Tent Talk: My Night With Occupy Harvard
Certainly, the movement has succeeded in bringing Occupy problems to the forefront of discussion at Harvard, but the movement’s success in establishing that there are sympathizers of the larger Occupy movement at prestigious universities such as Harvard appeared to be a bit less assured at the time. Do the other occupants know what’s going on? And do they give a damn? What do the tents, whether they are empty or not, actually represent? Thursday night around 10:00 p.m., and the Occupy Harvard camp was completely devoid of people and activity.
I had a peek inside a couple of tents.
It appeared as though the topic being batted around by my peers—”Do they genuinely sleep in the Yard or do they simply have tents?”—had been addressed in a definitive manner.
The night was chilly, and whispers of the season’s second snowfall had begun to spread across the community.
- Just when it seems that the scene could not possibly be any more barren of life, the occupants began to arrive as if on cue, as if by clockwork.
- With their backpacks and sleeping bags in tow, they made their way to their temporary home for the night.
- The night’s logistics would be handled by Gabriel H.
- Korn ’14 would be in charge of the group’s public relations efforts.
- It had been nine days since that incident.
- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When the Harvard University Police came, I hadn’t yet been assigned to a camping spot.
- I realized it was time for the raid to begin, and I was right.
- “Can you tell me where the boss woman is?” the cop said in a light-hearted tone, refusing to get out of the car.
- “She isn’t here, but I can assist you,” Bayard said the officer when she arrived.
- Is everything going well for you tonight?
Thanks.” “Can you tell me how many people are sleeping on the streets tonight?” “It’s difficult to say, but I believe we’re somewhere between 70 and 90 percent.” While there were a significant number of individuals sleeping outside, a brief look around the tents revealed that the statistic appeared to be inflated.
- “Do you have any propane?” This seems to be a very normal query.
- “There will be no propane.” “It’s all fine, you guys take care and have a nice night.” The cop got into his car and drove away.
- “They seem to like us,” Korn subsequently told me.
- Earlier this month, when a group of Harvard students set up a camp in Harvard Yard to protest what they characterized as the problems of wealth disparity, unjust treatment of employees, and Harvard’s dubious investments, the University adopted a cautious response.
- It’s difficult to envision the University issuing a cease-and-desist order against the occupants anytime soon.
- Even if officials did, the officers’ overtly sympathetic attitude makes it difficult to imagine.
- Harvard students, on the other hand, are well aware that HUPD officers are among the friendliest members of the local law enforcement community.
- The length of the occupation determines how much overtime HUPD is entitled to.
A member of the security team approached Korn and said, “I heard about the deal.” “It sounds really fantastic.” After reaching a tentative deal with the union that represents Harvard housekeeping workers the day before, Harvard has agreed to give access to childcare and a tuition assistance program to all outsourced employees.
- Korn said that she was unaware of the specifics of the agreements that had been informally agreed upon, but she was overjoyed regardless.
- “Oh my God, that’s really incredible.” When the Securitas officer approached the group, he inquired whether they would like some pizza.
- In response to some hesitancy among the occupants, the officer made a snap decision: “I’m going to deliver some pizza to you guys.” Korn requested to accompany the group so that she could hear the specifics of the contract discussions.
- The pizza was served cold, but it was very amazing.
- Korn said the security officer goodnight and told that such generosity from Harvard employees was something that the squatters had become accustomed to—a group of service staff often drops down a serving of coffee and doughnuts in the morning.
- Students in the Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM) have advocated for a reduction in the wage disparity between the top and lowest paid Harvard employees in their capacity as members of the organization.
- Despite the fact that they are officially distinct, their objectives and membership overlap significantly.
The occupants continued their talks when they were alone once again.
Unsurprisingly, the unifying denominator—the movement—was swiftly brought up in the conversation.
However, the previous night, individuals had raced across the Yard, hurling obscene epithets and ordering the occupants to vacate the premises.
They claim that he regularly tells them to quit and spend their time more productively elsewhere.
The organization at Harvard has evolved beyond slogans, despite the fact that other manifestations of the Occupy movement sometimes make it difficult to understand their objectives.
