The Best Pizza in the World
I have some kind of connection with pizza. Quoting from my failing memory, once Sri Chinmoy jokingly said: "If pizza is there, Priyadarshan should automatically be included."
Today I would like to retell my Pizza experience in Napoli.
Contents
The Legend of Neapolitan Pizza, and how I was part of it
Once upon a time, I was lucky enough to be invited to Napoli for a meditation class, and after the nice evening Aniello, a friend of the Centre, asked if I would not have felt bereft not eating Pizza that night (Pizza in Napoli exists only Capitalised).
I impressed on him the rhetorical essence of his question, and how the Pizza spirit deeply imbues the very core of my Italian being.
Il Maestro della Pizza
Satisfied, he drove us to visit whom he called "Il Maestro della Pizza," Salvatore, the Master of Pizza, many times Gold medalist of the Pizza World Cup.
I will forever remember how Aniello very softly, I would say meekly and boldly at the same time, approached the Maestro, and laboriously proffered -- would be all right to shamelessly bother the Maestro, for the honour to have Pizza prepared by the Maestro himself (and not by one of his assistants)? And would be too offensive to the Maestro's multitudinous ancestors to bring our own ingredients for the Pizza, given Aniello himself had a thing or two to say about the quality of pizza-making ingredients, his very own ancestors having sacrificed their lives to the altar of Pizza-lore?
Salvatore did not even look at us. With a cursory, critical grunt, he dispensed his benign, publicly remonstrated approval.
Searching for the Uttermost Best
So off we drove, Aniello's minuscule Fiat 500 speeding through the narrow maze of Napoli's spider-web streets, fetching hand-squeezed olive oil from Aniello's olive tree vignards. Stopping by a store where -- only place in Napoli -- a special Buffalo mozzarella made that very morning from the purest milk ever milked was waiting for us. And finally picking up on the fly a family-secret tomato sauce prepared with San Marzano tomatoes heroically bred over millennia by Aniello's ancestors, and hushedly grown on the volcanic hills of Mount Vesuvio.
(Aniello later remarked the Maestro's basil leaves were already perfect, so there was no need to bring his own.)
The Shrine of Pizza
We drove back to the Shrine of Pizza, humbly carrying our offerings. Salvatore took charge of the precious givings, and immediately hummed into a Pizza-making trance.
Words fail me when I try to describe the almost cataplectic experience of eating that Pizza. It felt I was partaking of the spirit of Pizza itself, so pure and simple the look, so satvic the vibration, so fulfilling the taste and the smell.
I knew then and there why world-class connoisseurs consider Napoli's Pizza the best in the world.
As a Neapolitan would say in a poorly translated English, "The yawning gulf-difference between our Pizza and any other fake tomato-tinged, cheese smeared loaf is so infinite that using the same name for it would cry for justice -- capital punishment being the only rightful punishment."
Back to Jamaica, Queens
Now, there is any hope for who lives outside Italy, and more specifically in Jamaica, Queens? Thanks to Pradhan and Abakash's unrelenting scouting, we know that in the heart of Brooklyn there is an old man, a true seeker of Pizza, who can offer a remarkably close experience to the one I had in Napoli. His name is Domenico Di Fara, originally from Caserta, near Napoli. In the American inner circles he is known as the Saint of Pizza -- and I must say, his pizza is the best I had outside of Italy so far.
Many years ago the Fellowship of Pizza was formed -- including pizza afiçionados Pradhan, Abakash, Sandesh, Sagar, Damal, and myself -- with the sole goal of making pilgrimages to the Saint of Pizza. I recommend that pizza to everybody living on the East coast, or at least nearby Brooklyn.
Credibility issue on pizza
While the pizza in the picture looks absolutely fabulous, I am personally offended that neither I, nor Chicago, received any mention whatsoever in your article. Needless-to-say, to any pizza expert, this greatly reduces the credibility of your article.
I apologise, and
I hereby declare that Pradhan Balter is not only an eminent Pizza expert, but also the pioneer and praeceptor of the Felloship of the Pizza. Pradhan is the main driving force in increasing Pizza awareness and its beneficial influence on the mood of people.
And Chicago pizza is by far the best. As far as New York pizza is concerned.
Priyadarshan
agog
I am simply agog at the love of pizza which shines through these pages:)
I do hope one day to have the privilege of making a pilgrimage to Napoli.
For the non proficient English users amongst us:
cataplectic = A sudden loss of muscle tone and strength, usually caused by an extreme emotional stimulus.
Pradhan and Pizza
Pradhan, while your expertise on Pizza (fondly remembered from my brief time in Chicago, some years ago) deserves several references, I feel I should defend Priyadarshan's journalistic integrity and point out that you are indeed mentioned - albeit briefly. I hope to one day experience the joys of Chicago Pizza once again!
The "so-called" mention
Yes, I am mentioned...NOW! In the originally posted article, I was not mentioned. But it was the omission of Chicago pizza which I took as a personal affront. The corrections were made only after I pointed them out to my former friend Priyadarshan. Since then, I have sworn not to read any postings on his site. You may wonder, then, how is it I know of your comment if I am not reading any postings? Simple...the deity in charge of Pizza reports to me to inform me of any postings regarding pizza.
Ah...but I tease. And while pizza is at the cornerstone of this thread, it is not pizza with which I associate my friend Priyadarshan...it is morning coffee. Yes...the morning coffee which he would kindly prepare as we sat in his kitchen, served with a delightful cookie.
Coffee!
Relishing of proper morning's coffee imbibition is one of the sign of very high souls.
That's an excellent topic for one of my next stories. Thank you!
