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What is Gourmet Pizza? Difference with Regular Pizza Explained

One of the things that make something gourmet is the quality and freshness of the ingredients and the care that is taken during preparation.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

The word gourmet is something that makes your taste buds come alive as they start to wonder about all the possibilities that it holds and the feeling to know the food is going to be absolutely delicious no matter what it is.

Although you can attach nearly any word to gourmet and know that it is going to be delicious and full of flavor, we can all agree that pizza is one of the best additions to the word, and something that gets everyone excited and rightfully so!

From the mozzarella cheese to the basil and especially the sauce as well as the dough, everything about a gourmet pizza is just better as it uses quality ingredients and making this pizza can only be seen as an art form.

What is the Meaning of Gourmet Pizza?

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Gourmet pizza essentially transforms the parts of regular pizza and takes them to the next level. The dough is made by hand and with much care using only the best flour, olive oil that is some of the best, the cheese is of the highest quality, and the sauce alone will be enough to make you shed a tear of joy.

Gourmet pizzas are made with a lot of love and care and as such it is above the standard of a normal pizza and gourmet pizza restaurants pride themselves in upholding a certain standard of food that is always perfect and bursts with flavors.

What is the difference between regular and gourmet pizza?

The most notable differences between gourmet pizzas and regular pizzas are the type and quality of ingredients that get used and the way that it is presented and these are some of the things that set the two apart.

There is also a price difference between the two with gourmet pizza being more expensive than regular pizza, and more often than not you may even find that gourmet pizzas have wine or other food pairings included that make the whole meal extra special.

The Ingredients

Flour – Regular pizza dough is usually made with all-purpose flour as it is widely available, affordable, and yields a pretty decent dough, whereas gourmet pizza dough usually uses Italian Tipo ’00’ flour, which is finer ground than normal flour, and gives the dough an incredible super-smooth texture which creates a better mouth-feel and a richer flavor within the dough.

Oil – More often than not, a regular pizza dough will use whatever neutral oil is available at the time and it usually works, but gourmet pizza uses extra-virgin olive oil that gives it a fantastic and very distinctive taste.

Cheese – The cheese on a regular pizza will usually be a pre-grated cheese such as mozzarella or cheddar and sometimes even feta, but a gourmet pizza will feature cheeses such as fresh mozzarella cheese that gets shredded by hand, goat cheese, and sharper cheeses such as parmesan or even blue cheese.

Toppings – Regular pizza toppings range form plain cheese to pepperoni and other toppings such as pineapple (which can certainly cause some debate) but a gourmet pizza will feature toppings such as caramelized onions, fresh basil, bacon, seafood, and even 24k gold on occasion.

Sauce – A good base is important for any pizza and can elevate even the most regular pizzas but for a truly gourmet pizza, you will find a rich tomato sauce made with some of the best fresh ingredients such as San Marzano tomatoes, the best olive oil, and carefully chosen seasonings.

The Presentation

Regular pizzas are more often than not served already sliced and customers will eat them using their hands while sharing a pizza with friends or family but gourmet pizza is meant to be served traditionally.

A traditional pizza will be served uncut and on a plate. You will then slice the pizza yourself and eat it using a knife and fork although it is still acceptable to eat with your hands. A person usually has their own pizza but these can still be shared among friends and family depending on the size.

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Now that you know what gourmet pizzas are and what sets them apart, why not try to make one for yourself? Take a look at this authentic pizza dough recipe that uses quality ingredients and is easy to execute and have a chance to taste this amazing for yourself.

Don’t be afraid to add only the best toppings and pretty soon you will be completely addicted to the process of making the pizza for yourself and of course to eating it!

Disclaimer: Note that the food images displayed on this website are for illustrative purposes only. They are not indicative of the actual dishes or presentations you should expect during the classes. We strive to provide the best culinary experience, but the appearance of dishes may vary. Always refer to class descriptions and details for accurate information on what to expect.

Frequent Asked Questions

One of the things that make something gourmet is the quality and freshness of the ingredients that are used to make it and the care that is taken during the preparation process.

In terms of pizza, this means using high-quality flour, olive oil, tomato sauce, cheeses, and toppings throughout.

Some chefs recommend folding the end of the slice up to the crust and then folding the slice in half again to make a pocket out of the pizza. This keeps all of the toppings on the slice and ensures that you get a ton of flavor in every bite.

Gourmet ingredients may blend herbs and spices in an interesting manner or add flavor to the pizza that is usually not added.

For example, lemon olive oil spray, black truffle balsamic glaze, and Calvi white wine vinegar are unique takes on simple ingredients but they are elevated to another level.

Normal ingredients are more plain but they can still be delicious if they are used correctly.

In the days when pizza toppings were mostly pepperoni, sausage, onions, and peppers, chef Ed LaDou was a pioneer and started adding gourmet toppings that had never before graced the face of a pizza and many years later, it is still happening.

Gourmet pizzas are usually made with more care than a regular pizza. They use the freshest ingredients, the dough is made from scratch, and the cheeses are of the highest quality.

It offers a modern and contemporary style and the dough will typically be kneaded by hand, often by pizza makers with years of experience, and baked in wood-fired ovens that are decades old.

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