Is pizza eating part of a way of life?
By marguicha
@marguicha (223720)
Chile
October 10, 2012 11:19am CST
I have been in Italy and in the US and there is a different approach in each country to the pizza. Americans eat pizza as a way of life, as they do with hamburguers and fried chicken. They eat a lot at Mc Donalds, Pizza Hut and the like and the several Fried Chicken chains. They call for a brought to home pizza several times a week. Italians like to cook, so pasta, gnochi, ravioli and so on are their thing. Sauces are varied and even at small unexpensive restaurants they pride themselves about the cook. American pizza chains have reached other countries and have started the model of fast food chain, with pizzas brought to home too. But still they have to compete with the real pizzas and the other homemade dishes. How do you feel about pizzas brought to your home? Are they worth it, in spite of how yummy they are, considering their price? In my country it is a lot cheper to cook from scratch and I even make my own pizza dough. How about you?
10 people like this
38 responses
@dfollin (25343)
• United States
10 Oct 12
We live in the United States and yes we order a lot of pizza to be delivered to us.
I have never made a homemade pizza,but I have wanted to.However it has never been conveinent,small kitchen or not enough time.
I am not familiar with a recipe to make my own dough though.
I have never made a homemade pizza,but I have wanted to.However it has never been conveinent,small kitchen or not enough time.I am not familiar with a recipe to make my own dough though.
1 person likes this
@dfollin (25343)
• United States
10 Oct 12
OMG! That was so weird!
As soon as I got finished typing this on my computer.I picked up my Kindle to try and find some music to listen to and I went onto youtube.I typed in "Elvis Presley" and up loaded the page of his songs,but at the top of the list was a video "How to make homemade pizza dough"!
That was weird.
The only thing was he told us how to make it,but he did not give us the measurements.
As soon as I got finished typing this on my computer.I picked up my Kindle to try and find some music to listen to and I went onto youtube.I typed in "Elvis Presley" and up loaded the page of his songs,but at the top of the list was a video "How to make homemade pizza dough"! That was weird.
The only thing was he told us how to make it,but he did not give us the measurements.1 person likes this
@dfollin (25343)
• United States
11 Oct 12
You got that right,only one Elvis.
I will try and find the no yeast one,thanks.
I will try and find the no yeast one,thanks.@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
10 Oct 12
THere are several sites at the web where you can learn to make pizza dough. I remember that I myself gave a friend here a no yeast pizza dough recipe. It`s easier and yummier. There are a lot of pizza dough recipes, but only one Elvis
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
12 Oct 12
There are several recipe for pizza doughs online. They are not hard to do. I even posted once a pizza dough I make with no yeast. It`s very easy.
@smurfysmurf (651)
• Philippines
11 Oct 12
Hi Alottodo,
I really hope I can make my own pizza just like you. It seem easy but I am not sure if I could make it right. Maybe by practicing I could really make it perfect. So, I should definitely ask my mom to buy an oven for me to try out baking. I think the dough making is tough...
@chrystalia (1208)
• Tucson, Arizona
11 Oct 12
I used to eat take out pizza when I didn't have time or didn't feel like making it from scratch, but I prefer to make my own pizza. I love pizza :-). Unfortunately, the oven I have now in the travel trailer isn't good for cooking most things, including pizza- so if I want it now, I'll have to do take out. The ovens and stoves in trailers are very very small-- the oven is the size of a microwave oven, so none of my good baking dishes or pizza pans fit in it, and it doesn't heat evenly anyway, because it's too small. If there were room for a real oven, I would put one in, but there isn't. I miss my house :-(((.
I think a lot of Americans think they are too busy to cook from scratch, even when they aren't. Also, a lot of people like the taste of take out and fast food-- I can't figure that out, since for me most fast food is way too salty.
@chrystalia (1208)
• Tucson, Arizona
12 Oct 12
I would do that if this oven heated reliably-- but it either burns or the food is unevenly cooked. Of course the trailer is from 1976, so I didn't expect miracles-- but it is annoying. I haven't figured out how to make pizza on the stove top yet, but if there's a way I'll find it LOL.
