Yesterday Was World Pizza Day, Here's How to Celebrate
We’re in the midst of pizza madness here at the Beijinger offices, what with our Cheesy Pizza Month and Cheesy Pizza Cup happening right now. We were so preoccupied, in fact, that a very important day in the world of pizza slipped past us yesterday – Italy’s World Pizza Day.
Well, it's not really about all pizza, but more about Neapolitan-style pizza.
Started to commemorate the naming of Neapolitan-style pizza as a World Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2018, the holiday – not to be confused with the US’s National Pizza Day, which falls on Feb 9 – happens every year on Jan 17, coinciding with the Feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot, who just so happens to be the patron saint of bakers and pizza makers.
Saint Anthony the Abbot, patron saint of pizza makers
Neapolitan pizza – aka pizza Napoletana, the pizza of Naples, is pretty much the original form of what we know as pizza today. This style of pizza is characterized by simple ingredients on a dough base cooked quickly at high temperatures.
Naples is so specific about their pizza that they have an official organization, the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, founded in 1984 to certify pizzas made using the proper traditions of authentic Neapolitan pizza.
According to the association's website, they specify a true Neapolitan pizza must be made using specific measurements with water, flour, yeast, and should include ingredients sourced from the Campania region of Italy or just the freshest ingredients and only two types of mozzarella.
Be that as it may, a little experimentation with dough and toppings never hurt anyone, so in the following list of restaurants in Beijing that do Neapolitan pizza, we've included a few classic options as well as some not so classic pies to try.
Note: While the following locations do offer delivery, Neapolitan-style is best enjoyed in-house and hot out of the oven.
This stalwart with locations in
Liangmaqiao and Shangdu SOHO are known for their Neapolitan pies made
with simple, unpretentious toppings as well as their fried snacks. The
pies to try here include their Margherita Bon Acciughe Pizza (RMB 78), a
classic margherita with a kick from anchovies; and the Pulcinella
Ventaglio Pizza (RMB 120), an unevenly shaped pie topped with
procsciutto, tomatoes, and three different cheeses – mozzarella,
parmesan, and ricotta.
Solana Location
SA-48, Bldg 3, Solana Mall, 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区朝阳公园路6号蓝色港湾国际商区3号楼SA-48
Shangdu SOHO Location
1112 Shangdu SOHO, 8 Dongdaqiao Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区东大桥路8号SOHO尚都SH1112号
This Italian restaurant located in the
quiet Ritan Park neighborhood has gained a good reputation since opening
at the tail end of 2022 for their service, wines, and stellar
Neapolitan pizza. While they do have classic options like the Margherita
(RMB 48) and Diavola (RMB 68), the pizza to try here is the Capricciosa
(RMB 88), which comes topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, basil, ham,
mushrooms, and artichokes.
Il Fuoco
1-62 Ritan Shangjie, 39 Shenlu Street, Chaoyang District
朝阳区神路街39号日坛上街1-62号
Both The Pizza Show and the more
recently opened Canotto by The Pizza Show offer up nice takes on the
Neapolitan-style that swap out regular dough for sourdough, which leads
to a pizza with a nice sour bite.
Both restaurants often
incorporate toppings that the Associazione might consider sacrilegious
but are nevertheless intriguing. The Pizza Show’s top pie is their
Meatlovers (RMB 88), which comes topped with ham, pepperoni, meatballs,
basil, and pesto; while Canatto’s best is their Prociutto with Figs (RMB
118), which sees a white sauce base covered with mozzarella, prociutto,
figs, and rocket.
The Pizza Show
LG2, 9 Dongdaqiao Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区东大桥路9号
Canotto by The Pizza Show
NL5013, 5/F, North District, China World Mall Bldg 17, Yrd 1, Jianguomenwai Street, Chaoyang District
朝阳区建国门外大街1号院17号楼国贸商城北区五层NL5013铺位
Much like The Pizza Show and Canotto, Jing-A Longfusi opts for sourdough for their Neapolitan-style pies.
Pizzas
to try include their one-of-a-kind Happy as a Clam Pizza (RMB 110), a white
sauce pie topped with parmesan and mozzarella cheese, garlic, crispy
bacon bits, and apple cider-steamed clams; or their Pizza Month entry,
the Beijing Meatlover’s (RMB 110, pictured), which comes with cured Guizhou
sausage, Sichuan sausage, house-made Mala sausage, roasted cherry
tomatoes, red onion, fermented green beans, chili flakes, and
mozzarella.
Jing-A Taproom Longfusi
Bldg 19, 39 Qianlong Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区钱粮胡同38号19号楼
The winner of our 2020 Pizza Cup is not
only popular with Italians living in the capital, but have made a name
for themselves overseas as well, having been named the 2nd Best Pizza in
the Asia-Pacific region, Best Pizza in the Chinese mainland, and 14th
Best Pizza in the World on the 50 Top Pizza list in 2022.
Bottega
has a nice array of classic Neapolitan pizzas to choose from, but our
favorite has to be their Bottega pizza (RMB 139), which sees a
traditional pizza base made with mozzarella, San Marzano tomatoes and
basil with the addition of heirloom tomatoes, a dusting of grated
Pecorino Romano cheese, and a whole piece of burrata cheese in the
center.
Another pie to try that’s available for the duration of
Cheesy Pizza Month at their JinShang location only is their Montanara
(RMB 79, pictured), a classic margherita pizza on dough that’s first
steamed then deep-fried for a pizza with a very special texture.
Sanlitun Location
2/F, Nali Patio, 81 Sanlitun Road, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路81号那里花园2层
Jinshang Location
1/F, 01, 20 Xinyuanli Xi, Chaoyang District
朝阳区新源里西20号1层01
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