Rome's Best Pizza?

Well, if New Yorkers can't agree on what is NYC's best pizza (California, of course, doesn't really have pizza), and if Parisians can't decide who makes the best falafel there (see my April 14 post), then it probably goes without saying that there is no clear answer to who makes Rome's best pizza.  But I went to an out-of-the-way place on Sunday that is on everyone's top 3 list: Pizzarium.

I kinda stumbled upon it.  I was running some errands in Prati and I had accomplished my goals.  I was also hungry.  So, I looked at my Rome food app and saw that I was close to Pizzarium, and that -- more importantly -- they are open on Sundays.  (A lot of places are not.)  I had wanted to go for weeks, but it's rare that I'm over that far onto the other side of the Tiber.  This was finally the time.

As I understand it, Pizzarium is well known on the foodie circuit.  The owner, Gabriele Bonci, is kind of a celebrity in foodie circles.  He is known for making pizza with some super high-quality flour and some particular yeasts and some long fermentation process.  I don't understand any of it, of course, but you can read up on it in some links I'll include below.  Bonci is also known for making pizzas with dozens or hundreds of different funky and exotic toppings.

I was impressed during my visit yesterday by the fact that there were maybe 15 different varieties available, and that the guy behind the counter recited them all to me one-by-one in very clear inglese.  (I thought it interesting that they spoke such good English because I imagine that not a ton of tourists go here.  But maybe I'm wrong on that.)

I went for a slice with zucchini flower (which is something I'd never seen until I got here), anchovies, and mozzarella.  It was very good.  If you're here visiting, Pizzarium is worth a visit.  And, on top of the food, it was just a very good experience.  I didn't have a film crew with me -- it was Sunday.  But this is basically how my visit went.  (You need to copy the URL into your browser -- some copyright issue is preventing me from embedding the video.)

http://www.travelchannel.com/video/not-your-average-pizzeria

And here are some other links with info on Pizzarium:

http://www.parlafood.com/pizzarium-reopens-today-in-rome/

http://anamericaninrome.com/wp/2011/03/pizzarium-the-best-pizza-in-rome/