I have been eating a lot of fritatas lately-- my chickens have been laying more for some reason. Since I don't like turning my omelets, doing them Italian style is good. I had one for dinner tonight with potatoes, tomatoes, bacon and cubed cooked chicken, peppers and onions (sauteed first in the bacon fat) and cheese-- amazing :-). I don't turn them over at all, I just turn the heat down low after they are half cooked and put a lid on my fry pan-- the steam makes the top all nice and puffy.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
12 Oct 12
I have an old and big oven but I have to bend a lot when I use it so I don`t. I have learned to do almost everything (including food for 30 people for my birthday) in my small electric oven placed over the counter. I bought extra baking dishes to fit the small oven and it helps a lot when I have parties. I have a small round and shallow baking dish I use for pizzas and quiches.
.@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
15 Oct 12
I love fritattas too. And there are so many things you can put there. I find that omelettes and fritattas are wonderful ways to use ods and ends from the fridge, specially veggies. I have lots of homegrown oregano and I use it fresh or dry. THat is wonderful for pizzas and fritattas.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
10 Oct 12
Actually, the worse pizza that I have ever eaten was purchased in Rome two years ago but I am sure that this this the exception to the rule
I have eaten pizza in the U.S. and in all cases it was good ut there is a lot to be said for the home made piuzza as it is a work of art and a work of love. I haven't made pizza dough in years but buy the dough now for speed.
The last pizza I had was in an Italian restaurant on the South Bank in London. It was wondeful with a thin crust that was so enjoyable. My favourite is a thick crust though I like making pizza as I can control the toppings and the amount of cheese used. I mainly like veggies - especially mushrooms and peppers.
I rarely order pizza in as we live a bit out of town and it would be so expensive to order in.If pepperonie is used then I cut the slices thinner to save on calories. I should ebnd by saying that all the other food that I ate in Italy was marvellous.
I have eaten pizza in the U.S. and in all cases it was good ut there is a lot to be said for the home made piuzza as it is a work of art and a work of love. I haven't made pizza dough in years but buy the dough now for speed.
The last pizza I had was in an Italian restaurant on the South Bank in London. It was wondeful with a thin crust that was so enjoyable. My favourite is a thick crust though I like making pizza as I can control the toppings and the amount of cheese used. I mainly like veggies - especially mushrooms and peppers.
I rarely order pizza in as we live a bit out of town and it would be so expensive to order in.If pepperonie is used then I cut the slices thinner to save on calories. I should ebnd by saying that all the other food that I ate in Italy was marvellous.1 person likes this
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
10 Oct 12
We must not judge the food we ate in one restaurant and say it that that`s how they cook. I have eaten awesome and icky food everywhere (even at home, I don`t always have the same success). I do agree with you that homemade pizza is a work of love. It is not easy to make, but it`s so wonderful when a loved one appreciates it. I like homemade pizza as I like a lot more cheese than what the pizza chain use.
). I do agree with you that homemade pizza is a work of love. It is not easy to make, but it`s so wonderful when a loved one appreciates it. I like homemade pizza as I like a lot more cheese than what the pizza chain use.1 person likes this
@varunkrishna007 (1909)
• India
11 Oct 12
Pizzas are expensive at our place too. You wont believe it a large pizza can cost me more than the entire money I spent for food for two days. That indeed a big amount if you consider the context. But I do have pizzas at times. I think may be people are ready to buy even at that cost thats why sellers retain such high prices for pizzas.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
11 Oct 12
It happens the same in my country, varunkrishna. Pizzas are very expensive here too. Still Pizza Huts and the like are places that are always full of people, besides the amount of the pizzas they deliver. That`s the kind of food I eat when my daughter invites me with her sons. I spend a lot less in homemade food. With the money spent on a pizza for two, I can make food for 5 people lunch and dinner.
@courtknee525 (3742)
• United States
10 Oct 12
Lol we definitely do enjoy our pizza and hamburgers. I love pizza and have it almost once a week, but we don't always buy it or have it delivered to our house. There aren't many pizza huts near me so we don't usually order from there very often. Most of the time, we order from this place near my house that has my favorite pizza ever. Or, my mom will make the pizza herself and it's really yummy.
