Inspired by the Italians, American custom pizza is a sharp contrast to its pizza predecessor in Europe. Visiting Italy today, most Americans would be surprised at what is set before them if they ordered a pizza. The appearance, aroma and taste they would experience are unique to Italian pizzas. The meal differs from American custom pizzas in nearly every way.
Starting from the crust up, we can see the vast differences between Americanized pizza and the Italian food that inspired its creation.
Crust
In America, different regions of the country are known for their own style of crust. This varies from St. Louis-style thin crust to gut-busting Chicago-style thick crust. The deep-dish pizza variety is an American invention. Some pizzas are so thick it’s like eating fresh-baked bread with pepperoni on top. In Italy, you’ll find a variety of crusts, but they are typically on the thinner side of the scale. It’s also common for each village to offer their own unique pizza crust. Some are cracker-thin!
Sauce
What color do you picture when you think of pizza sauce? If you’re in America, you probably think red. American custom pizza features slow-cooked tomato sauce. Each restaurant and frozen pizza manufacturer creates its own unique taste with various blends of spices added to the sauce. In Italy, pizza makers focus on herbs and oil. You won’t find them smothering their crust in tomato paste. Instead, Italian custom pizzas are sauced with olive oil, pureed fresh tomatoes, oregano and garlic. These toppings infuse the crust with fresh, herb-filled flavors Italians enjoy.
Meat
Have you ever had a meat-lover’s pizza? Don’t try to order one in Italy. You might be accused of pizza profanity. Italians don’t mix their meats. Their tradition is to enjoy the unique flavors of each type of meat individually. Piling them all on one pizza is unheard of. In the U.S., we commonly enjoy a medley of meats. Combinations of hamburger, bacon, pepperoni, sausage, ham or all of the above are often found on American custom pizzas. In fact, many consider a pizza with only one topping to be “plain”!
Variety
While Italians are known for their wide variety of thin crusts, American custom pizza is more likely to feature a greater range of toppings. Our restaurants and refrigerators are filled with pizzas offering ham and pineapple, beef and BBQ sauce, shrimp and Cajun seasoning and a slew of other unique combinations. Based on the many differences in Italian and American custom pizzas, we can safely say that ordering a pizza with “everything” looks very different in New York City than it does in Venice.
Traditional favorites
Brought to the U.S. by Italian immigrants, pizza grew in popularity when American servicemen returned home from World War II. The Italian creation quickly boomed in popularity. Over the years, it became more and more Americanized to suit U.S. tastes. Even today, manufacturers continue to perfect their pizzas with new methods of baking and freezing. For a taste of truly American custom pizza that is fully enhanced with flavorful methods, contact the premier pizza makers at Giovanni’s Frozen Pizza.