Pizza has been in the United States for centuries, and it has changed quite a bit over the years. Italians would certainly recognize American pizza as pizza, but they would also be quick to tell us that we’re making it wrong. But they wouldn’t say so if they came to Cello’s Farmhouse Italian! At Cello’s, we make our pizza according to the Italian tradition, which sets it apart from the food you get at an ordinary pizza shop.
So how is traditional Italian pizza different from typical Italian-American food? Let’s find out!
Thin and Crispy Crust
Traditional Italian pizza crust only has four ingredients: flour, water, yeast, and salt. The dough rises for several hours before we shape it into thin, round crusts. To get the baked texture right, the pizza is traditionally cooked in a wood-fired oven at a very high temperature for only a few minutes.
Simple and Fresh Ingredients
While Americans are used to loading up their pizza with lots of toppings, that’s not the traditional way. Traditional pizza uses only a few simple ingredients for toppings. The most common are tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. If you prefer a bit more on your pizza, black olives, mushrooms, artichokes, and prosciutto are also common. At Cello’s, you can try one of our specialty pizzas or make your own from our list of toppings.
Perfect Sauce and Cheese
Ideally, tomato sauce for pizza would be made from San Marzano tomatoes, which grow in the volcanic soil near Mount Vesuvius. These tomatoes are sweet with low acidity, making them ideal for pizza sauce. However, food that is easy to get in the home country of Naples isn’t so easy to source here. But there are plenty of fresh varieties that grow locally, which make an excellent sauce.
Of course, we can’t forget the cheese! Traditional mozzarella is made from buffalo milk, which gives it the perfect creamy texture. Rather than grating and spreading the cheese across the pizza, the traditional way is to place slices on the pizza so they melt and fill the area.
Proper Pizza Etiquette
Many of us wouldn’t dream of eating pizza with a knife and fork, but that’s how you’re supposed to do it! Traditionally, pizza is served uncut because the thin crust can’t support the toppings if you slice it. But if you decide to eat your food with your fingers, we promise not to tell!
