The owner of Focella, Giulio Adriani is a famous Italian pizza maker. Join more than three million BBC Travel fans by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. The first time I met 82-year-old Fernanda Miano was on a sweltering afternoon in early August. She, like many of her friends, has parents and grandparents eager to pass on the stories about the city’s traditions and history – including pizza fritta. 7am-4pm and 7pm-midnigh (Directions), The New Life of Pie: Firing Up Naples’ Pizza Ovens, Pizzeria ‘Ntretella: New Pies on the Block. COVID-19: Visiting the Backstreets, Safely and Sustainably. There aren’t many people like her left,” she told me. Pizza fritta translates directly to “fried pizza,” so its popularity isn’t hard to understand. Arret’ ‘e case nove is an area called “behind the new houses.” It’s not easy to find Masardona’s pizzeria in that maze of narrow streets between Via Amerigo Vespucci (Via Marina) and Corso Arnaldo Lucci. Pizza Fritta is an Italian fried pizza recipe straight from Naples, topped with garlicky tomato sauce, chunks of mozzarella and fresh basil leaves. Antica Pizza Fritta da Zia Esterina Sorbillo (Piazza Trieste E Trento, 53), a fried pizza legend owned by the most famous pizza group in the city, and by association, the world. Fried pizza is as Neapolitan as buffalo mozzarella. The less desirable parts of vegetables, like artichoke stems, were also used. These fried Neapolitan pizzas are a very famous delicacy from the Naples region of Italy. These traditions of frying food, however, dipped in popularity over time. Cooked until perfectly golden brown, the montanara pizza is served hot yet fresh on the palette with the toppings lathered on once it has been fried. Pizzeria De Figliole. Post navigation. Dubbed “the pizza of the people”, street vendors – including Miano’s family – sold the item to struggling customers as “a ogge a otto”, meaning they could eat it that day and pay for it eight days later. “Fernanda is a true Neapolitan woman. Next Post Next post: Naples Smartphone Sightseeing Walk – Centrale/ Mercato/ … She beamed whenever a neighbour stopped to chat or someone waved from a motorbike as they whizzed by. See more of Take a Trip to Southern Italy on Facebook Starita. A Naples Pizza Guide: Where to find the best pizza in Naples Italy, the history of pizza, & tips to make the most of your pizza experience. Miano was not surprised that I was curious about her. And that applies to Masardona’s pizza being one of the best in the city. Cinotto notes that people in Italy started to become more health-conscious in the 1980s and ‘90s. When I returned a few weeks later to see Miano again, she was sitting again in the plastic chair outside her store, this time sans cigarette. Tagged Campania Fried Pizza Italy Street Food Naples Napoli Street Food Pizza Pizza Fritte Pizza Fritte Napoli Pizza Napoli Restaurant Naples Italy Restaurant Napoli Street Food. It comes in many forms in the streets of Naples, and, now, in the frozen aisles of Trader Joe’s, it comes in the form of Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic & Pesto Pizza with Deep Fried Crust. Fried pizza is mature and can handle the journey! Can you believe this homemade pizza is ready in 10 minutes – the secret is frying the dough! Pizza fritta is the lesser-known cousin of Neapolitan pizza. If the pizza is native to Naples, these delicious pizzas, or ‘pizzelle’ as they are called there, are even more so. ... (The Gold of Naples). She opened her eponymous, all-women-run restaurant two years ago in Naples’ Rione Sanità neighbourhood after working at Pizzeria Gino Sorbillo at and La Masardona, both hot spots hailed for their pizza fritta. A few skillful, fast movements – part of the family legacy – and the pizza is immersed in hot oil for what seem like only a few seconds. Montanara Pizza is a mouth-watering, crispy fried pizza dough with its origins in the mountains of pizza heaven – Naples. While it may be difficult to determine pizza fritta’s exact origins, 22-year-old Francesca Stanziola, a Naples local who manages the bed and breakfast Museo19, believes the food is an emblem of Neapolitan pride. Fried food = delicious. After a few deft spins by the wife at the fryer, the pizza is ready, scorchingly hot, delicious. If you aren’t