Briatore criticizes the Pizza of Naples, low prices and poor quality: the pizza chefs' answer

A harsh attack on Neapolitan pizza , the star of the show these days at the Naples Pizza Village , comes from Flavio Briatore , the famous Italian entrepreneur who often makes headlines. On this occasion, he declared that a cheap pizza cannot be high quality.

In short, for Briatore, if a pizza is cheap, costing 4 or 5 euros , then it means the ingredients used aren't genuine and of good quality . The attack on Napoli Pizza Village is clear because in the 40 pizzerias present, pizza is priced precisely at these prices, and complete menus including pizza, soft drink, dessert, and coffee cost 13 euros.

Let's remember that in his restaurant a pizza can cost up to 60 euros , making it a product for the rich.

What are Briatore's words?

Here are his words specifically:

We started with a very simple reasoning: we need to use the best possible ingredients, unimaginable on the market. These guys who sell a pizza for 4-5 euros, as they advertise, what do they put in these pizzas?

Hence, low price equals low quality. Yet we know that on average in Naples a margherita costs 4-5 euros, excluding cases in which we pay a few euros more because special tomatoes or oil are used, and the pizza tastes excellent.

The answer of Neapolitan pizza makers

In response, some Neapolitan pizza makers have reacted to Briatore's words by defending our pizza and even implementing praiseworthy and popular initiatives, such as handing out free pizzas in the center.

We can summarize the reaction of Neapolitan pizza makers with the words of the President of the Neapolitan Pizzaiuoli Association, Sergio Miccù:

Neapolitan pizza is a pop dish , meaning popular. It has helped feed entire generations, overcoming the city's most severe crises, from war to cholera. The issue isn't how much a pizza with blue lobster topping sells for, but how fair it is to sell a Margherita or a Marinara made with quality ingredients . It's too generic to talk about pizza: the classic ones retain their traditional value and are a popular dish. The so-called chef-made ones are a different matter and can command different prices.

Instead, Alessandro Condurro, CEO of Antica Pizzeria Michele in the world, commented as follows:

Briatore miscalculated: it's true that a pizza can't cost just 4 euros anymore, because if you use quality ingredients, with all the increases these days, it can't be paid that cheaply. But it can cost 6, not 14. I tell him that I sell a Marinara or Margherita for 6 euros, and that doesn't mean I have illegal workers. We pay all the contributions and taxes.

In short, the overall response was unanimous in stating that pizza in Naples is not low-quality and the ingredients used are genuine and healthy. Some price increases are due to the cost of raw materials, but the reason isn't to make pizza an exclusive dish suitable for the wealthy.

Sorbillo distributes free pizzas in the center

In response to Briatore, Gino Sorbillo today, June 21st, handed out free pizza wallets in front of his restaurant on Via dei Tribunali to demonstrate that even free pizza is always excellent and tasty.

Not only that, the pizza chef has launched another initiative: 4 euro pizza for anyone who managed to get into his restaurant for lunch today.

The invitation of the Napoli Pizza Village to Briatore

To calm matters and give Flavio Briatore a taste of Neapolitan pizza, organizer Claudio Sebillo publicly invited the entrepreneur to the Napoli Pizza Village, not only to prove him wrong, but also to let him experience a magical and unique atmosphere.

Who knows if he will accept the invitation.

Meanwhile, despite these controversies, the Napoli Pizza Village has reached record numbers, exceeding the one million visitors recorded in the two previous editions and is still receiving tens of thousands of visitors until June 26, the final day of the kermesse.

Information on the Napoli Pizza Village

When

from 17 to 26 June 2022

Where

Lungomare Caracciolo

Opening hours

• from 18.00 to 1.00
• events every evening from 21.00

Price

• free admission and events, menus are paid for

Contact us

Official website | Facebook page