The herb generally used as a garnish on a preferred Italian dish provides a visible attraction and a delicate, recent taste. Usually sprinkled atop a completed pie, this leafy inexperienced gives a counterpoint to the richer, heavier parts of the meals. For instance, a handful scattered throughout a margherita or pepperoni slice brightens the presentation and provides a herbaceous observe.
Its significance stems from its potential to boost the general sensory expertise of consuming the dish. Past aesthetics, it introduces nutritional vitamins and minerals, contributing a small however useful dietary enhance. Traditionally, the herb has been related to freshness and vibrancy, linking to culinary traditions the place presentation is valued alongside style.
This text will delve into the particular varieties used, cultivation strategies, optimum preparation methods, and the function it performs in culinary traditions worldwide. Moreover, potential well being advantages and attention-grabbing information surrounding its utilization shall be explored.
1. Freshness Indicator
The presence of recent, vibrant parsley atop a pizza serves as a crucial indicator of the general high quality and care taken within the dish’s preparation. The herb’s situation displays the pizzeria’s dedication to utilizing high-quality elements and sustaining applicable dealing with procedures.
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Visible Affirmation of High quality
Shiny inexperienced shade, crisp leaves, and an absence of wilting or browning signify latest harvesting and correct storage. A uninteresting, discolored, or limp look suggests the herb has been sitting for an prolonged interval, probably compromising its taste and dietary worth. This visible cue permits rapid evaluation of ingredient freshness.
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Fragrant Enhancement
Freshly lower parsley releases a attribute aroma that enhances the savory scent of the pizza. A faint or absent aroma signifies a lack of unstable oils, a transparent signal of diminished freshness. The presence of a robust, vibrant perfume reinforces the notion of a high-quality product.
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Taste Profile Integrity
Contemporary parsley contributes a clear, barely peppery taste that balances the richness of the cheese and sauce. Stale or wilted parsley loses its distinct taste and should even develop a bitter or off-putting style. This delicate but necessary taste part is crucial for the general style expertise and a gauge of ingredient high quality.
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Microbial Danger Mitigation
Correct dealing with and storage of parsley are important for minimizing the chance of microbial contamination. Contemporary, correctly saved parsley is much less prone to harbor dangerous micro organism in comparison with parsley that has been uncovered to improper situations. Its freshness, subsequently, turns into not directly linked to the protection and hygiene practices employed within the kitchen.
In conclusion, the state of parsley on a pizza transcends mere ornament; it acts as a dependable indicator of freshness, high quality, and a spotlight to element. By observing its look, aroma, and taste, one can acquire priceless insights into the requirements upheld by the institution and the general high quality of the eating expertise.
2. Taste Complement
The addition of parsley to pizza shouldn’t be merely aesthetic; it serves as a deliberate taste complement, enhancing and balancing the general style profile of the dish. This herb introduces delicate nuances that mitigate the richness of cheese and the acidity of tomato-based sauces, resulting in a extra harmonious culinary expertise.
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Herbaceous Freshness
Parsley’s herbaceous character contributes a refreshing counterpoint to the heavier, typically fatty parts of pizza. Its clear, barely peppery notes lower by the richness, stopping palate fatigue and stimulating the urge for food. This freshness is especially priceless in pizza variations with sturdy flavors, resembling these that includes pepperoni or sausage.
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Fragrant Complexity
The unstable oils current in parsley launch a fragile aroma that provides complexity to the general sensory expertise. This fragrant dimension works synergistically with different herbs and spices, enriching the general scent profile of the pizza and heightening the anticipation of consumption. The scent of recent parsley creates anticipation for pizza.
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Textural Distinction
The sunshine, barely crisp texture of recent parsley gives a distinction to the softer textures of the crust, cheese, and toppings. This textural variation enhances the mouthfeel of the pizza, stopping it from turning into monotonous. The parsley provides a layer of tactile curiosity that stimulates the senses.