tired of eating fried food, a stop that’s less historic but certainly satisfying – a step away from Piazza Plebiscito – is the fried pizza of Zia Esterina (also by Sorbillo), the fried food establishment that the pizza maker has dedicated to his beloved aunt, who ran the “Quattro tavoli” pizzeria. One of those popular pizzerias is owned by 27-year-old Isabella de Cham. Indeed, they represent a tasty reinterpretation of the traditional pizza. Previous Post Previous post: How I got a FREE Flight with Lufthansa to Naples in Italy, thanks to Miles & More. He also cites pizza fritta’s affiliation with the lower classes as a reason for it losing its allure during this time period. It sounds fancy, but fortunately, this little slice of Italy won’t cost you an expensive plane ticket; thanks to each 14.1-ounce Trader Joe’s Roasted Garlic & Pesto Pizza , you can experience Naples for just $5.99 . It’s located behind the Loreto Mare Hospital; once you’ve made it near the hospital, the best way to find it quickly is to just ask someone, “Where is pizzeria Masardona?”. About 10 years ago, Antonio Starita, the pizzeria's third-generation pizzaiolo, began first frying the dough, topping it with sauce and cheese, and then baking it an oven, just like a regular pizza. Fried pizza? Miano wrapped the end result in paper and handed it to me. When I was little, I would always have pizza fritta on Sunday mornings,” she recalled. Sign up for our weekly newsletter for exclusive stories, promotions and activities. 19 posted on 12/14/2020 … But Miano seemed more pleased about her status as a local legend. When most people think of Neapolitan pizza, also known as Naples-style pizza, they think of thin-crust pizza baked in a wood-fired brick oven. And for those of you who love crust, you're in luck. He added that the technology and market for fried foods existed and was documented in Italy since well before World War Two, but that pizza fritta was likely a specific result that emerged from the crisis. The founder was Anna’s grandmother (nicknamed “Masardona”); then Carmela took over, and now there’s Enzo, Carmela’s son, the wise entrepreneur, the philosopher of fried pizza, who carefully ensures that each of the pizzas produced meets his very high standards. While the taste of oven-baked pizza changes in delivery, that of fried pizza remains almost unaltered. Finally, the concoction was flash fried in oil until the filling had melted and the outside was crisp and puffy. 7am-4pm and 7pm-midnigh (, Via Giulio Cesare Capaccio 27, Tel. “I’m very busy and can only talk to you when I’m working,” she said. Unable to access – let alone afford – traditional pizza, locals began deep-frying dough and using lower-quality ingredients – such as anchovies and broccoli – purchased spoiled or out of season to make what became known as pizza fritta. Gino has reproduced its layout in one of the rooms of his restaurant. For those who can’t finish a full pie, there’s the battilocchio, a half portion. We ate this battilocchio sized fried pie as part of our self-guided Naples pizza tour. A real highlight of my visit to Naples the home of pizza. Pizza, as you might already know, was born in Naples. Enzo runs a very efficient business. She shot to international stardom shortly after. Choose between making a pizza margherita, marinara or a fried pizza and for 2 hours you will be a professional pizza maker. If you liked this story, sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter called "The Essential List". Starita - One of the oldest pizzerias in Naples, Starita has been owned and operated by the same family for 110 years and four generations. Naples-born Gino Sorbillo, Italy’s famed pizzaiuolo, made one for me recently explaining, “Pizza fritta comes in different shapes. You might say that baked pizza is like a small child who suffers from a car ride. You may also be interested in: • How to make pizza like a Neapolitan master • New York's 'real' Little Italy • Georgia's addictive cousin to pizza. 