March for Pizza
Why March is a lovely time for events and pizza!
MARCH IN PERTH IS A GREAT MONTH FOR PIZZA! AND THIS MARCH HAS BEEN ESPECIALLY GOOD NOT JUST FOR PIZZA BUT ALSO FOR PIZZA CATERINGS.
Why is that?
Well, as basic as it sounds, it is the weather. March is hot, but not too hot. It is humid, and yet not raining. The wind that engulfs Perth most of the year stops, creating a consistent temperature between day and night that traps humidity, so all in all, glorious weather! But how does that affect pizza?
Well, it actually affects the pizza dough. When dough is born, it needs water, it’s a thirsty creature and consumes anywhere between 65%-80% its own body weight in water. It then goes into puberty, and like any teenager, it wants to be left alone in the dark to grow and extract all kinds of new, strange odours, new textures and a new explosive attitude. Luckily for us bakers, that stage only lasts a day or so, until a mature dough is ready to go out and tackle the world, it is no longer thirsty but it needs moisture to keep its skin shiny and beautiful. Using olive oil helps to protect it from the elements most of the year in the mild Perth desert, but throughout humid March there is enough moisture in the air to keep its skin nice and fresh and ready to be turned into a beautiful puffy pizza, or any other pastry for the matter.
The origin climate affects the end result
Pizza dough gets a lot of its character from the Mediterranean, and like other types of dough around the area, it likes moisture, the humid air that slows you down a bit and makes us take our time, and what is the best excuse for taking time? Art of course! And that is how we get the Art of Pizza!
Events in March
So, what about events? They are also great in this time of year: it could be a beach wedding, or a birthday party at the park. The lack of wind and lack of flies gives amazing evening weather. The fact that temperatures do not just drop after sunset but rather stay stable also means that guests do not have to plan for clothing. The humid air is healthy for the body and ensures no one will shy away from dancing, as everyone is already sweating. If you are planning an event between February and April, keep your eyes open for those still weeks before a storm builds up. It might be somewhat risky, but it could very easily turn out amazing!
Wood oven or gas?
Another word about moisture and pizzas, I get asked a lot about gas ovens or woodfire ovens. I like both, they are both incredible machines that give almost identical results. When catering for large numbers, a gas oven would produce a more consistent quality outcome, while the main reason wood can be nicer – by a tiny margin – is that it holds a bit of moisture.
Pizza ovens suck moisture out through the bricks they are made of that do that, and for good reason, that dryness is what gives a great crust. Gas is a very dry heat source and gets the oven too dry, while wood always contains a bit of moisture that gets released throughout the baking process as it burns, which is why it is critical to keep a live fire in the oven. The retained heat is what cooks the pizza, but it’s the live fire that puts in the little moisture needed to create a great crust – and no, you can’t taste the smoke!