The world of Italian cuisine is a sacred realm, and one chef who knows this better than most is Angela Hartnett. With a Michelin star under her belt and a lineage rooted in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, Hartnett is a guardian of La Cucina Italiana, the country's culinary heritage. Her latest endeavor, a collaboration with Waitrose, showcases her commitment to preserving the purity of Italian flavors, even in the face of convenience.
One of the most heated debates in the realm of Italian cuisine is the use of a fork to eat pizza. Hartnett, with her unwavering dedication to tradition, declares it a crime. She advocates for the Neapolitan style, where the thin, crisp base is folded over and savored by hand. This, she insists, is the only way to truly experience the essence of Italian pizza. The addition of pineapple, chicken, or prawns to the pizza base is a non-starter for Hartnett, who views these combinations as culinary blasphemy.
Her disdain for pre-grated Parmesan is equally vocal. Hartnett, raised with fresh Parmesan, finds the ready-grated variety stale and flavorless, akin to old leather shoes. She emphasizes the importance of using fresh ingredients, a principle that extends to her pasta sauces. Hartnett prefers simplicity, advocating for sauces made with just two to three ingredients, such as butter, olive oil, and a hint of herbs. Fresh tomatoes, she notes, are reserved for summer sauces, a practice rooted in the Italian tradition of enjoying seasonal produce.
In her collaboration with Waitrose, Hartnett's commitment to authenticity shines through. The range is free from industrial ingredients often found in ultra-processed foods, with the exception of citric acid as an acidity regulator. She vehemently opposes the use of modified starch in sauces, believing in the simplicity and purity of traditional Italian cooking. While she may not condone the use of a fork for pizza, she understands the need for convenience in modern life.
Hartnett's passion for Italian cuisine is evident in her no-nonsense attitude and her dedication to preserving the country's culinary heritage. Her collaboration with Waitrose is a testament to her belief that simplicity and authenticity are the cornerstones of Italian cooking, and she leaves no doubt that eating pizza with a fork is a crime against the rich tapestry of La Cucina Italiana.