1947 pizza fritta, Naples: See 932 unbiased reviews of 1947 pizza fritta, rated 4.5 of 5 on Tripadvisor and ranked #49 of 3,337 restaurants in Naples. It is famous all over the world, but only here is the real one! Taste some of the best pizza in Naples on our walk! A bit of pepper is added, and then Enzo punches all around the sides of the pizza to ensure that the filling won’t leak. She then added scoops of crushed tomatoes, pork scratchings, mozzarella and ricotta. And although Neapolitans have raised pizzamaking in the oven to an art form, their skill at turning out fried pizza is even greater. From pizza to fried delights, visitors will quickly find Naples is a city of food and we share what you must try! Enzo’s sons are the fourth generation of a family that has been operating this fry house since 1947. Surprisingly, considering it's fried, by no means is this fried pizza greasy. There’s not much in the way of seating at the pizzeria, just a few stools inside and a couple of tables on the small sidewalk outside. De Figliole is a bit of a stand-out restaurant on our list as it exclusively sells … Do not miss the opportunity to learn how to make a real Neapolitan pizza in the "pizza workshops" of Naples, the city where the most famous dish in the world was created! This is now being served in several restaurants in New York, as well as in other cities in the … Deep-fried pizza dough without toppings has been sold as street food in Naples since 1910, originally at the pizza shop Starita. She watched as I bit into it and she asked, “Buono?” (“Good?”). I noticed that this happened very frequently. It's been sold in Naples, Italy by restaurants like Fiorenzano and Pizzerie Starita, for decades and decades. In our city this product was born, today it is known all over the world. No matter which style you like, whether it is margarita, calzone, fried pizza, or a more gourmet recipe, you'll be salivating by the time your pizza is ready. Sorbillo: Best fried pizza in Naples - See 18,763 traveler reviews, 7,147 candid photos, and great deals for Naples, Italy, at Tripadvisor. More All day long the fried pizzas are delivered by scooter to the most remote parts of the city. Italy's Beloved 'Fried Pizza' BBC ^ | Erik Hobert Posted on 12/13/2020 9:47:37 PM PST by nickcarraway “Pizza fritta”, the lesser-known cousin of Neapolitan pizza, emerged as a result of poverty amid World War Two and was known as “the pizza of the people”. Doubly delicious! On Via Materdei. Fluffy, airy, saucy and crisp are some of the words that can best describe fried pizza. One of the highlights of the menu is the so-called "Horn of Maradona", A fried pizza in the shape of u stuffed with ricotta and cicioli. Filling yet light, not stodgy or greasy, cheap and super tasty. In 2018, British chef Jamie Oliver visited her to learn how to make pizza fritta himself. The dish is so highly regarded that Unesco granted it World Heritage status in 2017. Pizza, as you might already know, was born in Naples. It’s called Pizza Fritta da Fernanda and the menu consists of just pizza fritta (fried pizza) in two sizes: grande (large) for €3 and piccola (small) for €2. Just like in that movie, Enzo Piccirillo and his sons prepare the dough and his wife fries the pizza to perfection using traditional tools. Fried pizza might have always been around, but Enzo knows that only consistently high quality will ensure that his family’s business will last. Miano, who is lovingly referred to by locals and tourists as “Nonna Fernanda”, learned from her mother how to make pizza fritta on this very street, where the family business has been running for decades. “Pizza fritta”, the lesser-known cousin of Neapolitan pizza, emerged as a result of poverty amid World War Two and was known as “the pizza of the people”. Pizza = delicious. But not everyone is convinced that pizza fritta’s origins are as straightforward as portrayed in popular culture. And although Neapolitans have raised pizzamaking in the oven to an art form, their skill at turning out fried pizza is even greater. Fried pizza is an ideal way to combine two Naples specialties, pizza and fried snacks, in one fell swoop. I nodded. He benefits from the fact that fried pizza lends itself to home delivery. Fried pizza is one of the most popular street foods in Naples. Pizza Montanara became famous in Italy thanks to the movie “L’oro di Napoli” (The Gold of Naples) directed by Vittorio De Sica. It emerged as a result of poverty during World War Two, when Naples suffered roughly 200 air raids by the Allies, according to Simone Cinotto, associate professor