When it comes to dialogue, the occupiers fiercely hold on to those objectives; but, there is also a propensity to move beyond them.
People are concerned about this, according to her, and she explained why.
In the words of Justin A.
There is no denying that the movement has brought the problems of the wider Occupy movement to the center of discussion at Harvard, and that this is a positive development.
Jung’s other purpose, illustrating that there are sympathizers of the wider Occupy movement at prestigious universities such as Harvard, appeared a bit less assured at the time of publication.
And do they give a damn?
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Despite their reluctance to participate in the event, the majority of people, according to Bayard, are sympathetic to the movement’s issues.
Angry that his classmates had launched a petition only because they were inconvenienced, he said, “There needs to be disturbance in order to catch people’s attention!” Bayard’s attention remained concentrated on the issue of convenience.
Almost the whole crowd at the IOP discussion was in favor of the proposal.
It didn’t take long for such fundamental resistance to manifest itself, about one o’clock that night.
“I’d want to ask you a question!
“I’d want to ask a question,” the first freshman exclaimed.
In terms of inebriation and attitude, he was the most outspoken of the group.
The occupiers awaited his response to their query.
In response, Bayard said, “seventy-ninety percent.” The camp is clearly not deserted, but to call it deserted would be an exaggeration.
“The tents are already occupied,” one of the freshman’s more sober classmates said, a sly cynicism that surprised everyone.
“Do you believe that twelve bucks an hour is excessive?” It was asserted by the occupants that the situation for Harvard workers is more complicated than their salaries would imply.
Others are subjected to split shifts, which forces them to work irregular hours that interfere with their family lives.
Harvard’s lowest paid employees are likely to earn more than 12 dollars an hour—14 or 16 dollars, perhaps—but this is still not enough, in the opinion of the squatter.
Larry Summers had delivered a speech at her freshman seminar earlier in the day.
Her explanation was that “we’re altruistic in the sense that we care for our family and our relatives.” “Can you tell me why you’re on the side of the cleaners?” While the other occupants remained patient, William P.
Then he turned to Matt and remarked, with a tinge of mockery in his voice, “You’re talking about people who clean up the puke you leave all over the place.” “Could you just show some respect?” A lot of people are attempting to sleep.” “Can you believe it?
Perhaps this wasn’t what Matt had anticipated from a movement that was pushing for unity in the first place.
The discourse degenerated regardless of Whitham’s intentions, and it became difficult to tell who said what.
I know a girl who really wants to meet you, Matt, and I’d want to set you up with her.” “Come on, Matt, she’s eagerly looking forward to seeing you.” Matt was sufficiently distracted as a result of this.
Although these two groups represent philosophically diverse segments of the student population, the debate between them reminded me of the outside criticism of Occupy Harvard, which I found amusing.
It found out that both sides were capable of portraying the rude Harvard elite when the situation became heated.
His assurance that “we always endeavor to be friendly” was heartening.
The conversation proceeded around the information desk.
I discovered that, as a non-freshman, I would have to make a dash to the Science Center to utilize the facilities.
Bayard generously handed me an additional sleeping mat in order to keep me warm.
“It’s yours,” he instructed me.
Was the 180:1 aspect ratio excessive?
The tents are not the top-of-the-line luxury shelters that have been accused of having been purchased by the movement.
This assertion is very credible after spending the night in one of them.
“We are the one percent!
“Get out of our yard,” says the owner.
I was wondering whether the taunts in the Yard were the most articulate expression of student opposition to Occupy Harvard that had yet been heard in the university community.
I made it through the night, but I had to leave early the next morning, before the others had even gotten out of bed.
One of them had been assigned to perform the graveyard shift, which consisted of standing overnight at the now-closed gates to keep the Yard safe.
Although the situation wasn’t ideal, he was content to accept it. “It’s a substantial sum of money,” he explained to his partner. “I’m not going to be able to turn it down.”