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Taste Concord and Distinction
The flavour of parsley is such that it’s gentle sufficient to not compete with the dominant flavors of the dish, however potent sufficient to offer a major enhancement. It introduces a delicate bitterness which balances in opposition to the savory and candy elements current, making a harmonious and well-rounded taste profile, avoiding sensory overload.
The strategic use of parsley as a taste complement elevates the pizza from a easy mixture of elements to a complicated culinary creation. Its herbaceous notes, fragrant complexity, and textural distinction work in live performance to boost the general style and sensory expertise, demonstrating the significance of considerate taste layering.
3. Visible Attraction
The correlation between pizza and parsley extends past mere taste enhancement; visible attraction is considerably impacted. The herb, sometimes shiny inexperienced in shade, provides a stark distinction to the customarily monochromatic panorama of melted cheese and tomato sauce. This distinction serves as a visible cue, signaling freshness and enhancing the perceived high quality of the pizza. The affect is rapid: a sprinkling of the herb transforms a seemingly unusual pizza right into a visually inviting creation. Think about a easy Margherita pizza; the colourful inexperienced of the parsley elevates the presentation, drawing the attention and piquing curiosity. With out this visible component, the pizza, although probably scrumptious, could seem much less interesting.
The significance of visible attraction stems from its direct affect on client notion and urge for food. Research have proven that visible presentation considerably impacts meals enjoyment. The presence of parsley, subsequently, might be considered a strategic component used to make the pizza extra interesting. For instance, in aggressive culinary settings or when advertising pizzas, consideration to visible particulars, together with the even distribution of parsley, is usually a figuring out consider choice. The symmetrical association of elements, coupled with the visible pop provided by the herb, subtly conveys a way of care and a spotlight to element, enhancing the perceived worth of the dish.
In conclusion, the visible contribution of parsley to pizza is an underappreciated but very important part. It is not merely an aesthetic flourish however a strategic component with the potential to affect client notion, stimulate urge for food, and finally, improve the general eating expertise. Ignoring this connection could be a disservice to the holistic culinary potential of a fastidiously ready pizza. The affect of visible parts is a cornerstone of culinary presentation.
4. Dietary Worth
Whereas pizza is usually considered a much less nutritious choice, the addition of parsley contributes a priceless, although modest, dietary enhance. The herb, regardless of its small amount, introduces important nutritional vitamins and minerals that may partially offset among the much less fascinating dietary traits of the dish. Particularly, parsley is a supply of nutritional vitamins A, C, and Ok, together with folate and iron. These vitamins play necessary roles in sustaining immune operate, bone well being, and blood cell manufacturing. For instance, vitamin C aids in collagen synthesis, whereas vitamin Ok is essential for blood clotting. The impact of incorporating parsley is that it enhances the dietary profile of the pizza, reworking it from a purely calorie-dense choice to 1 with a extra balanced composition.
The sensible significance of understanding the dietary contribution of parsley lies in its potential to tell dietary decisions. Whereas pizza shouldn’t be thought-about a major supply of vitamins, the presence of parsley permits for a barely extra healthful choice. People can intentionally search out pizzas with beneficiant parsley toppings to learn from the added nutritional vitamins and minerals. Moreover, this understanding can encourage the mixing of different nutrient-rich toppings, resembling greens, to additional improve the general dietary worth of the meal. The presence of parsley could encourage the additional healthyfication of the meal, including sensible utility.
In abstract, whereas the dietary affect of parsley on pizza shouldn’t be transformative, it’s a notable issue. The herb gives important nutritional vitamins and minerals, contributing to a extra balanced dietary profile. Understanding this connection empowers knowledgeable dietary decisions and encourages the number of pizzas with enhanced dietary worth. Nevertheless, it is very important acknowledge that parsley alone doesn’t render pizza a well being meals; its contribution must be considered as a small, however useful, part of a broader dietary sample. Consideration of that is key in accountable dietary evaluation.