of modern history at the Università di Scienze Gastronomiche in Pollenzo, Italy, and author of The Italian American Table: Food, Family, and Community in New York City. She decided that she wanted to elevate pizza fritta’s image from “old-school” ingredients – like Nonna Fernanda’s pork scratchings – and created a menu dedicated to elegant variations such as crispy octopus, seared escarole and Stilton cheese. She flashed a proud and knowing look, something between a smile and a smirk. “Whatever you fry becomes palatable,” Cinotto said. A fried pizza from Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba. Di Matteo. Already in 1800 in Naples you could taste the famous pizza. A handpicked selection of stories from BBC Future, Culture, Worklife and Travel, delivered to your inbox every Friday. If you can’t get to Naples, make Gino’s fried pizza at home wit the recipe below. Neapolitan pizza is also the inspiration behind New York-style pizza, which Italian immigrants introduced to the United States in the early 20th Century. But De Cham says she noticed that when she first entered the food industry, many people viewed her favourite dish as “junk food” and avoided it. [Yes], that’s all true. ... Pizza Fritta: Deep-fried pizza, stuffed with tomatoes, cheese, and other toppings; Pizza Portafoglio: A street pizza placed … https://yourguardianchef.com/neapolitan-fried-dough-pizza-recipe According to Cinotto, the urban, middle class in the south of the country, where pizza fritta was common, did not view fried food favourably again until the last decade. Via Pietro Colletta 16 Angolo Corso Umberto Primo, 80139, ... Don’t expect fine dining but this is a classic and basic pizzeria that serves some outstanding specialty (fried) … A Naples Pizza Guide: Where to find the best pizza in Naples Italy, the history of pizza, & tips to make the most of your pizza experience. In Naples, Italy, pizza fritta is an ubiquitous street food. Everyone here knows Masardona, the fry house that seems to be the one immortalized by Vittorio De Sica in the movie “The Gold of Naples,” starring Giacomo Furia and Sophia Loren. “I was already famous here before he [Oliver] came,” Miano declared, as if reading my mind. The phenomenon even made its way into Vittorio de Sica’s 1954 film L'Oro di Napoli (The Gold of Naples), which contains six chapters set in the city. “I'm not totally convinced about the theory that it suddenly sprung up after World War Two because there was no food around and it was easier to fry than bake. What you might not know is that in Naples, fried pizza existed before baked pizza. It’s called Pizza Fritta da Fernanda and the menu consists of just pizza fritta (fried pizza) in two sizes: grande (large) for €3 and piccola (small) for €2. Naples, Italy is a foodie's destination. Accordingly, we top each Deep Fried Crust with mozzarella, provolone, Parmigiano Reggiano, and—most importantly—dollops of burrata and fresh pesto with roasted garlic. Via Giulio Cesare Capaccio 27, Tel. She moved quickly, using her fingers to knead dough that was made of Tipo 00 extra-fine flour, yeast, water and a pinch of salt. The Pizza Fritta (Fried Pizza) is also popular in Naples. It continues to be successful thanks to the high quality of its pizzas, including the fried version. He has a … Round, called ‘montanare’ or half moon ‘calzone.” For the dough, which is the same as for classic oven pizza, Gino uses only a miniscule pinch of leavening to create chewy, never spongy, dough. She says it’s especially important because her generation could be the last to experience the people and businesses that survived World War Two. And again, she flashed me that proud and knowing look, something between a smile and a smirk. Of course there are many other toppings you can order, but these are the two most traditional. He says that’s when trendy Naples restaurants reintroduced it on their menus and photos of pizza fritta garnered attention on social media. “Pizza fritta really looks like a wartime food,” Cinotto said. Pizza fritta is the lesser-known cousin of Neapolitan pizza. +39 081 281057 - 081 267919, Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7am-4pm; Sat. Stanziola, in fact, was the one who suggested I visit Miano’s no-frills stall during my stay in Naples. But I think [pizza