Discovering Italian Pizza and the Perfect Double Date

Do you know the recipe for a perfect double date? The ingredients are very simple: all you need are good friends and good food.  Recently, I cooked up a great double date when I went out to dinner with my boyfriend, Matt, his best friend, Luis, and Luis’ girlfriend, Tatiana. Earlier this year, the four of  us decided to meet for a monthly double date and this was to be the first of many.

It all started when I decided to educate myself on authentic Italian pizza. I don’t know about you, but I am a huge fan of pizza and Italian food in general. One of the most surprising things that I learned through my research is that what we as Americans consider pizza, the Italians would not.  Our crust is extremely thick and soft, while the Italian is thin and crispy. We like to be exceedingly liberal with our sauce and cheese, while Italians believe in minimalism when it comes to what they put on top of their food.  When I realized that I had never eaten the real thing, I knew I had to go to a restaurant where they did it right and experience true Italian pizza.

I ended up settling on “Di Napoli Ristorante & Pizzeria” because of their reputation for delicious food and their array of choices when it comes to pizza. Their menu boasts a little of everything including classics like spaghetti Bolognese, Margherita pizza, and chicken cannelloni. At Di Napoli they pay attention to details such as making their dough from scratch every morning and promising their customers an authentic thin crust. Their pizza menu in particular features tasty and creative options such as: “Pizza Gamberoni al Pesto” which consists of roasted garlic, shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and red onion all atop a thin layer of pesto sauce, and “Pizza Con La Luganega” which includes fire-roasted red peppers, sweet caramelized onions, Italian sausage, oregano, mozzarella and tomato sauce, to name a few.

Everybody in our party ordered pizza for dinner—except me.  I had such a hard time debating between all the pizzas available that I ended up not getting one at all! Instead I decided on the veal parmigiana, a veal cutlet cooked to perfection and then smothered in marinara and cheese, served over a bed of penne. The veal was tender and juicy, while the marinara sauce was perfectly cooked; the tomatoes shined in the dish, the taste only improved by the herbs mixed throughout the sauce.

Our double date at Di Napoli was an equally delicious experience for the others as much as it was for me; Tatiana ordered the classic “Pizza Margherita”, Luis wanted the “Pizza Con La Luganega”, and Matt had the spicy and tantalizing “Pizza Amore Mio”, which includes Calabrian chilies, arugula, pancetta, and mozzarella.  And by the end of the night, everyone’s plates were completely empty, so I think that’s a good sign.

Choosing a fun restaurant to spend time with friends is an important factor when it comes to a good night out and I have to say Di Napoli was an excellent choice. We all had an amazing time catching up, eating, and hanging out with one another. If you are looking to share a similar experience, I can highly recommend “Di Napoli Ristorante & Pizzeria”.  Just don’t forget the other half of the recipe!

Ashley Mckenzie is a voracious eater, a curious cook, and all all-around foodie. She is a representative of all those who enjoy good food without pretenses and she is currently on the search for your next favorite eatery.