Best Pizza in the Valley

[BACH]

We need to start with the basics... when we say "Italian food" here in America, what we actually mean is heavily Americanized versions of Italian food. In fact, there are several "Italian" dishes regularly served up in America, that you would never, or very rarely/only in parts of southern Italy, find in Italy.

Secondly, Italy is extremely regionalized with each region, for all intents and purposes, being its own country with its own regional cuisine. There are dishes you would find in Liguria that you would never see in Sicily, or Calabria...

So in effect, American Italian cuisine has become another "region" if you will...albeit, a very poor substitute for the real thing. Furthermore, America is quite regionalized as well when it comes to the respective versions of Italian fare. New York Italian can often be quite different than what you would find in Chicago for example.

Finally, remember that the overwhelming majority of Italians in American, have their roots in southern Italy. And, coupled with the regionalization within America, well... odds are pretty good that whatever "Italian" food you're eating in any U.S. city, is at best a distant reflection of what you would find if you were dining in Naples, or Palermo, of Cosenza, or Florence, or Bologna, or Torino, or Genoa, or Rome....

My exact point. And thank you for a better explanation than I did.

Not dishing on American Italian food, but it’s not the same as Italian food.

 

[BACH]

I been to a few countries.

the best food in the world is American food.
simple fact.

Hard disagree. Come over or met me anywhere and show you real food.

Tastes the best and we have lots of it. Its why, even before we started with all the processed stuff and got fat as a nation, Americans were already the biggest people on the planet.

American food (huge generalization) is fatty, salty, ingredients are inorganic and mass farmed = tastes of less.

Give me a big chicken fried steak,...garlic and butter mashed potatoes, and cover them both in a thick sausage gravy with extra black pepper.
there isnt a dish on the entire planet that can beat it. Just as good if you are in a different mood?? sure.
But better?? No ******* way.

Okay. You are entitled to your opinion on taste.

Pizza?? Famous the world over. Invented in New York city...the italians make a version but its American food. Lots of regional variations, but no matter where you are they explode with flavor...and taste just as good cold as they did fresh.

Originates from Napoli, Italy.

the french eat snails...garden slugs....

And they are delicious.

Brits are still eating wartime food because they are afraid to venture into real food again.
it says a lot when one of the most popular dishes in all of europe is a thick soup made out of beets.
nobody eats beets....except people who are starving.

Big part of the eastern and Northern European cuisine. Ever tried baked silverbeets?

we dont even need to get into the flame grilled Elk steaks...because we already won with the chicken fried steak...
if said chicken fried steak needed any help at all...just dollop on a healthy portion of collard greens and pork fat...that will take it over the top.

Do not agree

 

[oaken1]

Hard disagree. Come over or met me anywhere and show you real food.


American food (huge generalization) is fatty, salty, ingredients are inorganic and mass farmed = tastes of less.



Okay. You are entitled to your opinion on taste.


Originates from Napoli, Italy.


And they are delicious.


Big part of the eastern and Northern European cuisine. Ever tried baked silverbeets?


Do not agree

its okay to just admit you have never had good food before.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Then you never had the real deal IMO

Real Italian or real french? I have been to a Michelin star French restaurant, so that's probably the real deal...

 

[Cheesebeef]

Lou Malnati’s out in Scottsdale.

 

[Shane]

Real Italian or real french? I have been to a Michelin star French restaurant, so that's probably the real deal...

I ate french food all over Paris and it all sucked lol….. a lot of that had to do with the crappy service every single place I went as well. I’m sure it soured me.

 

[BACH]

Real Italian or real french? I have been to a Michelin star French restaurant, so that's probably the real deal...

In the US?

 

[cardncubfan]

Vito's on McKellips.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

In the US?

Yes.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Lou Malnati’s out in Scottsdale.

I do love a good Malnati or Giordanos

 

[Mulli]

Going to an Italian restaurant tonight. Will be glorious.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Going to an Italian restaurant tonight. Will be glorious.

Me too!

 

[Mulli]

Also will most likely be back in Italy in June. More gloriousness

 

[82CardsGrad]

Also will most likely be back in Italy in June. More gloriousness

Me too!!

 

[Mulli]

Me too!

See you at Olive Garden. Haha. Not.

 

[82CardsGrad]

See you at Olive Garden. Haha. Not.

Most definitely NOT!!!

 

[Mulli]

Most definitely NOT!!!

Adding: NOT!!

 

[Mulli]

And I am not telling anyone except 82 where I am going because the establishment won’t want you. Haha

 

[82CardsGrad]

And I am not telling anyone except 82 where I am going because the establishment won’t want you. Haha

Me too!! Actually... I'm heading to one of my favs, owned by easily one of my favorite chefs!

 

[Mulli]

Me too!! Actually... I'm heading to one of my favs, owned by easily one of my favorite chefs!

Same (in Chicago)

 

[82CardsGrad]

Same (in Chicago)

A few years ago, I went to an incredible place called Monteverde. I believe it was on Madison IIRC. Tremendous dining experience all around. But alas, not even close to the experiences enjoyed in the homeland!

 

[Mulli]

A few years ago, I went to an incredible place called Monteverde. I believe it was on Madison IIRC. Tremendous dining experience all around. But alas, not even close to the experiences enjoyed in the homeland!

I can never get in there!

 

[Mulli]

Me too!! Actually... I'm heading to one of my favs, owned by easily one of my favorite chefs!

I might need to know where this is for my Xmas week in Paradise Valley

 

[82CardsGrad]

I can never get in there!

Definitely worth the effort pal!

 

[82CardsGrad]

I might need to know where this is for my Xmas week in Paradise Valley

Chris Bianco is the chef... he's a native of the Bronx. Ironically, I was just there over Thanksgiving (Connecticut actually), and took my son, nephew and son in-law down to the true Little Italy of New York, Arthur Avenue in the Belmont neighborhood of the Bronx (Google it!). Which is where Chris is from.
Had an amazing lunch at one of my alltime favs: Zero, Otto, Nove (the area code for Salerno, IT). Went to Mike's Deli of course, to stock up on pounds of Prosciutto, Mortadella, sweet and spicy Soppressata, Cheeses, Olives... While there, we were served by Dave Greco, son of Mike Greco (founder). If you watched the Netflix show - Chef's Table, the very first episode spotlights Chris Bianco and in the spotlight, Chris references how he grew up with the Greco family.
So I told Dave as he was slicing away, we were from Phoenix. Well, that launched into a 10 minute story-telling moment that I captured on my phone! Dave told us a story about the time he was catering a 3,000 person event in Washington, DC for some Italian-American society. As he said, "some mother F'er" came up to me in a $5,000 suit and said he had been wanting meet me for decades! It was Jerry Colangelo! Jerry informed Dave they have a mutual friend in Chris Bianco, and Jerry first supported Chris (financially) when he first came to the valley! Great story!!

Anyway, I'll be dinning at Tratto this evening!