5. Fragrant Enhancer
The olfactory dimension of pizza consumption is undeniably influenced by the presence of parsley. As an fragrant enhancer, parsley contributes unstable natural compounds (VOCs) that work together with olfactory receptors, triggering sensory perceptions that modify the general gustatory expertise. Contemporary parsley releases a mixture of terpenes and different fragrant molecules that increase the prevailing olfactory profile of the pizza, composed of heated cheese, cooked tomato sauce, and varied toppings. The impact is synergistic; the parsley’s aroma doesn’t merely add a brand new scent, however as an alternative intermingles and enriches the already advanced scent profile, leading to a extra interesting olfactory expertise. As an example, a plain cheese pizza experiences a noticeable enhance in fragrant complexity with the addition of parsley, the place the clear, natural aroma cuts by the richness of the cheese, stopping olfactory fatigue and piquing urge for food. The significance is that the perceived taste and pleasure of the pizza are straight linked to its fragrant traits.
Understanding the importance of parsley as an fragrant enhancer has sensible purposes inside the culinary business. Cooks and pizza makers can strategically make use of parsley to modulate the general olfactory notion of their dishes. For pizzas containing strong-smelling elements, resembling garlic or anchovies, parsley could function a counterbalancing agent, stopping any single aroma from turning into overwhelming. Conversely, for pizzas with extra delicate taste profiles, a beneficiant amount of recent parsley can amplify the fragrant expertise, making the dish extra interesting. The cautious administration of parsley’s amount and timing of addition whether or not added recent or cooked determines the extent and nature of its fragrant affect, thus influencing its function as an enhancer. The utilization could be very manageable for many cooks.
In conclusion, parsley’s operate as an fragrant enhancer in pizza is an often-overlooked however essential component influencing the general sensory expertise. By releasing distinctive VOCs, it modifies the prevailing scent profile of the pizza, making a extra interesting and nuanced olfactory impression. Appreciating this connection permits culinary professionals to govern fragrant traits strategically, finally enhancing the attraction and taste of their pizzas. Nevertheless, challenges stay in totally quantifying and characterizing the advanced interaction of aromas in pizza, requiring additional analysis into the VOC profiles of varied elements and their affect on client notion. The affect on client notion is a crucial observe.
6. Digestive Assist
The inclusion of parsley on pizza contributes, to a restricted extent, as a digestive help. Particular compounds discovered inside parsley possess properties recognized to stimulate digestion and alleviate sure gastrointestinal discomforts. As an example, parsley accommodates unstable oils that may act as a carminative, serving to to cut back bloating and fuel. Moreover, its bitter compounds could stimulate the manufacturing of digestive enzymes, probably enhancing the breakdown and absorption of vitamins. The impact, although not substantial, gives a small diploma of aid from the potential digestive burdens related to consuming a comparatively heavy and sometimes high-fat dish like pizza. Consuming pizza with the topping gives a component of wholesome help to the human abdomen.
The sensible significance of understanding this connection lies in its potential to tell dietary decisions, notably for people vulnerable to digestive points. Deciding on pizzas with beneficiant parsley toppings could present a marginal profit in assuaging digestive discomfort. Moreover, recognizing the digestive properties of parsley might encourage the incorporation of different digestive-friendly elements, resembling ginger or fennel, into pizza preparations. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to acknowledge that parsley alone is unlikely to offset the digestive challenges posed by a big or excessively wealthy pizza. Its function is supplementary, offering a minor help fairly than a complete resolution.
In abstract, the connection between parsley on pizza and its operate as a digestive help is delicate however current. Compounds inside parsley can stimulate digestion and cut back bloating. The impact is minor and isn’t a complete resolution. Understanding this relationship informs dietary decisions and encourages the incorporation of additional well being measures. Additional analysis is required to quantify the true magnitude of parsley’s impact on digestion inside the context of pizza consumption, and to find out its efficacy throughout a wider vary of populations. The digestive results are small however related to client satisfaction.
7. Garnish Versatility
The adaptability of parsley as a garnish considerably expands its utility throughout a various array of pizza kinds and culinary displays. Its potential to enhance varied taste profiles and visible aesthetics contributes to its widespread adoption.
