Marinara pizza from Sorbillo restaurant
In December 2017, what had been an open secret for some time was confirmed: Pizza Neapolitan was declared Intangible Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO . Far from being considered a rarity, the news was welcomed in Naples with enthusiasm, joy and a lot -but a lot- Pizza.
This dish of Neapolitan origin entails a practice in which the true italian pizzaioli art . The date of his birth is not known exactly, although the first references of the Pizza they date from the 18th century in the city of Naples. As the centuries have passed, this dish has achieved conquer the whole world and there is no corner where this gastronomic proposal has not been cooked.
What initially emerged as a pancake with tomato , today we can find it with endless ingredients, from the simplest Margarita pizza (with tomato, mozzarella and basil) or marinara (tomato, garlic, oil and oregano), to the most complex with ingredients such as potatoes, sausages, seafood, fruits, vegetables and everything you can imagine. ** Creativity is the key! **
Each february 9 is celebrated on world pizza day and we cannot think of a better tribute to commemorate this day than with a selection of places in Naples where you can taste it in all its versions ( and at a price between 5-10 euros per pizza ). we start our route foodies?
L'ANTICA PIZZERIA DA MICHELE (Via Cesare Sersale, 1)
Only two different proposals have been needed (they only cook Margaret and Marinara ) to establish itself as one of the most famous pizzerias not only in Naples but also in the whole world. The history of this place located a few steps from Umberto I -one of the most important arteries of the city-, dates back to 1870 when the Condurro family gave rise to a long family tradition of pizzaioli masters in the heart of Naples.
It was not until 1900 when Michele (Salvatore's son) who was one of the members of the second generation of the family, after learning the true art of pizza making, he opened his first store a few steps from the one that is still standing today . They moved to this new establishment in 1930 and they have remained here ever since generation after generation.
Da Michelle's Margherita Pizza
During all these decades, its popularity has been such that celebrities of the stature of Julia Roberts shooting the movie Eat Pray Love either Maradona It is said that during the time he played in Naples in the 1980s, he tasted his creations several times a week. Currently, the so-called The temple of pizza can be found in 14 locations spread across the globe, one of them in Barcelona (the only one in our country).
“Michele is recognized for the quality of the ingredients of the two pizzas that are born from popular wisdom and centennial experience of generations of chefs who, with conscious hands, dedication and love for their work, offer margarita and marinara without allowing variations betray the tradition or the flavors of the true pizza born in Naples”, indicate from L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele to Traveler.es.
The origin of the fame of Neapolitan pizza has a lot to do with Da Michele
GINO AND TOTO SORBILLO (Via dei Tribunali, 32)
We are facing another of the most historic places in reference to Neapolitan pizza . It was in 1935 when the grandparents of Gino, Luigi Sorbillo and Carolina Esposito , founded the first pizzeria in the so-called Neapolitan pizza street , in Via dei Tribunali . The couple gave birth to a total of 21 children who became lovers of this gastronomic proposal. The nineteenth was Salvatore, Gino's father , who over time learned the true secret of the trade, the one where they cooked in the poorest alleys of Naples and where the true Italian essence resides.
It's worth enduring long waiting times -especially if it is the weekend and because they do not accept reservations - to test some of the many proposals of thin crust that despite their large size they become a delight to taste bite by bite. For those who do not want to complicate, you can bet on the traditional daisy but there is also a wide variety of ingredients such as ham, anchovies, arugula, bacon or mushrooms. The choice will be difficult!
For the time being, Gino, with the help of his younger brother Toto , has opened offices in other parts of Italy such as Rome, Genoa and Milan, in addition to also having locations beyond the borders of the boot such as New York, Miami, Tokyo or London . Will we see Sorbillo soon in our country?
Sorbillo, the pizza that was born from the poorest streets of Naples
PIZZARIA LA NOTIZIA 53 *(Via Michelangelo da Caravaggio, 53) *
Defined by the Michelin Guide as “ the great master of Neapolitan pizza”, Enzo Coccia is the chef in front of Pizzaria La Notizia which can boast of having two premises in the city of Naples. The first -and the original- opened on June 25, 1994 and the second - News 94 - open since 2010 on the same street as the first establishment but this time at number 94.
Over the years, the prestigious pizzaiolo has managed to transform a dish considered popular into a more refined and gourmet gastronomic proposal that reaches the excellence of haute cuisine. Thus, works daily with the most optimal ingredients to evolve and always go one step further as a point of reference in the Neapolitan pizza culture.
