Vera Pizza only in Italy and one place in Chicago!

Pizza, the real deal, can only be found in Italy. The pizza there cannot be compared to anything we have here in the U.S. Like the wine and cheese of the boot, the pizza also has a quality control method to insure that it is made with exactly the right ingredients and process.

Don't get me wrong; I love Chicago and NY style pizza. They're delicious, but quite a bit different than what is found in Italy.

The original pizza can only be found in Napoli. Pizza Margherita is made with dough, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil. It is named after Margherita of Savoy and has the colors of the Italian flag. She is buried in the Pantheon in Rome.

The true process of pizza making is standardized by the Associazione vera pizza napoletana. They even offer courses to learn the proper way to make it for individuals or businesses.

Here is how the real deal is made and it is delicious.

1. dough from scratch made from wheat flour (type 0, 00 or a mixture)

2. Neapolitan yeast

3. water.

4. kneeded by hand

5. after rising, formed by hand...no rolling pin and only 3mm thick

6. dressed with only red sauce, mozzarella, and basil.

7. baked in brick oven for 90 seconds at 485 degrees.

You will often find olive oil with hot red pepper flakes soaked in it to drizzle over the pizza. It is amazing and a great touch.

If you live in Chicago you can try the real deal, certified pizza at Spacca Napoli. Go often! Don't forget to try the chocolate gelato with spicy red pepper...OMG, it's amazing.