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Adaptation to Regional Variations
The applying of parsley as a garnish interprets successfully throughout regional pizza variations. From the minimalist Neapolitan pizza to the closely topped Chicago deep-dish, parsley might be integrated with out disrupting the supposed taste profile. In some areas, it’s added earlier than baking; in others, instantly after. Regardless, its inherent neutrality facilitates seamless integration. The flexibility to mesh is a crucial asset.
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Integration with Numerous Toppings
The herb’s compatibility extends to a large spectrum of toppings, from conventional elements like pepperoni and mushrooms to extra unconventional decisions resembling artichoke hearts or roasted greens. Parsley’s taste and visible texture improve practically all topping combos with out clashing, making it a dependable alternative for numerous pizza creations. Its flexibility makes it a broadly usable garnish.
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Types of Utility
The flexibility of parsley is additional evident in its varied types of software. It may be utilized recent, chopped, or dried, every type providing delicate nuances in taste and texture. Contemporary parsley gives a burst of herbaceousness, whereas dried parsley provides a extra subdued and concentrated taste. Chopped parsley distributes extra evenly, whereas entire sprigs present a extra pronounced visible accent. The totally different textures ship various results.
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Enhancement of Visible Presentation
The usage of parsley goes past its taste contribution, providing a major enhancement to the visible presentation of pizza. The intense inexperienced shade of recent parsley gives a vibrant distinction in opposition to the sometimes heat tones of the pizza, making a extra appetizing and visually interesting last product. The visible attraction of pizza parsley is a cornerstone of the dish.
In summation, the flexibility of parsley as a garnish solidifies its place as a universally relevant part in pizza preparation. Its potential to adapt to numerous regional kinds, combine with numerous toppings, be utilized in a number of types, and improve visible presentation underscores its worth as a easy but efficient culinary software. This component of garnish is a key to this dialogue.
8. Herb Preservation
Sustaining the standard of parsley destined as a pizza garnish necessitates efficient preservation methods. The degradation of freshness impacts each taste and visible attraction, straight affecting the general client expertise. Correct herb preservation, subsequently, turns into an important consideration in culinary operations.
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Refrigeration Methods
Refrigeration, the most typical methodology, entails storing recent parsley in a relaxing setting to decelerate enzymatic exercise and microbial development. Optimum outcomes are achieved by wrapping the herb in a barely damp paper towel and inserting it in a perforated plastic bag inside the fridge. Temperatures must be maintained between 34-38F (1-3C). Improper refrigeration, resembling publicity to excessively low temperatures or lack of humidity management, can result in freezing harm or accelerated wilting. The correct temperature ensures freshness and client enjoyment.
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Drying Strategies
Drying entails eradicating moisture from the parsley, inhibiting microbial development and increasing shelf life. This may be achieved by air drying, oven drying, or utilizing a meals dehydrator. Air drying entails hanging bunches of parsley in a cool, darkish, and well-ventilated space. Oven drying requires spreading the parsley on a baking sheet and heating it at a low temperature (under 170F or 77C) till brittle. Meals dehydrators provide managed temperature and airflow for environment friendly drying. Dried parsley, whereas handy, typically loses a few of its recent taste and vibrant shade, necessitating changes in utilization portions. Choosing the right methodology is crucial for style and texture.
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Freezing Methods
Freezing provides one other viable preservation choice, permitting for long-term storage with out vital taste loss. Parsley might be frozen entire, chopped, or pureed with water or oil. Blanching the parsley briefly earlier than freezing helps to protect its shade and taste. Frozen parsley is finest utilized in cooked purposes, as its texture could turn into barely softened upon thawing. Efficient packaging, resembling hermetic containers or freezer luggage, is essential to forestall freezer burn and preserve high quality. Frozen pizza parsley lasts for much longer than recent, sustaining taste.