There are three great proposals that La Notizia recommends us to ask for on our way through Naples. The first is, without a doubt, his margherita pizza , with San Marzano tomato, Campania buffalo mozzarella, basil, olive oil and pecorino cheese; its pascaline pizza , with turnip tops cream, San Marzano tomato, walnuts, black olives, garlic, chilli, basil and extra virgin olive oil; and finally your capodimonte pizza , with tomato, buffalo sausage, Campania buffalo mozzarella, olive oil, pecorino cheese, basil and pepper. An explosion of flavors that conquer from start to finish.
Pizzaria La Notizia, two places on the same street
CONCETTINA AI TRE SANTI *(Via Arena della Sanita, 7) *
Rione Sanita It is the neighborhood that struggles daily to modernize itself, get away from the bad habits of yesteryear and adapt to the traveler. In the heart of this enclave stands Concettina ai Tre Santi , run by the young chef Ciro Oliva represents the fourth generation of a family specialized in the trade , and his father Antony , responsible for more attention to the public.
They both create the perfect binomial which over time has become one of the best pizzerias in town . The name of the establishment comes from the sanctuary that is located on the same street and in honor of Concettina (Ciro's great-grandmother) that in 1951 began to prepare fried pizzas and to sell them with the payment method known as ogge to otto (eat today and pay in eight days). Over the years, the business expanded until reaching the place we know today managed by father and son.
When asked Ciro Oliva what are the most demanded proposals of his gastronomic project, he is clear: “we can start with a genovese omelette (with coppery onion, pork, beef, ziti, smoked provolone and pepper, accompanied by Genovese sauce, Parmesan cheese and lemon zest) or a panino annarell (with artichoke, provolone cheese and Serrano ham aged 24 months); and continue with pizzas that are the stars of the place like the Pachianella San Marzano (with San Marzano tomato, cherry tomato, olives, capers, anchovies, oregano and garlic), O'Rrau pizza (ricotta, meat ragout, 48-month-aged Parmesan cheese and basil), or the butter pizza with anchovies ”, He comments to Traveler.es.
Concettina ai Tre Santi
UNUSUAL THE PIZZERIA GOURMET (Via SS. Apostoli, 4)
This is one of those businesses that show that it doesn't take decades of filming to become a place of pilgrimage for true foodies. Unusual La Pizzeria Gourmet is the perfect example and with only four years of life -they opened in 2016- can boast of having climbed positions in the ranking of the best pizzerias in Naples , being compared by many as the great competition of the great icons of the city such as Da Michele, Di Matteo or Sorbillo.
“This small pizzeria managed by some young people was born with the intention and desire to maintain the tradition. Although it was located in a street less frequented by tourists , thanks to the proposal of the light dough and with top-quality ingredients, travelers and locals come to our place to taste the true Neapolitan pizza”, they indicate from Insolito La Pizzeria Gourmet to Traveler.es.
Your best-selling creations? There are two proposals on which we have to pay all our attention: on the one hand, the classic daisy and on the other, his special pizza known as Cenerentola which, with its ingredients of provolone cheese, pumpkin flower, Roman ricotta and bacon, give it a very intense and characteristic flavor.
400 GRADI DI CIRO & SALVIO RAPUANO (Via Concezione a Monte Calvario, 12)
You will recognize this pizzeria located in the spanish quarters (Spanish neighborhood) because of the large number of people who They gather at the doors of the premises to get a table or pick up the bulky pizzas that do not exceed 6 euros in this emblematic and ancient neighborhood.
“It was born 10 years ago from the idea of two brothers, Ciro and Salvio, to bring back the tradition of the old Neapolitan school to the area”, tell Di Ciro & Salvio Rapuano from 400gradi.
The star dish of the establishment is the pizza created in homage to the Montecalvario neighborhood , made with a base of ricotta, salami from Naples, cherry tomatoes, basil and extra virgin olive oil. And we must not forget his fried pizza ... they make them to die for!
In the Spanish quarter, a small place serves fried pizzas and its specialty, Montecalvario pizza
If our trip to Naples is long-term and this selection falls short, we can always keep track of:
Starita to Martedei (Via Materdei, 27/28). Another great pizza temple in the city and protagonist of the film The gold of Naples with the mythical sophia loren of pizzaiola . According to film lovers, it was here that some of the scenes of the film were shot.
50 Kalo (Piazza Sannazaro, 201/c). Where he Chef Cyrus Salvo prepares them from very fine dough which you should accompany with the star starters of the place: bucatini and crocche frittatine.
Say Matteo (Via dei Tribunali, 94). The pizzeria that conquered not only bill clinton that July 1994, but has also delighted locals and tourists alike for decades with its wonderful creations.
Sophia Loren in 'The Gold of Naples'