BASIC REQUIREMENTS
EQUIPMENT AND TOOLS:
- Approved Gas Oven. In places where the use of wood is not allowed, we can certify estabilishments using a gas oven upon demostrate, with proper documentation, that the use of the wood is forbidden. At the moment, only the oven "Verace", produced by Valoriani has the technical characteristics to be used as substitute of a wood burning oven.
- Mixer. The dough must be kneaded with a spiral, fork or double arm mixer. No vertical or planetary mixers are allowed.
- A proper work surface (usually a marble slab), a wood or aluminum pizza peel to introduce the pizza into the oven and a long handle metal round peel to turn and remove the pizza from the oven.
INGREDIENTS:
Only fresh, all-natural, non-processed ingredients (preferably imported from Naples or Campania region) are acceptable:
- Wheat flour type "00": highly refined flour which has been milled to standard "00" (doppio zero). A small amount of wheat flour type "0" (Manitoba) is permitted. This variation is dependent on the external temperature and is used to enforce the '00' flour and not replace it.
- Tomatoes: the following variations of fresh tomatoes can be used: "S.Marzano dell'Agro Sarnese-nocerino D.O.P", "Pomodorini di Corbara (Corbarino)", "Pomodorino del piennolo del Vesuvio" D.O.P."
Canned Peeled tomatoes: the recommended tomato is the "Pomodoro pelato S.Marzano dell'Agro Sarnese-Nocerino D.O.P.". If peeled tomatoes are used, they should be strained, broken up, and homogenized by hand. The use of fresh or industrially prepared "Roma" tomatoes ("pomodoro lungo tipo Roma") is allowed.
- Mozzarella: Certified mozzarella di bufala campana D.O.P, mozzarella S.T.G. Fior di latte: "Fior di latte dell'appennino meridionale D.O.P" or other certified 'fiordilatte'.
- Oil: Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
- Basil: Fresh Basil entire leaves.
- Cheese: Grated Hard cheese (Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Pecorino Romno).
- Garlic: fresh in thin slice
- Oregano: "Origanum vulgare" from the "Labiatae" family.
- Sea salt
- Yeast: Compressed yeast, biologically produced, solid, soft and beige in color, with an insipid taste and a low degree of acidity. Yeast must be purchased in packages ranging from 25-500 grams. (Saccharomices cerevisiae). The use of Natural yeast (Sour Dough) is also permitted.
All types of fat must be excluded from the dough.
TECNIQUE:
- Preparation of the dough. Hand-worked or low speed approved mixer.
- Preparation of the pizza. Opening the dough only by hand and slapping on the working surface, transfer of the pizza on a peel by hand and adjusting the shape, cooking on an oven with a temperature of not less than 900 °F for a time not exceeding the 90 seconds.
- Aspect. Pizza Napoletana must be no larger than 11 inches with a raised edge crust (cornicione) of about 1 inch and a thin center. The pizza should be soft and elastic, and easily foldable.
5 STEPS FOR AVPN CERTIFICATION
1) Review the rules (click here) and fill out the following application (click here).
2) A set of documents, pictures and videos need to be provided to the Association for the first preliminary evaluation (click here).
3) Send all required documentation (only complete applications will be reviewed) to vpnamericas@me.com. We suggest posting the demo video on YouTube and sending the link via email, as opposed to attaching a large video file.
​4) The Board of Directors of AVPN in Naples, Italy will review all completed documentation, and then approve or decline the request for certification (this process will take at least 30 days).
5) In the event of an approval of membership request, a delegate of the AVPN will conduct an on-site investigation to verify the pizzeria’s strict adherence to all the AVPN rules. In the event of a declination of membership request, a revised application may be submitted; we will send you corrections to be made.
6) Upon approval, the restaurant will receive an official AVPN membership certificate and two AVPN sign boards to be placed on the exterior of the pizzeria.
In case of multiple restaurants, each individual store is bound to uphold the standards of the Association and pay a correspondent membership fee. The membership does not automatically extend membership to any new units opened subsequently after initial joining of the Association, nor is membership transferable from one location to another. Rather, each individual location is evaluated and billed separately. A yearly renewal fee is due at the beginning of each calendar year. In the event of non-compliance of these rules by one or more of the associated restaurants, the VPN Association maintains the right to suspend or rescind the membership on an individual or collective basis.