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Oil and Vinegar Infusions
Infusing parsley in oil or vinegar not solely preserves the herb but additionally imparts its taste to the liquid medium. This may be achieved by submerging recent parsley in olive oil or vinegar and storing it in a cool, darkish place. The infused oil or vinegar can then be used to drizzle over pizzas or in dressings. This methodology provides a twin advantage of preservation and taste enhancement. This preparation enhances style whereas saving for later use.
The number of an applicable preservation approach relies on varied components, together with the supposed software, storage capability, and desired shelf life. By implementing efficient preservation methods, culinary professionals can guarantee a constant provide of high-quality parsley to be used as a pizza garnish, maximizing taste, visible attraction, and finally, buyer satisfaction. The strategies used are a key component within the meals creation course of.
9. Cultivar Choice
The selection of parsley cultivar considerably impacts the sensory expertise of pizza consumption. Totally different varieties exhibit distinct traits when it comes to taste, texture, and visible look, influencing the general notion and pleasure of the dish. Strategic cultivar choice, subsequently, turns into a vital consideration for culinary professionals looking for to optimize the pizza parsley garnish.
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Taste Profile Variation
Totally different parsley cultivars possess various concentrations and compositions of unstable oils, leading to distinct taste profiles. Flat-leaf parsley (Italian parsley), Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum, sometimes reveals a extra strong and assertive taste in comparison with curly-leaf parsley ( Petroselinum crispum crispum), which tends to be milder and barely extra bitter. Choice hinges on the specified taste depth and compatibility with different pizza elements. For strong pizzas, flat-leaf works finest.
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Texture and Mouthfeel
The feel of parsley leaves influences the mouthfeel of the pizza. Flat-leaf parsley provides a smoother, extra delicate texture, whereas curly-leaf parsley gives a barely coarser, extra pronounced textural component. This distinction impacts the general sensory expertise, notably in relation to different pizza toppings and crust traits. Flat-leaf delivers a smoother texture.
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Visible Look and Presentation
Curly-leaf and flat-leaf parsley exhibit distinct visible traits that have an effect on the general presentation of the pizza. Curly-leaf parsley provides an ornamental, frilly texture, offering visible curiosity and quantity. Flat-leaf parsley provides a extra streamlined, elegant aesthetic. The selection relies on the specified visible affect and the general model of the pizza. Flat-leaf lends a sublime presentation.
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Progress Traits and Availability
Cultivar choice additionally considers sensible components resembling development traits and availability. Sure cultivars could also be extra immune to illness or pests, whereas others could exhibit sooner development charges or larger yields. Availability could range relying on location and seasonality, impacting the feasibility of incorporating particular cultivars into pizza preparations. Sensible parts inform parsley availability.
Strategic cultivar choice transcends mere aesthetic desire. Understanding the particular traits of every selection and aligning them with the specified taste profile, textural expertise, visible presentation, and sensible issues permits culinary professionals to raise the pizza parsley garnish from a easy ornament to a purposeful and integral component of the dish. The fitting alternative delivers nice client experiences.
Regularly Requested Questions About Pizza Parsley
The next addresses widespread inquiries relating to the usage of parsley as a pizza garnish, offering goal and factual solutions.
Query 1: What’s the major function of including parsley to pizza?
The addition of parsley to pizza serves a multi-faceted function, encompassing visible attraction, taste enhancement, and delicate dietary contribution. It’s not solely an ornamental component however an built-in part of the culinary expertise.
Query 2: Are there various kinds of parsley appropriate to be used on pizza?
Sure. The 2 major forms of parsley, curly-leaf and flat-leaf (Italian), provide distinct traits. Flat-leaf parsley usually gives a extra strong taste, whereas curly-leaf parsley contributes a extra ornamental visible component. The selection relies on the specified sensory consequence.
Query 3: How ought to parsley be saved to take care of freshness for pizza garnish?
Contemporary parsley must be saved within the fridge, wrapped in a barely damp paper towel and enclosed in a perforated plastic bag. This helps to retain moisture and stop wilting. Optimum storage temperatures vary from 34-38F (1-3C).
