We interviewed Antonio, master pizza chef from Malaterra Euroma2.
“Making pizza is an act of love.” Words of Antonio, pizza maker of our restaurant in Euroma2. But how do you become a pizza chef? And is it really a job that grants satisfaction?
“If in life you are looking to make millions, regardless of how, then this certainly is not a job for you. First of all, making pizza means making people eat, and this grants satisfaction because . a person who eats well is happier, you can see it from the expression in their face. It’s nice to work doing something that creates happiness. When you go to sleep, you go to sleep with a clear conscious.”
And how do you make a really good pizza?
“Good ingredients are obviously the first thing. That’s how it’s done. It’s a gesture of love. Real physical love! Look, approach the counter. First of all it’s how you stretch out the dough. The warmth of your hands, how you use them, that makes the difference. It’s almost a cuddle, isn’t it? Then the toppings that are never placed at random. You follow an order and you have to be generous, but without exaggerating! The dough must love the ingredient, not just tolerate it. Love is not heavy! And then the oven… the really beautiful part.”
Why what happens in the oven?
“The oven is like a love room where the pizza maker inserts the pizza making sure that everything is at the right temperature starting from its bed, the floor of the oven. If it’s too hot, bubbles will appear. If it’s too cold, oh well then just Forget about it. Then you turn it, you check, you watch it grow, cook slowly. You see the dough rise, the tomato sauce that dries just a bit, the mozzarella that begins to spread. You turn it again. Gently. You slide it onto the shovel. And when it’s ready, it’s not just ready: it’s right! Warm, fragrant, good. Exactly how a love story should be, right?”
Well actually, described in this manner…and what is your favorite pizza?
“Next!”
