By - Amit kumaR Agarwal
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- Fornabaio Mimma, the woman behind one of the most famous panificio's in the whole of Italy
Few eateries are such that give you a reason to come back again and again and again!
Il Forno Di Mimma, a bakery run by a very welcoming and charming woman, Mimma is one of the best bakeries, not only in Stigliano or Baslicata, but the whole of Italy!
I actually stumbled into the bakery, quite by accident, looking to do a feature on the eateries of Italy - BUT - what I got in return was the perfect aroma and a smell that whetted my appetite!
Fresh bread, various savories and the best part, fresh oven-baked hot pizzas - make this bakery the perfect go to place - I would say even if you are visiting the historic city of Matera, you have to come here, specially to have pizzas.
The bakery case up front is stacked with crusty sourdough loaves and pastries, which is reason enough to visit - but tucked in the back is a wood-fired oven turning out some of the best pizza I've had outside a dedicated pizzeria.
The margherita is the star: a thin, blistered crust with just the right chew, bright San Marzano tomato sauce, and pools of melted fior di latte. You can tell the same care that goes into their bread - clearly a long, slow fermentation - carries straight over into the dough. The crust has that perfect balance of crisp edges and a soft, airy center.
BUT, let me remind you, all the good things are secondary - because it is the warm smile and the perfect care, with which the lady of the house (if I can say that) serves you, which is the true and unique feature of the panificio - that's the italian for a bakery - which is just the most perfect bakery in the world!