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Usually two things spring to mind when thinking about travel. The interesting sights that make a destination unique, immediately followed something near and dear to many people’s hearts, food. Food tells a better narrative of a place than most guide books. It is the culmination of a place’s history, geography and people served piping hot on a dinner plate. Therefore, what better way to fully appreciate a new culture than to dine on what the locals enjoy. This week we are in Naples, Italy, the birthplace of a humble doughy dish that has become synonymous with Italian food and a favourite around the world, the pizza. <img alt='Naples, Italy' src='https://www.hoppa.com/resource/blog/uploads/2015/10/Depositphotos_44202159_m-2015-e1444749929262.jpg' style='height:380px; width:1000px' /> A quick crash course in pizza history. Flatbreads have been made throughout ancient history and in many different parts of the world. However, it was not until the discovery of the Americas that tomatoes were brought to Italy and the pizza as we know them began to take shape. In 1889 the Italian Queen consort Margherita of Savoy paid a visit to Naples. A chef by the name of Raffaela Esposito at Pizzeria Brandi wanted to pay her tribute and created a special pizza for her containing tomato sauce, bufala di mozzarella cheese and basil, representing the colours of the Italian flag. The dish was a hit with the Italian court and became known as “pizza margherita.” Et voila, pizza as we know it was born. <img alt='Pizza' src='https://www.hoppa.com/resource/blog/uploads/2015/10/Pizza-e1444749826309.jpg' style='height:557px; width:1000px' /> Naples, or Napoli takes great pride in their margherita pizzas and locals know the best way to judge is pizzeria is how well they prepare the classic margherita. Naples is also well known for delicious pasta dishes that utilize fresh local ingredients. Since Naples straddles the Amalfi Coast ingredients like clams, mussels and other seafood shine in dishes like in spaghetti alle vongole and risotto alla pescatore. The warm Meditteranean climate promotes sensational produce year round like vine-ripened tomatoes and peppers in spaghetti alla puttanesca. Neapolitan cuisine is robust and is something to be savoured over a long afternoon lunch. In short, it’s not really what you eat but where you eat it. With so many options it’s easy to be lured into crowded restaurants that seem to be a hit with other tourists. Sometimes they deliver and their popularity is well deserved but many of these restaurants take advantage of prime location rather than a serving up fantastic fare. Life is too short to eat average food and while on holiday it is almost inexcusable. A holiday in Italy is meant for indulgence and surrendering to the wholesome carb-heavy comforts of Italian cooking. To eat like a local means skipping the tourist traps with their bloated menus and their water-down flavours. Finding those hidden gems away from the main attractions and into the real heart of the city is where locals choose to eat. Authentic, fresh, flavourful and all for a decent price is what eating like a local is all about. If you want to eat like a local in Naples here are some pizzerias and restaurants you have to try.<blockquote>L'Antica Pizza da Michele: Via Guiseppe Martucci 93</blockquote>The original location was made famous by Julia Roberts in the movie Eat, Pray Love but there is also a satellite location located on Via Martucci which is a great option if you want to avoid the crowds and the chaos of Centro Storico.  You can't go wrong with their classic Magherita, and their Pesto Pizza-an unusual offering for a Naples pizzeria, is also fantastic. Enormous pizzas start around 5 Euro, and you get table service, bathrooms and A/C, which is a bargain at this price. <a href='http://www.damichele.net/' target='_blank'>Click here</a> to visit their site | <a href='https://www.facebook.com/LAntica-Pizzeria-Da-Michele-50252193334/timeline/' target='_blank'>Facebook</a> | <a href='https://instagram.com/pizzeriadamichele/' target='_blank'>Instagram</a><blockquote>Trattoria Nennella:  Vico Lungo, Teatro Nuovo 103.</blockquote>This place is a Naples institution.  It's a hole-in-the-wall family-style place, buried in the rabbit warren of streets behind the ViaToledo shopping area. They serve a set menu which includes a starter, main course, veg, dessert (usually fruit) plus bottled water and house wine -- the price varies but it's always an amazing value. The food is very simple but incredibly fresh - there is always a choice of half a dozen or so items for each course, and portions are ample. The real draw here is the wait staff, fun guys who tease each other (and the guests) constantly in Neapolitan, with the occasional spontaneous dance party.  If you want to tip them (not expected, but very much appreciated), they'll lower down a bucket from the ceiling for you to put your money in, and everyone cheers. They'll give you a ticket afterwards for a coffee at the kiosk outside. Closed Sundays, and expect long lines unless you go early! <a href='http://digilander.libero.it/trattorianennella/nennella.htm' target='_blank'>Click here</a>to visit their site | <a href='https://www.facebook.com/da-nennella-44015252061/timeline/#_=_' target='_blank'>Facebook</a><blockquote>Il Gelato Mennella:  Via Carducci (near the PAN art museum)</blockquote>This gelateria is hands-down one of the best in the city. All-natural ingredients enhance the silky flavours that include the classics and lots of seasonal specials, which change frequently, try the Mela Annurca, or apple flavour, super yummy! The waitstaff are super-friendly and will give you samples if you can't decide. On Sundays there are lots of folks getting take-out gelato packed up for their Sunday lunches so the wait can be longer, but it is always worth it! <a href='https://www.facebook.com/pages/Il-Gelato-Mennella/328374640628933' target='_blank'>Click here</a> to visit their Facebook.<hr />Special thanks to Elizabeth Bender who has very helpfully contributed to this article using her experience of working as a US Consulate whilst in Naples.

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Best Places To Eat Like A Local Naples