Saturday, January 16, 2010

The "Eat, Pray, Love" Pizza


My friend Jen told me I had to read Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. She said that since I lived In Naples I especially had to find the pizza place she talks about, L’Antica Pizzeria Da Michele. This place has been doing business since 1870. The author says it’s the best pizza she’s ever eaten and if you get the chance to go there, you have to order the pizza margherita with double mozzarella.

Well today was the day! MOH (My Other Half) and I printed off the map from their website (one of my links on the right) and took the train downtown. It’s not a great map so we wandered for a bit and asked for directions twice before we found it. It looks like your typical little hole-in-the-wall from the street. If I didn’t know it was something special I probably would have never given it a second look. We got there just before noon and I took this picture before we went in:



It was already packed inside and you sit wherever there’s room, which means you share your table (no biggie). They only serve two kinds of pizza: pizza margherita (sauce, cheese, and basil) and pizza marinara (sauce only and basil). We were the only Americans and our theory is that if the locals are packing the place then you better believe it’s the good stuff! The waiter took our order and we both asked for pizza margherita con doppio mozzarella.

It came about five minutes later, and let me tell you – oh lordy, it was amazing! Like sit-back-take-your-time-admire-its-beauty-and-thank-God-for-this-perfection amazing. MOH and I have had MANY of these pizzas over the last three years, but this one was just . . . different. The crust was perfect, just the right thickness and charred a bit. The sauce had such a fresh tangy taste, and the mozzarella (oooh cheeeese), DOUBLE MOZZARELLA! They loaded it on. . . . I have to take a moment . . . Ok, really, if you ever come here this pizza cannot be missed! I will take you there myself.

The crowd really started coming in after 12:00. They were given numbers on a little piece of paper and asked to wait outside. As seats opened, one of the waiters would open the door and yell out a number. The lucky ones would then rush in and grab their seats. This is what the outside looked like when we left:



A man at our table ordered the pizza marinara (I have yet to try this) with garlic. It came out steaming with sliced garlic all over it! I was too embarrassed to ask to take a picture of it (I hate looking like a tourist), but it was beautiful and I want one. Next time – oh yes my loves there will be a next time – I am ordering that man’s pizza!

It was 13 euro for both pizzas, one beer, and a large bottle of fizzy water.

Jen, many thanks to you for enlightening me. I hope to take you there one day!

5 comments:

  1. I am so glad you went and enjoyed! One of these days I am coming to Italy for two reasons - you and that pizza! I personally would go for the one without the cheese - with tons of garlic! On your next visit, take a picture of the one without cheese! Happy Pizza Eating! xoxo

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  2. Holy Schnike that sounds completely fantastic in every way possible. How incredibly delicious. Your way with words is fantastic, too. My mouth is watering!

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  3. Came across your page by google and I am also going to the same place tomorrow. I am in a book club International Book Club (IBC) and Eat Pray Love is our current book I thought it would be nice to visit this pizza place. I hope I get to experience it like you did. :-) Nakita

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  4. Nakita - I hope you love it as much as I did! I've been back three times since I posted this. I strongly encourage you to also try the pizza marinara. I think it's better than the double mozzarella!

    Wendy

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  5. Thanks for your post. i went to try it today and all I can say is AMAZING!!! :)

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