披薩簡單吃 / Pizza, easy to enjoy

西方食物，除了牛排；漢堡、薯條及可樂之外，人們可能較常吃的就是義大利麵及披薩，義大利麵及披薩是義大利最具代表性的兩道美食，披薩不但口味多變之外，它的製作並不困難，且適合很多人一起享用，因此成為派對和聚會上的常見選擇，我和同事，常常在午餐時點幾份不同口味的披薩，一起分食享用、一邊聊天交流，在美食的催化之下，我們可以分享一些內心話或生活所見所聞，讓同事間的交流更深入，這就是披薩的威力。

不過，在這裡，披薩的價錢，不打折的話，倒也不算便宜，披薩的價錢，大多依據披薩的餡料及尺寸決定，經典的瑪格麗特披薩（Pizza Margherita）便是由綠色的羅勒、白色的莫札瑞拉起司、紅色的番茄醬組成的，代表義大利國旗的顏色，通常瑪格麗特披薩的價錢是最低的幾款披薩之一，屬於長賣型口味披薩，必勝客在新年期間曾經推出「財圓滾滾金干蝦披薩」，有滿滿的炸蝦天婦羅、外皮炸到金黃色的水餃以及干貝，搭配起司餅皮，話題性十足，但也不便宜，大份的定價899元台幣，小份的定價629元台幣，假如不是為了炒熱氣氛，我應該不會點這類的特別披薩。

不過，連鎖披薩店為了製造話題，常常推出各種「語不驚人死不休」的披薩，像是「香菜皮蛋豬血糕披薩」，披薩餡料採用滷香豬血糕、爽口皮蛋搭配花生粉，業者希望達到「鹹甜交錯」的多層次滋味，聽說不少外國人不敢吃皮蛋或豬血糕，我也很難想像，為甚麼硬要把皮蛋或豬血糕做成披薩，假如真的好吃就算了，網路上評論也多是討論有多特別，沒有太多人提到有好吃。

我還蠻愛吃披薩的，剛好前陣子，連鎖披薩店有周年慶促銷活動，所有的披薩的只要原本一半的價錢，正好可以試試看平常沒機會吃到的披薩口味，披薩的美味就不用說，一定會有些人不吃某些食物，像是因為宗教關係不能吃豬肉，但是可以點不同口味的披薩替代，來滿足大家不同的需求，我更喜歡的是，一手拿著披薩，一邊到處和朋友打屁聊天的氣氛，那種不太正式，但是舒服融洽的氛圍，讓我們的友情加深。

Aside from steak, burgers, fries, and soda, one of the most common Western foods people eat is probably pasta and pizza. Pasta and pizza are the two most iconic dishes from Italy. Pizza, with its variety of flavors, isn’t hard to make and is perfect for sharing with a group, which is why it’s a popular choice for parties and gatherings. My colleagues and I often order a few different kinds of pizza during lunch, sharing and enjoying them while chatting. With the help of some delicious food, we’re able to share more personal stories or experiences, deepening our connection. That’s the magic of pizza.

However, pizza here isn’t exactly cheap if there aren’t any discounts. The price of pizza usually depends on the toppings and size. A classic Margherita pizza, which consists of basil, mozzarella cheese, and tomato sauce representing the colors of the Italian flag, is often one of the cheapest options, and it’s a long-standing favorite. Pizza Hut once released a “Golden Shrimp and Dumpling Pizza” for the Lunar New Year, topped with crispy shrimp tempura, golden fried dumplings, and scallops, with a cheesy crust. It was certainly attention-grabbing, but also not cheap—priced at NT$899 for a large and NT$629 for a small. If it weren’t for the novelty factor, I probably wouldn’t order such a special pizza.

But to create buzz, chain pizza stores often introduce these wild pizzas, like the “Cilantro, Century Egg, and Pig’s Blood Cake Pizza”, which includes braised pig’s blood cake, century eggs, and peanut powder. The goal was to create a salty-sweet flavor combo. I’ve heard a lot of foreigners can’t handle century eggs or pig’s blood cake, and I can’t imagine why they had to turn those ingredients into a pizza. If it tasted good, I’d understand, but most online reviews talk about how unusual it is rather than how tasty.

I actually really like pizza, and recently a chain pizza store had an anniversary sale where all pizzas were half-price, so I took the opportunity to try some flavors I usually wouldn’t. The pizza was, of course, delicious, and it’s normal that some people don’t eat certain foods, like for religious reasons some people don’t eat pork. But that’s what’s great about pizza—you can order different flavors to meet everyone’s needs. What I love most is holding a slice in one hand while chatting with friends. It’s that informal, yet cozy and relaxed atmosphere that brings us closer together.

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