Mama Mia, that was some great pizza!
What an amazing meal. The Campania owners moved here from the West Coast, where authentic Neapolitan pizza is available everywhere, and saw that, in Atlanta, if you want pizza like they invented it in Naples, there are only a handful of choices. So, they set themselves to work to create a restaurant where you could have a nice, inviting atmosphere, cloth napkins, real service and still get the real deal in terms of pizza and other authentic, imported Italian meats and cheeses.
How did they do that? They imported an authentic wood-burning stone oven from Naples. They hired head Pizzaiolo Stefano (a Naples import himself). They imported only the finest double-zero flour, essential for great pizza, then they use imported Sam Marzano tomatoes (the best for any tomato sauce), Mozzarella di Bufala, Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, and Italian sausage. You've heard of all of those, right? Well, imagine how a pizza might be when you use authentic, high-quality ingredients like those to make it.
But it doesn't stop there. That flour is formed into a dough that is given a full 3 days for a slow rise, for a crust with just the right texture. Then Stefano and his team pull the dough into thin disks, spread on a thin layer of Pomodoro sauce (for the red pizzas), dot it with handfuls of Fior-di-Latte mozzarella or Mozzarella di Bufala and other fine ingredients. Then its into the 1000-degree wood-fired oven, where it cooks in 60-90 seconds. Some pizzas might get a quick topping of ingredients like Prosciutto di Parma, shaved parmigiano and fresh arugula after they come out.
Now, if you are used to NY pizza or Chicago pizza or, (God forbid) chain-store pizza, then you may be alarmed at what you see. The pizzas are dinner-plate sized and they will be blistered and scorched perfectly from the inferno in that oven. But those scorch marks give the pizza its characteristic flavor and the crust will have just the right amount of chew while the toppings will sing to you in perfect harmony. You may never be able to eat ordinary pizza again. Of course, in Naples, this is ordinary pizza.
We tried the Margherita pizza, simple with Pomodoro, Fior-di-Latte mozzarella, parmigiano, fresh basil and extra-virgin olive oil, yet eye-opening in its flavor. We also tried the "Salame" pizza. This is really a nod to the American love of pepperoni, which is simply not an option in Italy (if you order "pepperone" in Italy, you will get wonderful roasted peppers). However, at Campania, even the pepperoni is special. Narrow and sliced a little thickly, the slices cup a bit in the oven and get a little crisped. The last pizza we tried was the Tartufo. This one had Fior-di-Latte mozzarella, fontina, pancetta, mushrooms, garlic, and was finished with fresh rosemary and truffle oil. It was stunning.
If you haven't tried Italian Limoncello, then you must give this a try. A staple in southern Italy, where Sorrento lemons are as big as navel oranges and almost as sweet. The peels are soaked in Vodka for an eternity and then the mixture is strained, mixed with simple syrup and served chilled. Right out of the freezer is best. Stefano makes some right in the restaurant for you to enjoy before or after your meal. Alas, it is served refrigerated rather than out of the freezer; but it is still delicious and a completely authentic way to reflect on your delicious Neapolitan experience as you sip it. read more