Dear Pizza fanatic,

Who doesn't like Pizza?

Whether purchased at the corner shop, from a refrigerated van, or at a fashionable parlour on the Italian soil, it's one of the true small pleasures in life.

In its original form, a pizza (occasionally, pizza pie) is an oven-baked, flat, usually circular bread covered with tomato sauce and cheese with optional toppings. The cheese is usually mozzarella (the traditional Italian pizza uses buffalo mozzarella) or sometimes a mixture of several cheeses such as parmesan, romano, ricotta and feta. Various other toppings may be added, most typically:
 

• Herbs and seasonings such as basil, oregano, and garlic

• Vegetables such as bell peppers, green peppers, asparagus, eggplant, broccoli, spinach, olives, onions, and artichokes

• Meat or fish products such as sausage, (especially pepperoni or salami), ham, bacon, ground beef, anchovies, chicken, and shrimp

Other common toppings include mushrooms and pineapple.

The crust is traditionally plain, but may also be seasoned with butter, garlic, or herbs, or stuffed with cheese.