Priyadarshan
Chicago pizza
I once stayed for a week or two with Nivedak, who lives in Italy. During that time he happened to hear Pradhan talking about the rivalry between Chicago and New York pizza, which of course to him obviously tilted in favor of Chicago pizza.
That night, Nivedak addressed the topic of pizza. His words are forever emblazoned in my memory:
"To argue over which is better, Chicago pizza or New York pizza, is like arguing over which is better, a Pontiac or a Chevrolet — versus a Ferrari!
"You have to understand, the Supreme Himself took incarnation as pizza in Napoli."
I asked some other Italians if this were true, and they generally agreed. But Priyadarshan's description settles it once and for all. I am ready to jump on the next plane to Napoli!
Oneness-Fountain-Heart
Dear Aparajita,
I would not mind visiting once again the golden land of Pizza, but I would exchange a hundred pizzas for just one visit to your exquisite restaurant
Ah, the sweet delicacies from that place!
Priyadarshan
Oneness-Fountain-Heart
Dear Priyadarshan,
Thanks to an Italian friend, your grandmother's exquisite tiramisu has been restored to its former glory. I hope someday soon you will have a chance to try it.
Aparajita
Congratulations!
Priyadarshan, you have truly outdone yourself. You have brought the art of eating and appreciating pizza to a whole new level. In fact, just reading your article actually raised my consciousness. Unfortunately, it also made me extremely hungry! Anyway, I'm looking forward to sharing a pizza with you in the not too distant future.
So many happy pizzas
So many happy pizza memories I treasure from our delightful pizza excursions all over the world!
Thank you
Priyadarshan
Pizza-Lore
Priyadarshan’s pizza article, with its accompanying photo, is an antipastic dream for the mind, a tomatic promise for the taste buds and a Neapolitanic feast for the imagination.
I can almost taste the oregano-sprinkled pungency of the crushed tomatoes sizzling on the surface, the droplets of mozzarella dripping from the edges, the oven crisp sweetness of the Italian crust etc. etc.
Can’t say anymore… tongue is falling onto the writing paper…
Chidananda
So many times we carefully talked of wonderful lunches -- plans never fulfilled. Yet.
I am sure, though, winter delicacies await for us in the coming months.
Priyadarshan
Italy's Greatest Gift to the World (apart from the Renaissance)
Of all lands that I have not yet visited, I most long to visit Italy. Due to my extensive travel plans for the next year, however, I also long for a decent excuse to include an Italian sojourn among my financial commitments. If asked, I might suggest that I want to experience the beauty, the culture and the people of Italy (perfectly reasonable excuses), but I'll be honest: I want to try the Pizza!
Just as New York seems able to hone in on the Forces that make great Pizza, and Chicago is even more in touch with these Forces (sorry, NY), I eagerly wish to enjoy the Pizza from the land which created it. (Strictly speaking, "create" is the wrong word, as the first Pizza probably did not appear out of thin air. However, due to the spiritual significance of this food, "create" seems like the appropriate word.)
Pizza in Italy
Thanks for your comments. Make sure, when you will visit Italy, to have somebody advice you on the best places for pizza. Italy can offer you a very worthwhile pizza experience, but, sadly, can be also a tourist trap -- especially in popular cities.
Napoli is by far the best of all the places, let's call it the Pizza-Eldorado, yet every single town can offer you a different kind of pizza, with interesting variations and nuances.
Priyadarshan
Priyadarshan, I'm not sure
Priyadarshan, I'm not sure I'm qualified to be your coach, but let's talk about it over a steaming hot pizza covered with melted organic buffalo mozzarella and grated Romano cheese!
That's a deal!
If there were any doubts of your being an excellent record-breaking pizza-eating coach, they have been erased, nay, melted from your coach imagination.
That's a deal then!
But we gotta take care of that pizza first :)
Priyadarshan
Pizza in the U.S.A.
Being of Italian descent and having had pizza almost every week for most of my youth, I do have some idea of what good pizza is. Living in New York for many decades has given me a taste of different styles of pizza as well. I have also been around the U.S. ten times, having traveled through and stayed in every state, even Alaska and Hawaii. Although I did not seek good pizza out everywhere I went, I did get a wide variety of styles and tastes in various parts of the country. I also have been to Italy 3 times and have had a taste of various pizzas there. Not bad.
I do not doubt that Italy has absolutely the best pizza in the world, but they also have a saying, "Tutti gusti sono gusti", which basically means 'to each his own taste'. Therefore I also agree that Chicago could have the best pizza in the U.S., if one likes that super thick, heavy, overstuffed style. Since I prefer the lighter, crispier crust and light sauce, not oily, with light, fresh real mozzarella cheese, I would rate Frank Pepe's Pizza in New Haven, Connecticut as one of the best in the U.S. I know there are some disciples who will agree with me. If you want to find out why it is so good, then we must go there sometime. I also found some great pizza in Greenwich Village, NYC.
I would love to try the one in Brooklyn, Domenica DI Fara's Pizza and others as well. There is also a place on Broadway near Columbia University in Manhattan called Koronet Pizza. It has definitely the most humungus single slices than I have seen anywhere in the world. A bit heavy on the cheese though. Most people have trouble finishing just one slice.
I even had some great pizza in Seattle, believe it or not. There are many places that have novelty pizzas that Americans love. But a real Italian would be totally turned off by some of the pizza that is created here. For example, when my friend Francesco saw pineapple pizza for the first time he could not believe it and he almost fainted. We had to stop him from calling the police to arrest the owner of the pizza parlor. There is one thing I think we can all agree on, when it comes to pizza, or Pizza, or Apizza as it is called in some circles, there is no end to the creativity, tastes and emotional turmoil involved in the experience of one of the most popular foods in the world.
Arpan (Stefano Francesco DeAngelo)
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