Best street food in Naples: Zeppole e’ Panzarott’

Segue in Italiano.

It was one of those late afternoons that you fell like eating something and have a beer with it. The fridge was empty and we were looking for something to chew. I guess all of you reading have been in this situation ad how difficult it is to choose what to eat.

However we are lucky enough to live in an area of Italy where good food is available 24h, if you know where to find it. These afternoons usually turns eating some of the abundant street food delicacies that are sold pretty much in every corner of cities and villages. What we generally call today food trucks have been part of our culinary heritage since ages. In the past people working in the city used to eat what these vendors offered. If they didn’t have something already cooked to sell the easiest, cheapest way tocook was frying. Touring Naples and the areas surrounding the it, you will spot many trucks, or what looks like a truck selling fried goods. Among them there is “Zeppole e’ panzarott”, which is basically a fried potato croquettes and a dough made of flour, yeast, salt and water.

The two are sold together. You might be allowed to ask more of one or the other but buying only one of them separately won’t be a wise request.

But that afternoon we didn’t want to have just “Zeppole e panzarott’ but the best Zeppole e’ panzarott’ in the area. At one point Paolo started to talk about this guy very famous for it and that usually has a long queue since his Panzarotto is the best. Well he didn’t even have the time to tell the full story that I was already in the car with the engine on.  

Without knowing where we could find him exactly. We reached  Terzigno. We stopped next to the Circuvesuviana train station and asked a guy standing there. With no surprise for the inquire for direction and a smile on his face, he told us that he was usually parking his truck few meter away. Following his direction we found “Zi Donato”.

His truck was parked in a little alley in order to not block the traffic during his working hours. Yes, people are flocking from all over the area to buy his Panzarotti and the cars and people can be a problem for the traffic. That evening we were the first coming, so we had the opportunity to exchange some words with Zi Donato. His story is the story of many that after the WWII escaped Italy for other European destinations. In his case he spent many years in Germany working in the construction business. Before as a seasonal worker, then he brought his family and spent few years there.

After many years spent out of Italy he decided to come back with his family to his homeland but not being used to be at home without anything to do, he started to make Zeppole e’ Panzarott’. It is now 30 years that Zi Donato is frying on the street. A business that now involves all the family. He is the one choosing the right ingredients and supervising the production. While his wife and a daughter help him to make Zeppole e’ panzarott’ ready to be fried. At the truck there was also his grandson helping him. So as you might grasped the business is doing well and there is hope for a continuation after he will finally decide to retire. 

#keepeating

Zi’ Donato le migliori Zeppole e Panzarott’ della zona Vesuviana

Era uno di quei pomeriggi in cui hai voglia di mangiare qualcosa e bere una birra. Il frigo era vuoto e stavamo cercando qualcosa da masticare. Immagino che pure voi vi siate trovati in questa situazione e sapete quanto sia difficile scegliere cosa mangiare.

Tuttavia io ho la fortuna di vivere in una zona d’Italia dove il buon cibo è disponibile 24 ore su 24, se sai dove trovarlo. Questi pomeriggi di solito si evelvono mangiando le abbondanti prelibatezze del cibo di strada che praticamente vengono vendute in ogni angolo di città e paesi limitrofi.

Quelli che generalmente oggi chiamiamo food truck, qui a Napoli fanno parte del nostro patrimonio culinario da secoli. In passato le persone che lavoravano in città mangiavano ciò che questi venditori ambulanti offrivano.  A loro volta, se non avevano qualcosa già cucinato da vendere, il modo più semplice ed economico per offrire qualcosa di appetibile era friggere. Visitando Napoli e le aree circostanti, vedrai molti “truck”, o quello che sembra un “truck” che vende cibi fritti. Tra questi c’è “Zeppole e’ panzarott”, che è fondamentalmente una crocchette di patate fritte e un impasto a base di farina, lievito, sale e acqua.

I due vengono venduti insieme. Puoi sicuramente chiedere più dell’uno o dell’altro, ma acquistarne solo uno separatamente non é richiesta saggia.

Quel pomeriggio non volevamo delle “Zeppole e panzarott’ qualunque, ma le migliori Zeppole e’ panzarott’ della zona. Ad un certo punto Paolo inizio’ a parlare di questo signore molto famoso e che di solito ha una lunga coda visto che il suo Panzarotto è il migliore. Beh, non ebbe nemmeno il tempo di raccontare tutta la storia che ero già in macchina con il motore acceso.

Senza sapere dove trovarlo esattamente, arrivammo ​​a Terzigno. Ci fermammo vicino alla stazione della Circuvesuviana e chiedemmo a un ragazzo per strada. Senza nessuna sorpresa per la richiesta di indicazioni ed un sorriso sul viso, ci disse che di solito parcheggiava a pochi metri di distanza. Seguendo le sue indicazioni trovammo “Zi Donato”.

Il suo ‘truck’ era parcheggiato in un vicolo per non bloccare il traffico durante l’orario di lavoro. Sì, le persone affluiscono da tutta la zona per comprare i suoi Panzarotti e le machine, le persone possono essere un problema per il traffico. Quella sera eravamo i primi arrivati, quindi abbiamo avuto l’opportunità di scambiare qualche parola con Zi Donato. La sua storia è la storia di tanti che dopo la seconda guerra mondiale fuggirono dall’Italia per altre destinazioni europee. Nel suo caso ha trascorso molti anni in Germania lavorando nel settore edile. Prima come lavoratore stagionale, poi ha portato la famiglia e vi ha trascorso alcuni anni.

Dopo tanti anni trascorsi fuori dall’Italia decise di tornare con la famiglia in patria ma non essendo abituato a con le mani in mano, iniziò a fare Zeppole e’ Panzarott’. Sono ormai 30 anni che Zi Donato frigge per strada. Un business che ormai coinvolge tutta la famiglia. È lui che sceglie gli ingredienti giusti e supervisiona la produzione. Mentre la moglie e una figlia lo aiutano a preparare le Zeppole e’ panzarotti pronti per essere fritte. C’era anche suo nipote ad aiutarlo. Quindi, come avrai capito, l’attività va bene e c’è speranza per una continuazione dopo che finalmente deciderà di andare in pensione.

#keepeating

23 Replies to “Best street food in Naples: Zeppole e’ Panzarott’”

  1. 1
    gralion torile

    I think this is among the most important info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The web site style is ideal, the articles is really nice : D. Good job, cheers

  2. 11
    Twicsy

    Your style is unique compared to other folks I’ve read stuff from.
    Many thanks for posting when you have the opportunity, Guess I’ll just
    book mark this blog.

  3. 19
    bokep indo

    Thanks for your article. One other thing is that if you are promoting your property all on your own, one of the issues you need to be alert to upfront is just how to deal with property inspection reviews. As a FSBO owner, the key towards successfully moving your property along with saving money on real estate agent profits is know-how. The more you realize, the better your home sales effort is going to be. One area that this is particularly essential is information about home inspections.

  4. 20
    situs porno

    I beloved up to you will receive carried out right here. The caricature is attractive, your authored subject matter stylish. nevertheless, you command get got an nervousness over that you wish be delivering the following. unwell definitely come further until now once more since exactly the similar nearly very often within case you defend this increase.

  5. 22
    situs togel online

    I love your blog.. very nice colors & theme. Did you create this website yourself or did you hire someone to do it for you? Plz respond as I’m looking to design my own blog and would like to find out where u got this from. many thanks

+ Leave a Comment