1 person likes this
@varunkrishna007 (1909)
• India
11 Oct 12
I love hamburgers a lot. Infact I had my first hamburger some eight years back. I still remember the day when it first appeared in our nearby cake shop. It was actually a wonder thing. Till then, we had only heard about it in televisions or other media. It was a fantastic feeling to taste the first burger.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
15 Oct 12
Hamburgers are good, but I am talking about pizzas now
. In fact, I find that pizzas are much more interesting as food than hamburgers.
. In fact, I find that pizzas are much more interesting as food than hamburgers.@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
10 Oct 12
As one os us, mylotters, said, homemade pizzas are works of love. I bet your mom makes the best pizza, but it can be a hard job. I see you still have most of your pizzas ordered to your house
@echoforever (5180)
• United States
10 Oct 12
I don't live near anywhere to get fast food delivered to my house. I would consider this worth the trouble though mostly because of how rarely I get to have this. If I were to have it every day I don't think i would feel the same but I can't say for sure can I?
I would probably much prefer to have home made pizzas. I don't know how to cook them myself so I would have to learn. It would be cheaper, probably healthier, and I prefer the taste of home made sometimes to that of a chain restaurant.
I would probably much prefer to have home made pizzas. I don't know how to cook them myself so I would have to learn. It would be cheaper, probably healthier, and I prefer the taste of home made sometimes to that of a chain restaurant. 1 person likes this
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
11 Oct 12
One of the wonders about the net is that you write the words "pizza recipes" and you will get a lot of them with step by step directions
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
12 Oct 12
It wuld be a virtual pizza, so it would not be very filling. Pizzas are easy to make, but they are not cheap. Cheese is not cheap, at least in my country. And one of the things I love about homemade pizzas is that I put loads of cheese.@echoforever (5180)
• United States
12 Oct 12
Virtual pizza! That's too much hehe
Oh I love cheese so I would have a lot on there as well. I would hope to have more than one kind of cheese and a lot of toppings. 
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
11 Oct 12
Hi mar!
Yes, you are right pizza chains have opened in many countries and India in not untouched. Children love to go to Domino or Mc Donalds for bite of a pizza.
However, we Indians love to have our own home cooked meal instead of taking quite expensive pizza. Our Indian dishes with gravy are far better and nutritious than any Pizza. It is OK to take it once in a while but Pizza can not be a regular eating item for us.
@dpk262006 (58678)
• Delhi, India
12 Oct 12
Yes, junk food has made children obese and children do not understand that junk food is not good for them.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
12 Oct 12
In my country the way people eat has changed a lot since fastfood came to stay. And I can see that they are unhealthy most of the time because I did not see obese children when I was youn, yet you see a lot of that now. But I blame it more on the french fries and hamburguers.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
15 Oct 12
It is parent`s fault too. When I was small, we ate homemade dinner at home and we did not have any money to buy fries or other such things. Now parents give their children money instead of care.
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
10 Oct 12
we make ours too sometimes and rather than getting the fast food type of pizza, there is one place here in my city that makes a really good pizza from scratch but its a little bit more expensive and you have to phone in your order and wait for it. the pizza generally takes a good half an hour to make but it sure beats the cardboard crust of other pizza places and wins over a burger hands down!
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
11 Oct 12
I don`t think I save much when I make my homemade pizza, but I put loads of cheese in it and noone has ever given me that even when I pay for a double cheese.
@choybel (5042)
• Philippines
10 Oct 12
I love pizza. If I only I could afford them everyday, I definitely would either order one or prepare them myself. In our country pizza eating could be a luxury as it really is not that cheap. Of course, there are affordable pizza chains here but they are definitely not as good as those that are pricey and popular. I have often wondered how it was to live in the U.S.A. and experience the pizza lifestyle.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
11 Oct 12
I have been in the US several times and even though I have found many beauties there, I would not change country for all the money in the world.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
16 Oct 12
With age, I have discovered that I don`t even want to live in another city. And maybe, if I think about it, I donm`t want to live in another neighborhood either.
@shaggin (72183)
• United States
10 Oct 12
I dont think mcdonalds sells pizza at least where I am. If they did I dont think it would be very good as I hate mcdonalds food. All places that serve pizza are different. If you go to pizza hut it tastes different then at say chuck e cheese. Pizza hut is my favorite place to eat pizza. I love their stuffed crust its delcious. Its very expensive to go eat out at resturants though so I only do it with my kids on special occassions.