Category: Glamping
If you follow us at all onFacebookyou know that we are all about GLAMPING right now! Maybe you have questions about glamping (what the heck is it anyway?) or are curious what we have to offer as a glamping establishment – this blog should answer all of those questions! If it doesn’t, please feel free to ask us – we love questions and new ideas to help improve our facility to make it a prime wedding venue!
What is GLAMPING?What is this Glamping thing we speak of? Simply put it is GLAMorous camPING! You are in nature enjoying all of the benefits of camping – nature, crisp clean air, birds chirping – but you get the luxury of a nice hotel room – fluffy pillows, pillow top mattresses, and HOT SHOWERS, plus breakfast delivered to your tent door! What does a Glamping Tent Look Like? Our Glamping Tents are canvas tents featuring rustic and vintage decorations.All tents have a hardwood floor and an eight foot deck with lounge chairs for you to enjoy the sunrise and sunsets from. All of the tents feature a luxurious bed, nightstand, mirror, fun decorations and FLUFFY towels to use at the shower house.We will SOON have pictures of all of our completed and decorated tents so you can decide which tent is the best fit for your perfect weekend! SHOWER HOUSE!Yes you saw that right, there is a SHOWER HOUSE! Our Glamping shower house is a large tent with 4 individual rooms with separate entrances that allow our campers to take a private shower.All of the showers have HOT water and you will find using them to be similar to taking a shower at home.Each room has a dressing area to keep your personal items dry while you shower.Our shower house is about a 10 minute walk from the tents – or a 2 minute drive. Towels are provided at your tent for use in the shower houses, so no need to pack your own!Amenities? Besides fluffy towels and warm showers what do our tents have to offer you?We have a number of amenities for our glamping guests.Indoor plumbing can be found 440 yards from your tent in the Y Knot BarnEvent Center.We bring a continental breakfast of baked goods, fruit and juice to your tent door at 7:00 (ish) am.We offer natural settings and a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of busy life.Our tents do not have any electricity to them – so leave that smart phone in your bag and commune with nature:) for the non nature enthusiast there are outlets in the barn and shower house to get a little battery boost!Fresh drinking water is provided daily. Y Knot Glamping Tents Y Knot Glamping has 5 tents that are available to rent – as we are a wedding venue first – and we want to accommodate to our wedding guests – glampings is only available to guests on wedding weekends.However during the week and on weekends without a booked wedding, glamping tents can be rented! We have a selection of tents to choose from. Hollowtop – our honeymoon suite -featuring a king bed is set apart from the other tents to offer utmost privacy.Potosi Peak and Granite Peak both offer two queen beds – perfect for friends that want to stay together! Mount Jefferson and Horse Mountain feature one queen bed and is a great option for guests who prefer not to share their room with others.We encourage families to glamp as we feel it is an unforgettable experience, which is why we allow kids to bring sleeping bags and sleep on the floor in the tents – that means that you can sleep more than 4 in a tent if you have a larger family! House Keeping Details Our check in time is 2 p.m. and our checkout time is 11 a.m. If you need different times please inquire we try our best to fully accommodate each guest to the best of our abilities.You must check in at the 135 Johnson Road (the house by the barn) by 9:00 p.m. before making your way to your tent, unless other arrangements have been madeWe ask that all glampers remember that you are CAMPING! There is wildlife in the pastures and on the paths between the tents and barn and the tents and shower houses, please be respectful of the animals and DO NOT disturb them! Reserving a Y Knot Glamping Tent To reserve your Glamping tent, you may call our Glamping Manager Kaysha at 406.209.1139 or email at [email protected] the date and tent you want, if it is available we will send you an electronic invoice, once the invoice is paid your tent is reserved.We currently have two payment options (100% due at booking, or 50% due at booking and 50% due 7 days before your stay).Our current prices are King and Double Queen Tents are $160/night and our Single Queen Tents are $125/night.These prices are subject to change without notice. Cancelation PolicyIf you cancel 7 days before your stay you will be issued a 100% refund, if you cancel with less than 7 days before your stay you will be issued a refund of 50% of your total bill.Any stays that are not cancelled 24 hours in advance will not receive any refund.