Query 4: Does parsley contribute any vital dietary worth to pizza?
Whereas parsley shouldn’t be a major supply of energy, it does present small quantities of nutritional vitamins A, C, and Ok, together with folate and iron. Its dietary contribution is modest however provides to the dish.
Query 5: Can dried parsley be used as an alternative to recent parsley on pizza?
Sure, dried parsley can be utilized instead, however it is not going to present the identical degree of taste or visible attraction as recent parsley. When utilizing dried parsley, it’s endorsed to make use of roughly one-third of the quantity of recent parsley referred to as for in a recipe.
Query 6: Is there any historic significance to the usage of parsley as a pizza garnish?
The apply of garnishing pizza with parsley is rooted in Italian culinary traditions, the place recent herbs are generally used to boost each the flavour and presentation of dishes. The herb’s affiliation with freshness and vibrancy has contributed to its enduring presence on pizza.
In abstract, the usage of parsley on pizza is a deliberate and multi-faceted culinary apply with issues extending past mere aesthetics.
The following part will discover sensible suggestions for cultivating parsley at residence to be used as a pizza garnish.
Suggestions for Optimum Pizza Parsley Utilization
Attaining most profit from pizza parsley requires consideration to particular preparation and software methods. The next pointers will improve the flavour, visible attraction, and total high quality of the ultimate product.
Tip 1: Choose Contemporary, Vibrant Parsley:Prioritize parsley with shiny inexperienced leaves and agency stems. Keep away from bunches exhibiting wilting, yellowing, or indicators of bruising. Freshness straight correlates to taste depth and visible affect.
Tip 2: Wash and Dry Parsley Completely:Take away any dust or particles by rinsing the parsley beneath chilly operating water. Guarantee full dryness earlier than software to forestall sogginess on the pizza. A salad spinner is efficient for eradicating extra moisture.
Tip 3: Chop Parsley Finely:Correct chopping maximizes taste launch. Make use of a pointy knife and a clear chopping board. Constant, superb chopping ensures even distribution throughout the pizza floor.
Tip 4: Apply Parsley After Baking:Including recent parsley after the pizza has been baked preserves its vibrant inexperienced shade and delicate taste. Excessive warmth may cause parsley to wilt, brown, and lose its fragrant qualities. Exceptions could apply in regional cooking traditions.
Tip 5: Distribute Parsley Evenly:Guarantee a uniform distribution of parsley throughout the pizza floor. This enhances the visible attraction and ensures that every slice receives an equal measure of taste enhancement. The visible look is a constructive attribute.
Tip 6: Think about Parsley Kind Based mostly on Pizza Type: Flat-leaf parsley usually enhances robustly flavored pizzas, whereas curly-leaf parsley could also be most popular for extra delicate or visually targeted displays. Perceive how they affect flavour.
Tip 7: Retailer Extra Parsley Correctly:To increase the shelf lifetime of unused parsley, wrap it in a humid paper towel, place it in a resealable plastic bag, and retailer it within the fridge crisper drawer. The correct storage is an important step.
Adhering to those suggestions will optimize the sensory qualities of pizza parsley, elevating the general eating expertise. High quality preparation, software, and choice enhance the standard of the dish.
The following phase will provide a conclusion, summarizing core ideas concerning the herb.
Conclusion
This exploration has demonstrated that pizza parsley is greater than a mere afterthought in culinary displays. From its capability to sign freshness and improve visible attraction to its delicate contribution to taste and even digestion, pizza parsley assumes a multifaceted function. Cultivar choice, correct preservation, and strategic software methods additional underscore the significance of deliberate consideration when using this herb.
Whereas seemingly minor, the constant and knowledgeable use of pizza parsley displays a dedication to high quality and a spotlight to element. Cooks and culinary professionals ought to acknowledge and leverage its potential to raise the general eating expertise. Additional analysis could reveal further nuanced advantages and purposes, solidifying its place as a significant factor of pizza preparation.
