How to Eat Pizza like an Italian, like Locals | Authentic Vacations (2024)

FAQs

How to Eat Pizza like an Italian, like Locals | Authentic Vacations? ›

The Italian method: the fork and knife

Work your way up to the crust by cutting small pieces and eating them. Once the pizza has cooled, only then can you pick it up and eat it with your hands. However, you should only have a small bit of it left by this point. Finally, it is important never to fold the pizza.

The Italian method: the fork and knife

Work your way up to the crust by cutting small pieces and eating them. Once the pizza has cooled, only then can you pick it up and eat it with your hands. However, you should only have a small bit of it left by this point. Finally, it is important never to fold the pizza.

Hold the pizza by the crust if it's firm and crispy.

This is the most popular way to eat a pizza. If the crust is thick and crispy enough to hold the weight of the toppings and cheese, simply lift it up and put the point of the slice into your mouth. From there, you can eat away and enjoy all of the toppings!

Most Italians really appreciate and eat the whole pizza edge crust ("cornicione" in italian) of their pizza, although it is not uncommon to see someone who does not eat it and leaves it as a leftover on the plate, especially not to eat too many carbs.

In actuality, it is considered good manners to always eat pizza using utensils. Yes, even though pizza is the king of comfort meals, etiquette theory states that eating it with a knife and fork is appropriate in both formal and informal contexts.

The Toppings

A traditional Italian pizza would just resort to some fresh basil leaves which, together with the red tomato sauce and the white Mozarella di Bufala cheese complete the tri-colour of the Italian flag. However, depending upon the mood, one can sprinkle some oregano and fresh olive oil for a hint of spice.

Theory. In theory, official galateo (etiquette) rules dictate that pizza should always be eaten with fork and knife only, except when it's “pizza al taglio”, i.e. “by the slice”, which is meant as street food and can be eaten directly with hands.

Meats on pizza are pretty rare in Italy. Definitely, you will never find chicken pizza. On the other hand, cured meats such as prosciutto crudo, speck, prosciutto cotto, salami, mortadella, etc.

Don't request a slice of pizza. In Italy, unless sold on the street or “al taglio” (sold in rectangular or square slices by weight), it's always round and served on a plate. 2. You cut the pizza yourself and then eat it with a knife and fork, the most common way, or fold each slice and eat it with your hands.

Italians use only fresh crushed tomatoes to make the sauce for their pizza. They only add salt, garlic, and olive oil to the sauce and do not cook the sauce at all. There are hardly any other spices added to the sauce.

What is the correct order of pizza? ›

Cheese always goes belowthe toppings

You've got your dough as the foundation. Then your sauce. The cheese is the next solid layer. Then your toppings (after all, they're called top-pings and not bottom-ings), and then finally your garnishes like basil, pepper, fresh mozzarella, etc, after the pizza is cooked.

It depends on where you are, and what style of pizza you are eating. If you're lucky enough to sit down and eat your pizza in Italy, knife and fork is the way to go. The same is true in Chicago, because a deep dish pie is really messy if you try to eat it with your hands.

If you want to maximize the pizza tasting experience, folding the slice in half is the best way to go. The folding method is believed to be the best choice as it traps all the toppings safely, allowing you to experience the full flavors of the pizza in all its glory.

You don't cut your slice of pizza with a knife and shove it in your mouth with a fork. For practical reasons, know that this is the right way of eating pizza! You don't want to overstuff your slice of pizza with pepper, Parmesan cheese, and hot sauce.