I Masanielli is located in Caserta. The city is not charming in any way. As we made our…read morereservations months in advance, we were the first party called. Franceso Martucci, the pizza chef, is known for applying advanced culinary techniques. A large portion of the pizzas on his menu has dough that is fried, steamed, and then cooked in the oven. Did it make a lovely, light crust? Yes. Is it better or more tender than the pizzas we had elsewhere that had only been fried or had only been baked in an oven? No.
APPETIZERS:
FRITTATINA VEGETARIANA: Crispy potatoes sautéed in Normandy butter with red peppers, Salina capers, sun-dried Caiazzan olives, fondue and 28-month aged Parmigiano Reggiano Bianca, Buffalo milk cheese, béchamel scented with cubeb pepper, and fresh basil. This was just a single bite.
POLENTA FRITTA. Corn polenta, wild garlic, cubebe pepper, pecorino cheese; served with onion mayonnaise (no eggs, with soy milk). Everyone at the table liked this,
PIZZAS:
UNA VOLTA Fior di latte cheese, Semi-aged Agnone Caciocavallo cheese, blue cheese by Fattorie Garofalo, marinated Scottona beef top round with garlic, olive oil and parsley, lime mousse, Sichuan pepper, cubeb pepper. The toppings were the star on this one, and it was not overly blue-cheesy.
ASSOLUTO DI POMODORO: Roasted cherry tomato cream, piennolo tomato sautéed, yellow tomato sautéed, San Marzano PDO tomato mousse, dried piennolo cherry tomato, chips of red datterino, Piennolo tomato jam, extra virgin olive oil Matilde Misuraca. This was a tomato-forward pizza. Did I enjoy it? Absolutely. Was it better than a plain Cosacca that I had later that week at Pizzeria Salvo? No.
VIA EMILIA Fior di latte cheese, Mortadella Bologna PGI, flakes of 28-month-aged Parmigiano Reggiano made from Bianca Modenese cow's milk. Although my wife ordered this pizza, this was my daughter's favorite. It had the best bake of the pizzas we tried, probably because the toppings were added post-bake,
