u/BassesBest

When I was a kid we used to go to camping in Northern Italy near Venice (Lido di Jesolo) and we always used to go to this fantastic pizzeria. I always used to get the funghi pizza, which had the most amazing depth of flavour to it.

So I have been trying to recreate this flavour for years. The best I can describe it as is an intense herby mushroom flavour that filled every bite, combined with that wonderful classic Italian pizza texture, olive oil, tomato and occasional patches of mozzarella.

I have not been successful in recreating that flavour.

So far I have

* made my own dough, pretty successfully

* soaked the mushrooms in olive oil before cooking

* cooked the mushrooms first

* tried different types of mushrooms

* tried different combinations of herbs and tomato (oregano seems closest)

* used fresh tomato

* used tinned Italian tomatoes

* added salt

* taken salt away

* only salted the tomato

* Used olive oil liberally

* Used garlic olive oil

Given I am trying to recreate an Italian classic, not an American one, I'm always careful not to add too much mozzarella, and not to overload the pizza.

While I've made some very successful versions, often the mushrooms end up too watery, or too bland, or the tomato doesn't quite hit with the right level. It's nice, but just insipid.

Any suggestions for what I am doing wrong, or what else I could try?

Just passed it on the train. Don't think I've ever seen that many emergency vehicles responding to one incident.

I'd delay your journey if you're planning to go in.

Hoping for the best

Looking for recommendations for a place to take my 79 year old mum on Saturday lunchtime. Can't do Sunday because of work.

Best options?

Looking at the planned water "levies" and with all the other increases in "levies" that have happened, I'm sure there must be a calculator out there I can use to prove to the sceptical that they're actually paying more tax.

Can anyone point me to one?

Let's have a conversation about Uber Eats.

Yes, it's convenient. Yes you want your food now. But what is it really doing to you, your health and the country?

We're paying more. 25% over the in-restaurant price. And paying by credit card as well, it's a double whammy. While you may think you're paying for convenience, in effect you're being charged a premium for ultimately, a service that would cost you a fraction of the price if you just got it yourself.

And once you're prepared to pay more, you've increased your price tolerance envelope, so prices go up faster, because they can.

That extra we're paying goes abroad. The money you pay to Uber Eats goes offshore, to an international company that invests nothing in New Zealand. Very little actually goes to the people getting your food.

We're helping erode Kiwi principles of fairness and bring in American business models. Fundamentally, the Uber Eats model is an exploitative model based on piecework, a model we had previously eradicated. It's the American tip system writ large. Uber Eats drivers are encouraged to compete with each other for fractions and percentages. It used to be that delivery drivers were teenagers employed by the restaurants and *paid a wage*. No longer.

We're employing migrants to be our servants. It's amazing to me that the same people who complain about immigration will quite happily order an overpriced burger which is delivered by someone on a work permit working for subsistence wages. Did we suddenly reinvent colonialist attitudes overnight? We are bringing people into the country to work as our low paid servants. That's exploitation.

In short. Uber Eats profits from our laziness, is bad for us and the country, exploits its workers, and diverts more money away from Kiwi businesses and into the pockets of international corporations. It's time we gave up the crack addiction.

(Mind you, once you've got your water bill you won't be able to afford it anyway)