| If you follow us at all onFacebookyou know that we are all about GLAMPING right now! Maybe you have questions about glamping (what the heck is it anyway?) or are curious what we have to offer as a glamping establishment – this blog should answer all of those questions! If it doesn’t, please feel free to ask us – we love questions and new ideas to help improve our facility to make it a prime wedding venue! |
What is GLAMPING?What is this Glamping thing we speak of? Simply put it is GLAMorous camPING! You are in nature enjoying all of the benefits of camping – nature, crisp clean air, birds chirping – but you get the luxury of a nice hotel room – fluffy pillows, pillow top mattresses, and HOT SHOWERS, plus breakfast delivered to your tent door! What does a Glamping Tent Look Like? Our Glamping Tents are canvas tents featuring rustic and vintage decorations.All tents have a hardwood floor and an eight foot deck with lounge chairs for you to enjoy the sunrise and sunsets from. All of the tents feature a luxurious bed, nightstand, mirror, fun decorations and FLUFFY towels to use at the shower house.We will SOON have pictures of all of our completed and decorated tents so you can decide which tent is the best fit for your perfect weekend! SHOWER HOUSE!Yes you saw that right, there is a SHOWER HOUSE! Our Glamping shower house is a large tent with 4 individual rooms with separate entrances that allow our campers to take a private shower.All of the showers have HOT water and you will find using them to be similar to taking a shower at home.Each room has a dressing area to keep your personal items dry while you shower.Our shower house is about a 10 minute walk from the tents – or a 2 minute drive. Towels are provided at your tent for use in the shower houses, so no need to pack your own!Amenities? Besides fluffy towels and warm showers what do our tents have to offer you?We have a number of amenities for our glamping guests.Indoor plumbing can be found 440 yards from your tent in the Y Knot BarnEvent Center.We bring a continental breakfast of baked goods, fruit and juice to your tent door at 7:00 (ish) am.We offer natural settings and a nice escape from the hustle and bustle of busy life.Our tents do not have any electricity to them – so leave that smart phone in your bag and commune with nature:) for the non nature enthusiast there are outlets in the barn and shower house to get a little battery boost!Fresh drinking water is provided daily. Y Knot Glamping Tents Y Knot Glamping has 5 tents that are available to rent – as we are a wedding venue first – and we want to accommodate to our wedding guests – glampings is only available to guests on wedding weekends.However during the week and on weekends without a booked wedding, glamping tents can be rented! We have a selection of tents to choose from. Hollowtop – our honeymoon suite -featuring a king bed is set apart from the other tents to offer utmost privacy.Potosi Peak and Granite Peak both offer two queen beds – perfect for friends that want to stay together! Mount Jefferson and Horse Mountain feature one queen bed and is a great option for guests who prefer not to share their room with others.We encourage families to glamp as we feel it is an unforgettable experience, which is why we allow kids to bring sleeping bags and sleep on the floor in the tents – that means that you can sleep more than 4 in a tent if you have a larger family! House Keeping Details Our check in time is 2 p.m. and our checkout time is 11 a.m. If you need different times please inquire we try our best to fully accommodate each guest to the best of our abilities.You must check in at the 135 Johnson Road (the house by the barn) by 9:00 p.m. before making your way to your tent, unless other arrangements have been madeWe ask that all glampers remember that you are CAMPING! There is wildlife in the pastures and on the paths between the tents and barn and the tents and shower houses, please be respectful of the animals and DO NOT disturb them! Reserving a Y Knot Glamping Tent To reserve your Glamping tent, you may call our Glamping Manager Kaysha at 406.209.1139 or email at [email protected] the date and tent you want, if it is available we will send you an electronic invoice, once the invoice is paid your tent is reserved.We currently have two payment options (100% due at booking, or 50% due at booking and 50% due 7 days before your stay).Our current prices are King and Double Queen Tents are $160/night and our Single Queen Tents are $125/night.These prices are subject to change without notice. Cancelation PolicyIf you cancel 7 days before your stay you will be issued a 100% refund, if you cancel with less than 7 days before your stay you will be issued a refund of 50% of your total bill.Any stays that are not cancelled 24 hours in advance will not receive any refund.
