Becoming a pizza maker requires formulating the perfect dough recipe and using high quality ingredients.
For serious artisans, making pizza is more than throwing balls of dough laden with sauce into an oven: It's a craft that must be honed through years of experience. Pizza maker Chris Bianco, a James Beard Foundation Award winner, describes his profession as an ongoing process that connects him with humanity. He also believes that mastering the art of pizza-making is not possible; instead, you develop an intimate relationship with the practice. Thus, becoming a pizza maker requires developing a loving attitude and a patient demeanor while learning the craft.
Instructions
1. Choose which style of pizza you wish to perfect. Decide between crispy thin Italian pizza or thick and chewy Chicago style. Play with the different textures and consistency of the dough and note how the temperature of the oven affects the outcome as well.
2. Invest in a pizza oven. Though a standard oven may suffice as you begin your culinary career, you will ultimately want to upgrade to a pizza oven. A pizza oven is capable of heating the pie at a higher temperature, thereby enabling you to get that desirable crispy outside while maintaining a crisp, chewy inside. If you desire a smokier flavor, choose a fire oven pizza maker instead of a gas-based oven. Pam Anderson, author of "The Perfect Recipe," also advises cooking the pizza atop quarry tile as a way to achieve a dark, crispy bottom.
3. Study pizza recipes and begin to develop your own set of flavors. Experiment with exotic ingredients such as goat cheese and pistachios mixed with caramelized onions. As you mix and match with toppings ranging from pecorino cheese to thinly sliced green apples, pay attention to your ratio of ingredients as well. Too much sauce or too little oregano can easily ruin an otherwise perfect pie. Maria Liberati suggests in her book, "The Basic Art of Pizza," to grow fresh ingredients when possible: The six she recommends are parsley, oregano, basil, onions, peppers and tomatoes.
4. Find an outlet for pizza making. Maybe you will limit your newfound culinary expertise to throwing pizza parties at home. Or, you may fill out an application at a well-known fast food pizza joint while you scrap up the cash to open your own boutique parlor. Whatever the outlet, ensure that your decision will provide ample experience and learning opportunities in the art of pizza making.
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