Italian-style, Stone-baked Pizza. Why so few places?

spengos

spengos

spengos

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Does anyone have a pizza place near them that does proper Italian stone-baked pizzas? If so do they deliver or do take away? The only places pizza places near me are the typical American style places like Dominos, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut, Herbies, etc. With Papa Johns being the closest to Italian style but still a long way from that light crispy base and minimal but tasty good quality toppings. The "dough" used on something like Dominos or Pizza Hut is pretty nasty imo. It's like fried sponge/bread. :(

Is there a reason why Italian style pizza isn't more popular? Do they take longer to make or harder to get right? Or is it just a case of people generally prefer US style deep pan? Thoughts?
 
My ex local pub does proper wood fired pizza. Eat in or takeaway, no delivery :(.
Moved house ~5years ago though, sad times. They were only a £5 as well and omg 1million times better than dominos.
I don't no why more don't do it, I assume because most are franchises and so order in all there dough, where proper pizza needs fresh.
The only other reason I've heard is that due to thinness they cool down fast making delivery not really an option.
 
We've got a place in wolves that does them and they deliver along with an ever running buy one get one free promotion :D
 
I lived by a place which did once upon a time, then they changed management and it became awful, undercooked, thick based, trash.
Basically inedible, the once italian guy who was always there was suddenly a bunch of indian guys.

The reason they don't in this country is people
A: Aren't prepared to pay for quality
B: Buy trash like dominoes so that is what they expect from a pizza now, christ knows why

Such is the UK, I have a hard enough time finding ingredients which aren't total trash, let alone having them cooked as well.

Only places I can think of that do here are italian restaurants, they might do takeaway but not delivery.

I make my own on a cast iron slab mostly, I'd love a pizza oven but I can't justify the cost.
 
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I lived in Italy for a few months and their pizza quality threshold is so much different to ours. For example, the University cafeteria had a dedicated pizza chef and oven. Also I went to a local garden party buffet and the house owner had rented a massive pizza oven, which is a pretty normal thing to do apparently.

Not found a decent, dedicated pizza takeaway as OP described in Manchester yet. I find the best shop bought pizzas acceptable, although no where near on par with fresh ones.
 
Rather than start a new thread.

I am having a light bulb moment....

My oven doesn't work, I don't miss it but I feel like making my own pizza but obviously I need an oven.

I do have a working grill and a 12" cast iron skillet.

Now, do you think....if I heat the cast iron skillet on the hob first, place the pizza into it, then put it under the grill?

The Skillet would basically be a pizza stone, and the grill will be the heat source from the top.
 
Just get a decent one from a supermarket. Asda especially has some good ones with proper thin bases that are far better than any takeaway joint.
 
^^ That could work pretty well. I think Jamie Oliver does a pizza recipe which involves cooking the base in a dry frying pan. A skillet would probably work even better. You could also try dusting the skillet with polenta flour to get it extra crispy.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Rather than start a new thread.

I am having a light bulb moment....

My oven doesn't work, I don't miss it but I feel like making my own pizza but obviously I need an oven.

I do have a working grill and a 12" cast iron skillet.

Now, do you think....if I heat the cast iron skillet on the hob first, place the pizza into it, then put it under the grill?

The Skillet would basically be a pizza stone, and the grill will be the heat source from the top.
Click to expand...

I've done this tons of times and it creates a very good pizza. Far better than your average oven-cooked (even freshly made) pizza.

You can also just let the pizza rise in the cold cast iron pan/skillet and then cook it afterwards. End result is still going to be great.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Rather than start a new thread.

I am having a light bulb moment....

My oven doesn't work, I don't miss it but I feel like making my own pizza but obviously I need an oven.

I do have a working grill and a 12" cast iron skillet.

Now, do you think....if I heat the cast iron skillet on the hob first, place the pizza into it, then put it under the grill?

The Skillet would basically be a pizza stone, and the grill will be the heat source from the top.
Click to expand...

This technique works quite well, try to keep everything is dry as you can. Use a paper towel to dry the mozzarella as best you can, use a thin spread of a seasoned tomatoe paste rather than anything to liquid., and keep the toppings minimal but tasty.
If you get the skillet and grill as hot as you possibly can you can get good results.
 
Raymond Lin said:
Rather than start a new thread.

I am having a light bulb moment....

My oven doesn't work, I don't miss it but I feel like making my own pizza but obviously I need an oven.

I do have a working grill and a 12" cast iron skillet.

Now, do you think....if I heat the cast iron skillet on the hob first, place the pizza into it, then put it under the grill?

The Skillet would basically be a pizza stone, and the grill will be the heat source from the top.
Click to expand...
the base won't cook properly , maybe if you mostly cooked it on the hob first without any sauce /toppings flipping the base halfway you would get something edible otherwise you will end up with a floppy base that likely tastes of yeast
 
arknor said:
the base won't cook properly , maybe if you mostly cooked it on the hob first without any sauce /toppings flipping the base halfway you would get something edible otherwise you will end up with a floppy base that likely tastes of yeast
Click to expand...

The skillet is smoking hot when you put the pizza in, as long as your base is made thin and you don't overload it with toppings then it will work perfectly.
 
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