@shaggin (72183)
• United States
10 Oct 12
My husband and I used to make pizza at home all the time. I can make a pretty good pizza but I usually just buy the frozen pizza at walmart for $2.50 or $3. Its so much faster to just throw them in the oven then to make the pizza dough from scratch and then build the pizza and cook it.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
10 Oct 12
THat sounds unexpensive, but I`m sure that your homemade pizza was more healthy.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
10 Oct 12
Mac Donalds doesn`t sell pizza that I know of, but is a fast food chain. Do you ever make pizzas at home? I seem to remember that you had made some dish at home that your son loved.
@julyteen (13252)
• Davao, Philippines
12 Oct 12
I love to eat pizza before when I was still young and child but lately after I turned to 30 years old it seems there's a big difference after all. When I eat one time a bunch of pizza I cannot breathe. My body fall of red marks. My friend said I am now allergy in one of pizza's ingredients. I don't know what is it. Even some bread also I allergy.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
23 Oct 12
Our body changes with age. I remember I loved to eat some fried dumplings they sold on the streets when I was a teen. It was an important part of my tummy filling when I was at the university. Now, for many decades now, I am incapable of eating them.
@Canellita (12029)
• United States
13 Oct 12
This discussion is funny to me because I love pizza and I have it quite often. I live in the U.S., but when I was in Europe a few years ago, I sat at the next table from an American couple and the wife ordered pizza.
She went on and on about how good it was and her husband tried it and agreed. She also said she hardly ever ate pizza at home and I said I usually ate pizza at least once per week.
She offered me some of her pizza insisting it was really good and that I should try it, but I said "No disrespect, but I didn't come to Spain to eat Pizza."
I can't imagine going to Italy and not eating pasta, or Morocco and not having tajines. Every place has something it's known for and we should explore. I generally prefer to eat light, healthy, flavorful foods.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
15 Oct 12
I agree with you about eating the food of the country when you visit. Yet in my visits to the US, I can see two ways of eating. One is the fast food kind of eating with giant cokes on the side. And then there`s another kind of restaurants which are not too expensive either, but they serve healthy and well cooked food. I have eaten awesome potatoes and steaks. I have had wonderful meals that show the cultural diversity of this great country.
@sjvenden27 (1840)
• United States
11 Oct 12
I do order pizzas and bring them home to eat; and I also make them from scratch it just has been a while since I have done it... My family eats pizza about three times a month... Take out pizza is not what it use to be.. The toppings on pizza has been cut back by at least 25 percent or more... The quality of a pizza that you buy from the store and bring it home to put it in the oven is actually better in a lot of cases.. Yes there are alot more fast food chains in the US; the convenence, ablity to please a whole family that doesnt want to eat the same thing at the same time, and lack of time to cook... the fast food chains will continue to grow.. And with the way fast food chains are making their food; in some cases it is actually cheaper if you put money and time together...
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
12 Oct 12
I remember the first time I ate pizza on a visit to the US. Until then I only ate pizzas in my country in good italian restaurants. I liked them very much, but quality has changed with time and they are not as yummy as before.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
15 Oct 12
I remember they had more cheese and pepperoni and it was very filling.
@sjvenden27 (1840)
• United States
12 Oct 12
Yes that is very true.. I remember when a large pizza and an order of bread sticks could feed my family with leftovers for the next day...
@shaqziad (655)
• Malaysia
11 Oct 12
Pizza is indeed a way of life. But different people have their own interpretation of pizza as the way of life. American, as you said, treat pizza as a delicious fast food on delivery. Italian pride themselves on founding pizza, and home-cooking. For others, like me, pizza means a special occasion, like getting good exam result, a rise in pay grade, and so on. So its not uncommon if people is willing to pay for pizza, depending on how they view pizza.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
12 Oct 12
You are very right. And it all depends on how much you eat, where and when.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
11 Oct 12
Although I enjoy a good pizza, I don't think I would want to have one brought to my home. I just don't eat that much and it would go to waste (or is that waist?). Either way, I will sometimes eat in a restaurant or if someone is ordering I might eat some, but I don't go out of my way to order one since they are not cheap. I don't bother making them at home either unless it is a frozen one and there is someone to share with.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
11 Oct 12
I guess that is one way to get the taste without all the extra fat.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
11 Oct 12
Waste or waist, Deb. I`m trying to eat a reasonable amount of healthy food so that I can go to the doctor in November with the kilos he wants me to have. I like pizzas, but I agree it`s not something you would eat all by yourself. So I don`t. The closest I am getting to a pizza now is to use either bread or mashed potatoes as crust and make a small homemade "pizza" by covering that with cheese, tomatoes, dry oregano and whatever I have at the fridge.
