OUR FAVORITE AMBASSADOR IS THE ONE OF PIZZA, DOMENICO FORAGGIO

Famous pizza chef from Italy has a family tradition.

  Domenico Foraggio is a master of something which virtually all of us appreciate, pizza! Hailing from Italy where he followed in the footsteps of his chef and restaurateur father, Domenico embraces the traditions of the Italian pizza process while finding ways to place his unique signature upon them. There are no more tough and discerning critics in the world of pizza than the Italians; it’s their invention and they will let you know what is acceptable. Via a number of critically praised restaurants who have employed Foraggio for his talent and vision, this chef has created something akin to a celebrity status for himself.

  Pompeii has received worldwide fame for the eruption of Mount Vesuvius but Italians also know it as the home of Tavern 49, Lornezo Avitabile’s home for creating Neapolitan style dishes with a twist. Food aficionados from across the globe travel to this restaurant to sample Avitable’s delectable dishes and their superb presentation. While Lorenzo hired Domenico to oversee the entire kitchen staff (which he did expertly, allowing the owner to breathe easily), Foraggio’s pizza quickly became the hot item menu. His classical approach to making his own dough (including his secret recipe) gave the pizza a lightness which set it apart from many others. Avitabile confirms, “Domenico’s intrepid culinary skills led to Taverna 49 receiving many flattering reviews in well-known publications such as La Republica and Il Mattino. Domenico found the perfect balance between classic cooking techniques and modern ones. This was one of the main elements behind Taverna 49’s incredible success.”

  At Brescia’s La Bussola restaurant, Foraggio applied his approach of “new traditional” to the cuisine which worked just as effectively here as it did at Tavern 49. He states, “The dough is cooked for a very long time in a special traditional stove. The taste and the texture of this process cannot be duplicated for mass marketing. That’s not the way pizza is supposed to taste. You can get amazing pizza or you can get quick pizza but you have to pick one. I watched my father working in the restaurant as a young boy and I understood that if you wanted to do things correctly and create amazing dishes, you must take the time to do so. Cooking is about life and passion; if you rush this…you’re not going to understand or feel it properly.”

  Giampiero Pingaro, owner of La Bussola professes, “Many people proclaim that Domenico’s pizza is the best pizza they have ever had. He put La Bussola on the map as the prime destination for pizza of the utmost quality. People come from all over the world to have his pizza and be in the presence of the genius of Domenico Foraggio.”

  Domenico’s work at Rosa Rossa (located in Boscotrecase, Napoli), the first informal-chic restaurant and pizzeria, has attracted admirers from around the world including celebrities like Johnny Depp. The actor refers to Rosa Rossa as his favorite restaurant in Venice. Owner Luigi Annunziata states, “Domenico Foraggio has become the most vital component of La Rosa Rossa’s incredible success.” The fine dining experience of La Rosa Rossa provides a presentation that is as aesthetically pleasing at it is tasty. These artistic presentations are well placed in an environment which also offers the master pizza genius of Forragio. There’s a reason why Depp was so taken with La Rosa Rossa that he took the time to add his own art work to the ceiling of this restaurant; art belongs alongside art.

  Any valid and relevant art form must pay respect to the past while evolving into the new attributes of present day contributions. Pizza is no different and Italy’s Domenico Foraggio is at the forefront of the movement. His masterworks are made of materials that will not last the ages (although his secret recipe will) so it’s best to experience them soon while you are able. You’ll be thankful you did.