Calzone Gives Pizza Legs for Walking, But It's Not Trousers

Everyone knows what a pizza is. But refer to the term "calzone" and expect to see dumb blank looks all but the most devoted lovers of Italian food.

Literally translated, calzone means "stocking" or "trouser." But this isn't a cause for unnecessary concern, what a calzone actually is is a folded pizza full of all of the ingredients more generally associated with the traditional item. The calzone is folded prior to it being cooked, encasing the goodness of the elements inside.

At times the calzone has its own useful benefits. Italian street vendors sell them, often quite small in proportions, to be consumed by people on foot whilst jogging or standing still.

Even though totally Italian in origin, several nationalities have created their unique variations on the theme. In the US the focus is defintely on cheese as the principal or even the sole ingredient, and any sauce is supplied on the side like a dip.

In Scotland calzone is available in kebab shops full of shish or doner meat, normally along with a large helping of onions. Legend has it that it's occasionally flambeed using a splash of Scotch whiskey.

With regards to ingredients, virtually anything goes. Anything, a minimum of, that you will likely associate with the more traditional flat open pizza. At some restaurants, calzone can be obtained with chicken and green chili, goat's cheese and zucchini, and aubergine and red pepper, plus the standard ham and mozzarella form with garlic and mushrooms.

There are also numerous restaurants providing the basic folded pizza, for sale in scrumptious ham and chicken, mozzarella and avocado, or ham and mozzarella.

As the world becomes a smaller place and that we all become progressively more knowledgeable about the subtleties of world cuisine, it's comforting, as well as really convenient, to be able to discover that world on our doorstep and also to enjoy everything it gives us.

If you find your mouth watering just contemplating calzone pizza, try Eco Restaurants, a favourite Clapham pizza eatery with a great pizza takeaway service.