Pizza - Ticino, Switzerland

Ticino is in the south of Switzerland.  This  part of Switzerland, bordering Italy, is Italian, very Italian.  As with most of Switzerland there are at least 3 languages spoken, German, French, and Italian.  And in the regions bordering those countries the predominant language and culture mirrors the border country.  So, here in Ticino, it is like being in Italy, except clean and organized.  All of the fantastic culture and none of the craziness, or at least kept to a minimum.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE Italy and being in Italy.  And I can handle the pace and the environment.  It's just that sometimes you want the train to be on time, the trash to be picked up, the airport workers to not be on strike so that you can travel with confidence.  Stuff like that. 

In this region is a little known town of Locarno, near the better known Lugano.  

Here are a few photos from my hotel room in Locarno.

The lake is Lago Maggiore which flows all the way into Italy, fantastic.

           

And near this town of Locarno (which is also near Ascona and Bellinzona for those of you that know the region and not necessarily Locarno) are the VERY small towns of Riazzino and Gordola.  I was just in Riazzino for business and we went to Gordola for lunch, pizza, finally!  

The restaurant is located on the property of the local private airport.  Grass airport no less, and the occasional cow or 2 wandering about as well....

Ristorante Pizzeria Aeroporto

Fairly typical neapolitan pizza except the crust is just slightly thicker than you'd find normally, if there is even a normally.  Maybe I mean thicker than what I've known or found to be typical to the neapolitan pizza places I've experienced (I'm becoming more politically correct in my old age.....   nah just a little jet lagged as I write this  ;-))

Here's the cook and oven and pizzas in prep.

I dont remember the name of my pizza but was like a margherita with buffalo mozzarella and cherry tomatoes.  Super yumm.

One colleague had the traditional neapolitan, including the standard anchovies.

And another enjoyed the calzone.  

Not sure all of the ingredients inside, but at least had ham, mushrooms, cheese

And we all had a healthy helping of the spicy oil.

Buon Appetito

DVA