Chasing Pizza

Tenacious persistent and incurable -- Italian culture endures

 

In a couple shots above and below, I have tried to capture in part,  the Italy I have read about and visited previously. There is so much going on that screams "we are Italian -- and of this we are immensely proud".  In a time when National pride seems a mess of perverted religious fervor, power struggles and  economic trade sanctions -- it's so nice to see national pride based on a history of the Love of life.

A quick note on all the sculptures below but in particular The Rape of the Sabine Women by the Flemish sculptor Giambologna is amazing but also and most impressive in the early morning sun is  Baccio Bandielli's Herculkes and Cacus. Of course Medusa loosing her head is an all time favorite for me. Hehe

In search of a spectacular pizza!!!!!

My sense was that a million pizzas had been lovingly placed into this same old brick oven. Mine -- was the culmination of years of experimentation, practise and a history of combining fresh quality ingredients to make something extraordinary.

They say that the Margarita Pizza (crust - tomato sauce and cheese) is the best "test" as it gives you the straight goods .... the pure taste sensation. I added sausage ... what the hell .... there are no recent crucifixions for this small crime of passion.





I researched the Pizza place reported to be the best in all of Florence and while most of the recommendations may have come from the owner of the shop -- Pizzaiuolo, came up again and again. Off I went in search of this Holy Grail of Pizza. My quest was rewarded as I succumbed to the fresh basil -- extra virgin Olive oil rubbed into the dough before adding the heavenly tomato sauce and sausage potentially hand-made by Aphrodite were added . The Mozzarella -- from Italian buffalo's massaged each day by Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez .... and as though tended by the hand of Michelangelo himself -- the Pizza was perfection in a Pie!
















Thanks for reading ...Layne!!!