fritta] was built on [cooking] traditions that were already there.". Use … MONTANARA PIZZA. Fried Pizza from Naples, Southern Italy! I ordered a grande pizza fritta from her, unaware that it was going to be as big as my head. Types of Pizza in Naples The two most famous kinds of Pizza in Naples are Margherita (Mozzarella, tomato sauce, and basil) and Marinara (tomato sauce, garlic, oregano, olive oil). Best Fried Pizza in Naples La Masardona. Also famous for having hosted the film "The Gold of Naples" where Sophia Loren fry the fried pizzas. “If you look at [Italian] recipe books, even from the 1500s, you do find fried food, fried dough,” said Fabio Parasecoli, professor of food studies in the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies at New York University. Antica Pizza Fritta da Esterina Sorbillo. What you might not know is that in Naples, fried pizza existed before baked pizza. ️. She agreed to tell me more about herself, but only after I ordered three pizza fritta from her. In the movie, it’s our magnifica Sofia Loren who cooks Montanara, so nowadays one of the best places to go if you want to try a traditional Pizza Montanara is Pizzeria Donna Sofia ai Tribunali , which was inspired by the movie to only prepare the best of the best. Read about our approach to external linking. Its most famous specialty is the pizza fritta (fried pizza). They produce just one thing: fried pizza, made of a light dough enclosing a mixture of ricotta, cicoli (fatty pork), provola cheese and tomato. In the chapter “Pizze a Credito” (Pizza on Credit), a young Sophia Loren portrayed a pizza fritta maker cheating on her husband. +39 081 281057 - 081 267919, Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7am-4pm; Sat. https://joydellavita.com/recipe-how-to-make-pizza-fritta-fried-pizza-naples-italy The Starita a Materdei pizzeria is one of the cornerstones of the pizza tradition in Naples. She was sitting in a plastic chair and smoking a cigarette in an alleyway outside a basso (street-level home) that she operates as a humble food stall in the historic Naples neighbourhood of Quartieri Spagnoli. There’s a saying here, voce e’ popolo, voce e’ dio (the Neapolitan version of vox populi vox dei), which means that something is certain – there’s no doubt. loading map - please wait...Map could not be loaded - please enable Javascript!→ more information. View image of Nonna Fernanda is considered one of Naples' best pizza fritta makers (Credit: Credit: Erika Hobart), How to make pizza like a Neapolitan master, The Italian American Table: Food, Family, and Community in New York City, View image of Although Neapolitan pizza is most often associated with Naples, fried pizza is the city’s beloved street food (Credit: Credit: Marialba.italia/Getty Images), View image of Sorbillo Esterina in the historical centre of Naples is famous for its takeaway fried pizza (Credit: Credit: Stuart Black/Alamy), View image of Modern chefs like Isabella de Cham are elevating pizza fritta from its rustic roots by using ingredients like octopus (Credit: Credit: Erika Hobart), View image of Pizza fritta originated during World War Two when locals could neither access nor afford traditional pizza (Credit: Credit: Kontrolab/Getty Images), sign up for the weekly bbc.com features newsletter. Miano put out her cigarette, gestured for me to sit in the chair she was vacating and got to work. Perfectly seasoned pork meat with tomato, and 2 types of cheese (ricotta & provola), placed in a dough which is fried to produce this pizza fritta. The phrase "deep-fried pizza" might conjure up images of clogged arteries and Texas state fairs. Pizza dough is stretched and fried in oil, then topped with a dab of tomatos sauce, some mozzarella cheese and basil and eaten. NAPLES. She was featured on his TV show Jamie Cooks Italian, which prompted a surge in tourists visiting her shop. Deep-fried pizza – just like they make it in Naples The traditional Neapolitan way to make pizza was to fry it, says Bob Granleese. “I have always liked pizza fritta. During the 1990’s when Bill Clinton, former President of the United States once visited Naples, he enjoyed pizza fritta at a pizzeria located in the heart of the city called La Figlia del Presidente . 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