| Pizza is the sort of food that you can now find | | | | it really is amazing what has been done with the |
| just about anywhere in the world, even though in | | | | dish since it's earliest origins. However, did you |
| its present form it started in Naples, Italy many | | | | know that in Italy, there are three types of |
| years ago. At its most basic it is simple a round | | | | 'official' pizza, distinguished as 'guaranteed |
| crust covered with tomato sauce and cheese--or | | | | traditional specialty'? These certified pizzas are |
| sometimes, just a crust covered with tomato | | | | allowed to come in only three variants which are |
| sauce--pizza has become many different things to | | | | very specifically defined by the Gods of Pizzadom. |
| many different people all across the earth. | | | | The first of the three types is Pizza marinara. |
| If you go fom one region of the planet to | | | | This variant is made with garlic, tomato, oregano, |
| another, you'll come across all sorts of variety in | | | | and extra virgin olive oil. Notice that there's no |
| flavor, texture, size, toppings, just about | | | | cheese! However, most pizza joints in the real |
| everything. One of the best kinds of pizza is | | | | Naples also add basil to their sauces as well, |
| Gainesville pizza. Some restaurants stick to the | | | | although no arrests have been made yet. |
| basic with things like cheese, sausage, onion, | | | | The second of these three types is the Pizza |
| pepperoni, and that kind of thing. Other places | | | | margherita. You've probably had this sort of pizza, |
| branch out and include eggplant, potatoes, duck, | | | | or something like it, at one time or another. It is |
| lobster, foie gras--you name it, and you can get | | | | tasty variation enjoyed by many which uses |
| just about anything onto a pizza pie. Even | | | | tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, and olive oil. |
| once-"weird" toppings like pineapple have become | | | | Certified or not, this one's really good. |
| the norm in the Untied States. | | | | The last official type is the Pizza margherita extra. |
| Ancient Greece seems to be the absolute | | | | This is just a different version of the pizza |
| farthest we can trace back the idea of the pizza. | | | | margherita which uses a very special and |
| Long ago, Greeks used to cover special round, | | | | particular type of cheese. So if you're honest with |
| flat breads with all sorts of thing, like olive oils, | | | | yourself, that really leaves two different real |
| herbs and spices, and of course, a variety of | | | | variations on what officials in Italy actually consider |
| cheese. Around the same time, those in Rome | | | | to be pizzas. |
| enjoyed a dish called placenta (not the one you're | | | | On top fitting this specific list of ingredients, actual |
| thinking of!). That was made by taking thin piece | | | | pizza must also follow several more rules. The |
| of a particularly floury dough, covering it with | | | | dough must formed by hand, without the use of |
| cheese and honey, and flavoring it with bay | | | | a rolling pin or machine, and it cannot be more |
| leaves. That said, though, the absolute first dish | | | | than 3 millimeters thick. The product is to be |
| that resembles pizza in its modern form came | | | | baked for no less than 60 second and no more |
| from Naples around a hundred years ago, and it | | | | than 90 seconds in a 900 degree oven with an |
| was basically just a crust with tomato on it. | | | | oak fire. Can you imagine those regulations? I |
| Cheese wasn't even added until much later! | | | | wonder if there's a guy stationed in the |
| I know we talked already about the different | | | | restaurant with calipers, rules, and thermometers, |
| kinds of pizza to be found all over the world--and | | | | getting in everybody's way. |