From NOW online: “Launched in June, Viva Napoli (679 Mt. Pleasant, 647-344-8482, rating: NN) serves what the would-be Libretto of Leaside calls “autentica pizza Napoletana.” Translation: no AVPN, though we get the requisite DOP canned tomatoes, mozzarell’ and wood-burning oven. Shame the pies that come out of it are so worrisome.” Silly us. Not in the game. Maybe you know what AVPN and DOP are. Ed’s note: Be sure to read the erudite comment written by someone who knows.
AVPN = The VPN Association is the only no profit association that safeguards and promotes the culture of the real Neapolitan pizza worldwide.
DOP: Denominazione di origine controllata is beautiful Italian for the Protected Designation of Origin laws which guard the names of regional foods. Champagne was one of the first winners (you can’t call any old bubbly champers anymore), so are prosciutto and Parmigiano-Reggiano. It’s a way of keeping safe the actual words we use to name foods, keeping their original meaning intact.