Gennaro Contaldo and Mark Wogan talk about why ‘pizza is everything’

Virgin Radio

19 Apr 2024, 08:14

In the new episode of the Spooning with Mark Wogan podcast, celebrated chef Gennaro Contaldo talks pizza and recalls his childhood in Italy. 

With host Mark being the owner of Homeslice Pizza, the chat inevitably turns to the Italian dish, with Gennaro talking about the “truly Neapolitan pizzas”. He said: “One is Quattro Stagioni, which means four seasons. The reason is because you use everything from four seasons. We start from Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter.

“That is a classic. Each session has got a little bit of everything. Another one is Marinara. Marinara is a very simple pizza. Tomato, a few capers, olives and anchovies and oregano.”

Speaking about another, he explains the story behind the Margherita. “Why do we call them Margherita? The story is that this baker made this kind of pizza and it was very popular in the regions of Naples. 

“Everybody was eating it, and the Queen, Margherita, wanted to know and taste it. So they called this baker and he made this pizza and she loved it. And he said ‘What's it called, this pizza?’ He said, ‘Your Majesty, this pizza is dedicated to you.’”

Talking further to the son of the late broadcaster Terry Wogan, Gennaro says: “Pizza is so important. Pizza is family, it’s warm. It’s sharing, it’s nation. Pizza is everything. Pizza is affordable to everyone.

“The world is saying, ‘Let's have a pizza. Let's go for pizza. Let's enjoy. Let's just share in a pizza. Pizza is everything you can think of it.” 

He adds: “Pizza is the world on the middle of the table and each one takes a slice.” 

During their chat, the chef also speaks about growing up in Italy. “Everything was about food,” he said. 

Recalling a story which explains how he went on to became an acclaimed chef, he tells Mark: “At the age of 10, 12, we had a linen shop. So, a linen shop that used to sell other shops linen, cloth to make suits, linen for the table. My mother used to be inside the shop and my father used to go around to see customers. I went with him and halfway he said, ‘You know what? I think you’d better stay in the next village with my friend Alfonso who has a restaurant.' I didn't understand much. I went inside the restaurant. And there was this beautiful chef Alfonso. I stayed with a him, and my father said, ‘I’ll pick him up this afternoon.’ All happy, I stayed with him. He did pick me up in the afternoon... it was three years later! 

He continued: "Let me tell you why. Because I liked so much what he was doing, and every time I’d escape from school. School played very little part for me. 

"The family was so nice. But then I started to understand a little bit more." 

Gennaro also talked to Mark about how he moved to England in 1969 and worked in a fish and chips shop, earning "eight pound a week". He said: "Fish and chips, I will give five Michelin stars because I do love fish and chips."

The chef added: "I just love it. I have them at least once a month."

Read what Mark Wogan told Chris Evans Breakfast about why he blindfolds guests on his Spooning podcast here. 

Previous Spooning guests include Claudia Winkleman, Helen Skelton, Gaby Roslin, Beverley Knight, Jimmy Carr, Alfie Boe, The Hairy Bikers, James May, Tom Kerridge, David Gandy, Dan Snow, Sophie Habboo, Matt Tebbutt, Paul C Brunson, Joe Wicks and Virgin Radio’s own Ryan Tubridy.

Spooning is out wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes are released every Thursday. Watch along via @virginradiouk on YouTube, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.