How to choose Pizza and Gelato in Italy

by | Dec 14, 2017

When in Italy you need to know how to find the perfect Gelato or Pizza. First you need to know that Italy is the home of Pizza and Gelato but this does not mean that every place sells the good stuff. On our way back from Pompeii our superguide, Roberto, gave us a set of rules to apply.  Since then Amelia and I have managed to guide mum and dad with those rules to make sure we always pick yummy food.  Please read our version of rules below if you want yummy Italian food too.

 

Pizza (and Pasta)

  1. Never go to a Pizza/Pasta restaurant close to a tourist attraction.  Instead walk 5 minutes or several streets back from the attraction.
  2. You will often find the best places in side streets or alleys – the best places are the ones that are hidden.
  3. Restaurants favoured by local will have the best food and usually be cheaper.
  4. Avoid restaurants that have a sign out the front with pictures of the food.
  5. Avoid restaurants that have someone out the front ushering you in (they will often be handsome, pretty and charming).
  6. Spaghetti and Meatballs, Pepperoni Pizza and any chicken with pasta are not Italian! They will only be on menus designed for tourists (aka tourist traps).
    Fun fact: Pepperoni in Italian refers to a capsicum not a salami
  7. Another sign of a tourist trap is a menu in many languages. Anything more than Italian and English should ring alarm bells.
  8. Go where the locals go.

Gelato

  1. Never go to a Gelateria close to a tourist attraction.  Instead walk 5 minutes or several streets back from the attraction.
  2. You will often find the best places in side streets or alleys.
  3. Never buy Gelato from a shop where the Gelati is heaped up above the rim of the container.  Real Gelato is smooth and will not hold itself up.
  4. The best Gelato is always covered.  It is made fresh and will rarely be older than 2-3 days.
  5. It is best to go to a shop that has not too many flavours.  Since it is made fresh, the best Gelateria will not want to have too many flavours that they can not sell.
  6. Never buy Gelati from a shop that also sells tobacco, sweets, food, snacks or is a general restaurant.  True Gelati should only come from a Gelateria.

Our favourite Gelato has been at Grom in Florence.