Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/794736
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 5 MARCH 2017 34 Food RACHEL ZAMMIT CUTAJAR VERACE Pizza Napoletana, or VPN, translates as the true Nea- politan pizza. This is the gold standard of Italian pizzas. Al- though anyone can put together a little water and yeast, smother it in tomato sauce and top it with cheese, we need some way to be able to draw out the really good ones. This is where the Asso- ciazione Verace Pizza Napoletana comes in. This association in Italy takes it upon itself to certify the Neapolitan pizzas that are done right. So what does this really mean? For a pizza to be certified as VPN, they can only be made of certain types of ingredients, made in ap- proved equipment and made in the traditional pizza-making methods. There are parameters on oven temperature, how long the pizza is allowed to cook and what size and shape the final product should be. So, if all of these restrictions mean that only the very best piz- zas pass the test and become VPN certified, where do we get a VPN pizza in Malta. While there are no fully certified VPN pizzerias in Malta, one Slie- ma restaurant is following all the rules. At Sciantusi, the pizzaiolo, one of two brothers who own the restaurant, left a VPN-certified restaurant in Naples and wanted to provide the same experience here in Malta. They have set up their pizzeria with an oven that has already been certified by the Associazione Verace Pizza Na- poletana. The ingredients they use all strictly adhere to the Neapoli- tan style with the bases being made from just flour, salt, yeast and water. Their toppings are all DOP certified (Denominazione di Origine Protetta) meaning that they are of the highest quality; po- modoro San Marzano DOP, fior di latte DOP, mozzarella di bu- fala DOP, ricotta di bufala DOP among others. What ultimately matters is their customers' seal of approval. Resto of the week WINE OF THE WEEK A magnificent wine of pleasure : the aromatic harmony of grenache and cinsault offers some notes of peach and candied orange. the mouth is fresh and round. The grapes are carefully selected and come from the best soils of Côtes de Provence and come from vines cultivated in integrated farm way. Light and bright in colour. The nose is very intense of greedy aromas of orange peels and red currant. Smooth taste with a nice acidulous freshness Exclusively imported by Charles Grech & Co. Ltd, Valley Road, Birkirkara T: 2144 4400 M de Minuty Rose Chateau Minuty, Provence – France Sticking to Neapolitan traditions at Sciantusi Sciantusi 2, Milner Street, Sliema Tel: 21313181 www. sciatnusi.com.mt Facebook: Sciantusi Napoli is the motherland of pizza with every different type of pizza being an offshoot of the Neapolitan style crust. Sciantusi sticks to their Neapolitan roots, following the strict rules that give you a superior product.