional pizza?

Pizza Frita is a deep-fried pizza, which involves filling the pizza with cheese and cured meats, then deep frying it. This method gives it a completely different texture and flavor, making it crispy on the outside while the cheese inside has a unique taste due to the frying process.

How does the pizza dough at Chef Roberto’s pizzeria differ from others?

Chef Roberto’s pizza dough is highly hydrated (90%), making it extremely difficult to work with. This hydration level results in a dough that is both soft and crunchy, contributing to the unique texture of the pizza once baked.

What is the key ingredient on Chef Roberto’s Pizza Foco, and why is it special?

The key ingredient on Chef Roberto’s Pizza Foco is mashed potatoes. Although it may seem unconventional, the combination of the creamy potatoes with other toppings like ham, cream, and cheese results in a light, fluffy, and surprisingly delicious pizza.

What special feature does Chef Roberto’s oven have, and how does it affect the pizza?

Chef Roberto’s oven has a 'boost feature' that allows the chef to increase the fire’s intensity by stepping on a pedal. This feature helps cook the highly hydrated dough faster, producing a pizza with a unique texture where the crust remains light and the bottom doesn't get overly charred.

Why does the host consider Pizza Foco the best pizza of the trip?

Pizza Foco is considered the best pizza because of its creative and unexpected use of mashed potatoes, the light and fluffy texture of the dough, and the perfect combination of flavors. The host describes it as the most unique and delicious pizza of the entire journey.

What were the host’s expectations for the number one-rated pizzeria, and how did they fare?

The host had very high expectations for the number one-rated pizzeria, especially after waiting a long time to get in. However, the classic Margherita pizza did not meet these expectations, as it was described as heavy and chewy rather than the light and crunchy crust typical of Neapolitan pizza.

What unique cooking method is used at the number one-rated pizzeria?

The number one-rated pizzeria uses a unique cooking method that involves steaming, frying, and then baking the pizza. This process, along with toppings like anchovies and olives, gives the pizza a unique flavor and texture that the host finds outstanding, especially when compared to other pizzas.