Pizza is an indelible part of the human culinary experience. It’s one the most versatile foods on earth. The base of risen bread, tomato, and cheese has a million variables when it comes to toppings. And, yes, pineapple is one of those options.
In fact, pizza is so important that the people of Italy petitioned UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage department to recognize and celebrate Neapolitan Pizza and the people who make it. Pizza now joins the greats like Belgian beers and Chinese Shadow Puppetry under the protection of UNESCO.
The people of Italy collected over two million signatures to get the pizza of Naples on the list this year. Which is an amazing feat in-and-of-itself. We can’t remember the last time two million Americans ever agreed on anything pizza related.
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The massive outpouring from Naples and the surrounded area was enough to show UNESCO that Pizza Napoletana and the community of Pizzaiuoli (pizza makers) deserved a coveted spot on their list. UNESCO cited the depth of pizza culture around Naples as part of their decision, “The element originates in Naples, the capital of the Campania Region, where about 3,000 Pizzaiuoli now live and perform. Pizzaiuoli is a living link for the communities concerned.”
The official recipe for a classic Pizza Margherita was made to mimic the Italian flag of red, green, and white during a royal visit to Naples. The recipe has since been enshrined with Type OO durum flour and natural yeasts, San Marzano tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, mozzarella di bufala, and fresh basil. It was this recipe that Neapolitan migrants brought to New York that later started the American love affair with the dish. And, now, there are as many variations of pizza around the world as there are ingredients to put on a pie.
