REGULATING PIZZA

 
 

The Italian Ministry of Agricultural Politics recently proposed a law to regulate Neapolitan pizza by spelling out what goes into it and how it is made. Pizza has long been Italy’s most popular food export, and Italians have seen the dish mutate into many variations. Italians do agree, however, that Neapolitan pizza is the “real thing”, and want to protect it from further bastardization. The law stems from European Union labeling requirements that are designed to protect things like Parmegano-Regiano or Champagne from having their names co-opted and used for products that don’t meet proper standards, but in this case, it seems to be more about principle tha n profit.

The draft for the Neapolitan pizza law is specific. Three types of real Neapolitan pizza are recognized: marinara, with garlic and oregano; margherita, with basil and mozzarella cheese that must be from the southern Apennines; and extra-margherita, with fresh tomatoes, basil and buffalo mozzarella from the region of Campania. The pizza must be round, not more than 13-3/4 inches in diameter, and made with hand-kneaded dough. The maximum crust thickness should be 3/4 of an inch, and the center has to be less than a tenth of an inch. If such criteria are met, the pizza would get labeled “S.T.G.” guaranteeing it is a traditional specialty.

Needless to say, pies from Dominos and Pizza Hut won’t be bearing the label anytime soon.

Source: National Italian American Foundation

 
     
 
BRIDGE TO SICILY
  
 

Every year, an estimated seven million people and four million cars and trucks are ferried across the fast moving waters between Sicily and Calabria. Now it’s starting to look like the massive bridge connecting the tip of Italy’s boot to Sicily might actually get built after all. In April, the Italian government officially began looking for a general contractor for the $7.5 billion project, and the European parliament approved the project.

Its 2.05 mile long center span will make it the world’s longest suspension bridge, double the size of Japan’s Akashi Kaikyo bridge, the current record-holder. Italian officials hope the six year construction project can start by the end of 2005 and they claim it will pay for itself.

The whipsaw currents in the Strait of Messina will be avoided by putting the bridge’s steel towers on dry land. New airfoil technology developed by Formula One auto racing will be applied to the bridge’s deck profile, allowing it to withstand winds up to 130 mph, and it will be strong enough to survive earthquakes (common in the area) up to 7.1 on the Richter scale. The bridge will hold eight lanes of traffic, four service lanes and two rail lines, with upwards of 100,000 vehicles and 200 trains per day. The usual transit time of up to twelve hours will be cut down to mere minutes.

Source: National Italian American Foundation

 
     
     
     

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