21-05-2021

The (almost) 100 pizzerias in the Guida IG 2021: a record that shows the big leap pizza has made in quality

The number of reviewed pizzerias continues to grow across Italy. A boom in the last 4 years, with as many as 12 new entries in our 2021 "census", from Piedmont to Sicily...

The space dedicated to fine pizzas is growing and growing in the Guida di Identità Golose (now also available as an app, see here). In the latest edition, the 2021 one presented a few weeks ago, the number of pizza places recommended reaches almost 100 with 12 new entries.

The increase over the past few years was majestic and numbers confirm this: in 2018 we had 68 reviews, then 85 in 2019 and 99 in 2020. These numbers however also included pizzerias abroad, which was not the case in 2021 for obvious reasons. Yet putting numbers aside, it is good to highlight what these numbers imply: a "pop" food like pizza is becoming more and more attractive, in parallel with fine dining. The reason is simple: in both cases, the makers of this success incorporate in their work strong technical knowledge, constant research, innovative skills and a healthy respect for tradition. There's more: this growth experienced by fine pizza in the past 15 years is not something other branches of the restaurant industry have experienced, and for sure not at the same rhythm.

Simone Padoan, Gabriele Bonci, Giancarlo Casa and Stefano Callegari: in the Guida IG 2009, the second edition, there were only 4 pizzaioli; the latter two were also in the Guida 2008, the very debut. In the latest edition they have almost 100 colleagues, but they are still there, a proof that quality was the right choice to make 

Simone Padoan, Gabriele Bonci, Giancarlo Casa and Stefano Callegari: in the Guida IG 2009, the second edition, there were only 4 pizzaioli; the latter two were also in the Guida 2008, the very debut. In the latest edition they have almost 100 colleagues, but they are still there, a proof that quality was the right choice to make 

At the top, in terms of restaurants reviewed in the Guide, there is Lombardy (20 places), followed by Campania (14) and Lazio (10). Of course, these are temporary numbers because the roads of pizza are truly endless. For instance, they have brought us to Sardinia, where one of the 2021 new entries is Pizzeria Bosco in Tempio Pausania, Sassari, an establishment that showcases its terroir, and even its dough is made with local flour. The same research on alternative dough can be found at Spiriti Gourmet, in Lecce, where they experiment with burnt wheat. Other restaurants focusing on the local area are Officine del Cibo in Sarzana, Liguria; La Pergola in Radicondoli, Tuscany; Chiere in Piacenza. But among the new places there's also lots of tradition, for instance with the veracissimapizza napoletana from Quattroquinti in Imola. On the opposite side there's the creative pizza on the peel from Mezzometro in Senigallia (and Fano), in the Marche; or the research of Friedi Schmuck at Piano B in Siracusa. And so on.

There's a magnificent fil rouge holding together this growing scenery: constant study of the ingredients used daily, the intention of gifting guests not only with slices of pizza seasoned to their liking, but with a special focus on digestible dough, on pure flour and technology, as well as on the new balance between sweet and savoury. All this using the same canvas: pizza.

In the first edition of the Guida Identità Golose, in 2008, there were only 2 pizzerias reviewed, and not because we were lazy. We've always been in favour of opening our doors to pizza Margherita and Quattro Stagioni, if properly made. The restaurants were Simone Padoan's I Tigli  in Veneto and Gabriele Bonci's Pizzarium in Rome. The following year, again in Rome, we included also Giancarlo Casa's La Gatta Mangiona and Stefano Callegari's Sforno. They're all still in our list in 2021, and they are all in excellent shape, even 14 years later. This confirms that the choice of quality they made at the time was the right one. 


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Marialuisa Iannuzzi

Born in Irpinia in 1991, she studied Foreign Languages at university, and then International Studies. But then she followed her heart and so her love for hospitality was born in the New Forest (U.K.). Her love for food had always been alive and kicking.  After manging the hospitality at Identità Golose Milano, today she reports on flavours for Identità Golose. Isa travels, and tastes. She keeps her sensations alive through words.

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