THE STORY OF US
Sometimes your true calling in life is staring you right in the face
As we look back as a family, it’s easy to see the connections that ultimately lead to the creation of Piatto. Of course, it’s always easy to connect the dots in hindsight, but before Piatto, the Vallis clan were just a family that loved pizza (like everyone, right?). Friday pizza nights were standard, and any travel always presented the opportunity to see how other people in different countries and cultures were putting their pies together. We guess this ultimately served as a kind of ‘research’, but to us, it was just fun! In all honesty, if you put dough, tomato sauce and cheese together in any capacity, we’re probably gonna love it! Add to that an atmosphere of laughter, family, friends, and relaxation, and who wouldn’t jump at the chance to sit down in front of a fresh pie?! As life’s twists and turns would have it, our family ultimately decided this passion for pizza, and a vision for how it could be made even better, would be super cool to share with others. Because when it comes to pizza, the more the merrier! So, throwing caution to the wind, and focusing solely on creating something that embodies all the aspects of the pizza dining experience that we have enjoyed so much over the years, we made the leap into the pizza business, and Piatto was born. As the thinking went, if things didn’t work out, we’d have some of our favourite things to console us – Neapolitan Pizza, great Italian wine, and quality hand-pulled coffee. Thankfully, other people shared our passion for these things, and have joined us in enjoying them together. Today, we are still committed to improving and exploring ways to offer the best, most authentic Neapolitan pizza experience possible for our customers, the new Piatto famiglia.
Our passion is a true Neapolitan Experience, and in our world, authenticity is big. Our pizzaiolo use ingredients and procedures regulated by the Italian governing association (VPN)—so you experience a “true” pizza like you would find in the energetic pizzerias in Naples, Italy (but without the airfare).
THE VPN EXPERIENCE
Our Process + Certification
Piatto’s pizzaiolo have been carefully trained and are accomplished at making authentic Neapolitan pizzas. We use ingredients and procedures instituted by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN), a special Italian governing association, with a mandate to preserve the traditional methods of “true” Neapolitan pizza-making. Piatto was the first pizzeria in Atlantic Canada to receive the prestigious VPN certification. Here’s how it works:
It all starts with Tipo 00 flour (extremely low in gluten). Its fine, silky-smooth texture is key to the indescribable lightness of the Neapolitan crust. The only other ingredients are fresh yeast and sea salt. Once proofed, our dough is hand-stretched on marble countertops (no machines; no rollers), just as it has been in Naples for over 200 years.
San Marzano tomatoes (bright and naturally sweet) originate in the volcanic soils of Mount Vesuvius and must be used in “true” Neapolitan pizza. We add fresh, hand-sliced Fior di Latte mozzarella, fresh basil leaves, and extra virgin olive oil, creating a delicious flavour and intoxicating aroma. After 90 seconds in a 900°F wood-fired oven, the cornicione (crust) displays its distinctive black blisters, and signals it’s ready to serve.