194. Italian Food Rules: The Pizza & Pasta Police Are Real

Please Follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠! In this episode, Kimberly and Tommaso discuss the significance of preserving Italian recipes and the consequences of not adhering to culinary traditions. Pizza Napolitana and the AVPN: The hosts introduce the Associazione Verace Pizza Napolitana (AVPN), an organization dedicated to preserving the authentic technique of pizza making in Naples. They discuss the specific requirements for cooking certified pizzas, including dough preparation, cooking time, and ingredients. The AVPN employs “pizza agents” to ensure compliance with standards, risking delisting for non-compliant pizzerias. Cacio e Pepe Controversy: A British website, UK Good Food, published a recipe for Cacio e Pepe with incorrect ingredients, sparking outrage among Italians. The recipe included butter and parmigiano, deviating from the traditional ingredients of pasta, pepper and pecorino The President of Italy’s Restaurant Association sent a letter to UK Good Food, leading to a comical turn of events, but finally an acknowledgement of the correct recipe. Italian Pride in Traditional Recipes: Cuisine bonds Italians to each other, with recipes handed down by generations. Italians take deep pleasure in preparing their meals slowly and with the best ingredients possible. They don’t just consume a meal, they linger and enjoy it, and talk about it! Italy’s efforts to respect and protect specific foods and recipes through organizations like the DOP are admirable Link to Pizza Police Site: Here is link to the AVPN website which explains the school and lists the certified pizzerias around the world. https://www.pizzanapoletana.org