Why I don’t want to eat pizza anymore in Italy because of restaurants in Zurich

Pizza – a dish that resembles a religion. The discussions about this are often more heated and emotional than with any SVP initiative. I’m sure that’s why relationships broke up. The debate isn’t just about whether you prefer Roman or Neapolitan.

No, it’s about more. How long should the dough cook and how thick or thin should it be? Does the cheese go under or over the rest of the topping and which one do you use? Buffalo mozzarella, mozzarella or just Fior di Latte? Puree sugo or can pieces of tomato still be recognizable? More topping is more or as simple as possible?

And of course the biggest controversy about pizza: is pizza with pineapple – called Pizza Hawaii – one of the seven deadly sins? This point is even on the agenda of the Italian Agricultural Association, which the court recently described as “a real sacrilege”.

These are just a few questions about Italian food. The list is endless. For some people, the topic is so important that they integrate it into their profile on dating apps like Bumble or Hinge.

There are phrases like, “What we’re not discussing: that pizza is the best food in the world,” “This is what a first date with me looks like,” followed by a photo of a pizza or the fundamental discussion of whether pineapple is the ticket straight to hell.

I never understood the whole behavior. So even less swiping to the right. Overall, I found the whole pizza debate unnecessary, almost embarrassing. My credo: Each his or her pizza, as he likes.

It doesn’t matter what it looks like and whether it’s eaten in your favorite Italian restaurant, at home on the couch or at five o’clock in the morning in Langstrasse – the main thing is that it tastes good and that the person is high afterwards thanks to the cheese overdose.

I still share this opinion. However, only when it comes to other people’s pizza. When it comes to mine, the world looks different. A few days ago, I was shocked to discover that I’ve become exactly the kind of person I used to laugh at: I’ve become a pizza snob.

Never in the past have I even thought about whether or not I should visit a pizzeria on holiday in Italy. Pizza is just as much part of an Italian holiday as overpriced sun loungers on busy beaches, Italo Disco and Aperol Spritz in the afternoon. Always. Until a few days ago when I went to Genoa for a long weekend.

As it should be with a city trip, my travel companion and I looked up which restaurants we would like to visit in advance. It also increases anticipation. Sadly not when it comes to pizzerias. My travel partner sent me pizza restaurants with the comment “They all look like *name of a very famous Swiss pizza delivery boy*”. So it was clear: we will not come by.

A few years ago I would have gone there anyway. But what has changed in the meantime? A lot – not in Italy, but in Zurich. In addition to the Neapolitan classics such as Napulé, NA081 and San Gennaro, hip new pizza places have been popping up like mushrooms for some time now. They have names like Derby, Modo or Alba.

The concept and offer is different for everyone, but they have one thing in common. They got me used to a certain standard with their pizzas without me realizing it. I’ve become picky. A pizza snob.

They took away an important part of my holiday. Holidays in Italy are no longer the same as they used to be. Because as described above, pizza is Italy and Italy is pizza. Or at least it was.

But I already have a plan how it will be like this again: a trip to Naples. The city has been on my list for a long time anyway. From there I make a detour to Caserta, 40 minutes away, where, according to the restaurant guide of Gambero Rosso, restaurant I Masanielli is said to have the best pizza in the world.

Or tell me where else in Italy the pizza treasures are hidden. The list, which I may even share with you, will hopefully be valid for holidays in Italy until the end of my life. And for the rest of the year, I am thankful for all the places that brought a touch of Dolce Vita to Zurich.