Even though your best indication is simply tasting, there are a few ways to identify a good pizza from its look and the pizzeria making it. So without further ado, here are our 7 tricks to identifying good pizza:
1. It’s all about the crust
A good slice of pizza starts with good dough. When examining your pizza, make sure to check the bottom and the crust. The bottom should be well done to offer a nice crisp bite, and the crust should be toasted on the outside but fluffy and light on the inside. That’s a good indication that the dough was prepared properly and allowed enough time to rise and rest. Here, at La Fresca Pizza, we prepare our dough daily and allow it to rest overnight at a controlled temperature for use the next day. Also, we invest in top of the line ovens because a good pizza should be cooked a certain way to allow for the toppings to get fully cooked without burning the crust. When reviewing a pizza, check that the slice is pliant, not stiff, and crispy yet fluffy, with everything evenly cooked all around.
2. Investigate the sauce
A pizzeria that’s serious about its pizza will mix its own sauce, and at La Fresca Pizza, we are very serious. A good way to taste the sauce is by either requesting extra on your pizza or ordering a side with your breadsticks. You should enjoy savory and bright notes rather than sweet or dull.
3. Look for fresh ingredients
You can always tell if the ingredients are fresh by how vibrant they look and how well they hold up even after they’re cooked. Stay clear of wilted, packaged vegetables and look for a place that invests in whole, fresh vegetables. Needless to say, our pizzeria hand-picks, washes, and chops the vegetables in-house.
4. A balanced pizza is a good pizza
Before devouring your pizza, take a moment to look at the cheese. It should be fully melted with some golden tints here and there. And even though it sounds appetizing, opt for a pizza with a generous amount of cheese but not a blanket of it; you don’t want it to be overwhelming. After all, quality ingredients make quality pizza, and when all the ingredients are good, you’ll enjoy your pizza more when you can taste every ingredient of it. Not to mention, too much cheese throws the balance off the slice and weighs it down. A great pizza is about resilience.
5. Observe the place and its employees
When trying out a new pizzeria, take a moment to look around for the following indications:
- A)Is the place clean? A clean dining área means a clean kitchen, and vice versa. The restrooms are generally a good indication, too.
- Are the employees happy? Look for employees who seem like they care. Satisfied employees means they are in a good mood when making your food, which means they are putting care and attention into preparing it and they are presenting it with pride. The best pizza and the best service almost always go hand in hand.
- Are the ingredients hidden? Are your able to see your pizza being prepared or is the restaurant’s layout making top secret? It makes you wonder what they’re hiding.
That’s why opting for family-owned restaurants over chains is a good idea. You’ll be getting the ‘home’ treatment and you’ll know that everything is run with care and attention to detail. You’ll also find that the employees are more invested in their jobs because they have a relationship with the owners. Al this translates to a better experience and to better food.
6. Say ‘no’ to hot boxes
You know, those rotating displays that they have at mall-style pizza shops and convenience stores where the “freshly baked” pizza is kept hot and ready to serve? Do yourself a favor and just avoid them. Sure, they reach your mouth faster, but you’ll never find a hot-box pizza with a crust as crisp, and ingredients as fresh, as a pizza that’s made to order.
At La Fresca Pizza, we take great care in preparing our pizzas fresh in every way. Our dough is prepared daily, the sauces are mixed in-house, and the vegetables are washed and chopped daily. Our pizzerías are all open floor concepts where you can sneak a peak at your food being prepared. We carefully select the finest ingredients and put much care in preparation so that you and your family can enjoy a well balanced and delicious meal. We are a family-owned and –operated small business and our missión is to to offer you fresh food that’s prepared just like you would have made it yourself at home. Visit the location closest to you, or order online today to see what we’re talking about. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in touch with us or contact us if you have any suggestion or question.
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