. I`m trying to eat a reasonable amount of healthy food so that I can go to the doctor in November with the kilos he wants me to have. I like pizzas, but I agree it`s not something you would eat all by yourself. So I don`t. The closest I am getting to a pizza now is to use either bread or mashed potatoes as crust and make a small homemade "pizza" by covering that with cheese, tomatoes, dry oregano and whatever I have at the fridge.1 person likes this
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
16 Oct 12
Marg, in my country the pizzas which was ordered and brought to my home are costing much more expensive. It is much better to cook our own dishes at home. We here are used to eat rice along with dishes as our daily meal. My family eat pizza only on special occasion. Sometimes, we also tried out making our own pizza dough but don't really tastes nice. We don't eat pizza daily since both my parents are ill with health problems. They need to eat freshly cooked meals with lots of veggies.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
16 Oct 12
In my country, pizzas are quite expensive. Even made at home pizzas are not cheap because cheese is expensive in my country. But all homemade meals are healthier than meals eaten out.
@millertime (1394)
• United States
15 Oct 12
You make it sound like all Americans live on pizza, hamburgers and fried chicken. I don't know anyone that eats that much fast food or who "call for a brought to home pizza several times a week". None of my family, friends or acquaintances eat like that. Everybody I know cooks at home most of the time and only occasionally do they order pizza or eat fast food of any kind.
Personally, even when living alone, I only ordered pizza once or twice a month. I ate fast food about the same and never got fried chicken at any of the "several fried chicken chains". I cooked for myself and ate a fairly healthy diet most of the time.
Ordering pizza delivery is primarily a convenience more than anything else and you pay extra for that convenience. It's always cheaper to prepare meals at home, even pizza. Where I live now, I can't even get pizza delivered, so I'll be cooking it from scratch or getting frozen from the grocery store and cooking it.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
15 Oct 12
I`m glad you feel this way. I feel that even though some pizzas are very yummy, it is not a complete meal as it has too much fat and carbs and not enough veggies. I`m more worried about the way young people eat: they are eating less healthy each day here and there.
@garson (884)
• United States
22 Oct 12
Pizza and pasta are two of my favorite food, but I would not want to eat any of them everyday. I haven't had an authentic pizza and pasta; I don't think so. I have not been to Italy and would love to go there someday.
I've never made my own pizza - I would love to learn if I have great interest and motivation. It is always cheaper to cook anything from scratch.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
23 Oct 12
Now it is easy to find recipes: it`s a matter of searching at the web. I have found lots of recipes there. All of them are well explained and you can check at the ingredients and replace any one if they are too expensive. At least, I do.
@surekharathi (14146)
• India
16 Oct 12
Still I not eat pizza and I dont know the taste of pizza. But I heard pizza is very tasty. Do you know the name pizza if yes then share it. I will try to purchase from Restaurant.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
16 Oct 12
Any pizza from a restaurant has a few common ingredients that give it its main taste. And then there are the diferent ingredients: choose what you like best.
@asliah (11137)
• Philippines
21 Nov 12
hi,
here in my country eating pizza is a way of life,regardless what the price is,maybe because the country of is the number one country who makes pastas and pizzas,i feel sometimes when someone brought pizza at home of course i will so thankful because it is a food,the more price it is the more delicious it is.
@marguicha (223720)
• Chile
21 Nov 12
I have been reading about recipes from your country, friend, and I hadn`t come across pizzas. I did see a lot of food that it is similar to was we make in South America. I`m sure it has to do with the recipes left by Spanish conquerors. The only different I have seen in some recipes is that you use a lot of coconut milk and mangos
