Postcards from Rome: There Are TWO Kinds of Pizza

Pizza-cut-with-scissors and “real” pizza.

Pizza-cut-with-scissors — and yes, they do cut it with scissors — is the fast food pizza in Italy. It is pre-made. You tell the guy at the counter how much you want, and it is sold by weight. Once they have cut the right size piece for you, they throw it back into the oven or toaster to warm it up. Most places that serve pizza-cut-with-scissors do not have much in the way of a place to sit — perhaps a counter with a few stools or a few small tables. The pizza crust is generally thicker, and there are usually several kinds from which to choose.

Cafe for Real Pizza © Angela Nickerson

“Real pizza” is made fresh at a restaurant. It is light and crispy with much less bread. But it costs about twice as much as pizza-cut-with-scissors. However, the ingredients tend to be better. My personal favorite: Quattro formaggio (four cheese) pizza which is generally made with parmigiano reggiano, gorgonzola, mozzarella, and pecorino romano.

Eating a Panini on the Street © Angela Nickerson

Most pizzerias and many of the pizza-cut-with-scissors variety also serve a selection of fried temptations which are worth trying. Suppli are small balls of rice stuffed with mozzarella and sometimes sausages. You may also encounter olives stuffed with meat, potato croquettes, mushroom caps stuffed with sausage, or zucchini flowers stuffed with proscuitto and mozzarella — all battered or breaded and deep fried. Buon Appetito!

Roman Rule of the Day

While it may be tempting to sit down for lunch after a busy morning, stopping for a quick slice of pizza-cut-with-scissors or a panino will serve you better all day. Many Americans find Italian table service to be slow — an intentional pace in a country that truly relishes its cuisine. Remember, that Italians eat dinner very late, and many restaurants don’t open until 8 pm. Save your large meal for the evening when you have time to linger.