“I’m head over heels in love with Montana. I have a lot of appreciation, respect, and recognition for other countries, and even a little affinity for some of them. Montana, on the other hand, is in love. While you are in love, it is tough to understand your feelings.” John Steinbeck is a novelist and novelist-in-residence at the University of California, Berkeley. Nikki Edmudson of Many Hats Photography is a talented photographer.
Oh Pony, how we love thee, let us count the ways! We are so very thankful to live in Pony, Montana. While there might only be 200 residents, our tiny town has a lot to offer.This post only features a few nature aspects of why Pony is awesome.In future posts we will highlight other themes such as photo ops and things to do.Here are a few things that make us love Pony, and why we think it is the best spot for any type of celebration!
Dissecting the #PizzaGate Conspiracy Theories (Published 2016)
- The following things happened: 1WikiLeaks began releasing emails stolen from the account of John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, a month before the election
- 2Social media users on a popular Reddit forum dedicated to Donald J. Trump and 4chan, a far-right fringe message board, began searching the releases for evidence of wrongdoing
- 3Within the emails were discussions that included the word pizza, including dinner plans between Mr. Podesta and his lobbyist brother, It was disclosed in the WikiLeaks emails that John Podesta had spoken with Comet’s owner, James Alefantis, who had links to Democratic strategists
- 6the hypothesis took on the name PizzaGate and spread like wildfire. Fake news articles appeared and were widely disseminated on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook
- 7the bogus reports swept up nearby businesses and musicians that had performed at Comet. In fictional articles and on social media, theories about kill chambers, subterranean tunnels, satanism, and even cannibalism began to surface. On December 4, Edgar M. Welch, 28, of North Carolina, came to Comet armed with a military-style rifle and a revolver, according to the Associated Press. The police claimed he shot the weapon inside the pizzeria, striking no one, and surrendered after discovering no proof to substantiate suspicions that child slaves were being held there
- 9the shooting did not put the hypothesis to rest, according to the authorities. Purveyors of conspiracy theories and false news cast the finger upon the mainstream media as part of a coverup to protect what they said was a criminal organization.
The conspiracy hypothesis went viral on the internet and gained widespread acceptance. YouTube videos were used to spread the fake tale, garnering hundreds of thousands of views. Tens of thousands of people joined to message boards, contributing to the spread of conspiracy theories through the use of fabricated news items and crowd-sourced investigative work. The accusations of an internet pedophile network operating out of Comet Ping Pong were disproved by the authorities, but the rumours persisted anyway.
Claim: Podesta’s leaked emails contained secret code language.
Searching through the hacked emails of John Podesta, members of a far-right fringe group on the social media site 4chan and Trump fans on Reddit discovered a number of emails that had nothing to do with the presidential campaign. Some of them referenced pizza or other Italian fare in their responses.
Did you leave a handkerchief
The realtor discovered a handkerchief (which appears to have a map that appears to be linked to pizza). Is it yorus, or something else? If you choose, they can email it to you. I understand that you are busy, so please do not react if the message is not yours or if you do not want it.
RE: Did you leave a handkerchief
It’s mine, but it’s not something to be concerned about. The most often quoted email concerned a handkerchief that had been left at a residence that Mr. Podesta had toured with a real estate agent. Speculation began to circulate that the handkerchief and map on which it was written were clues to some form of criminality.
Claim: The emails contained coded messages about pedophilia.
The word “cheese pizza” has previously been used as code for “child pornography” on the 4chan message board. Another anonymous user claimed that other food-related phrases may potentially have contradictory meanings, according to him. In November, an anonymous message was posted on 4chan’s “so-called alt-right” discussion board. Following the dissemination of this view, subsequent emails that contained suspected code terms were reinterpreted as proof of pedophile activities. For instance, this 2015 email was interpreted as a request for information on giving sexual services.
Walnut sauce?
Hello, John.
We are well aware that you are a real master of food, and we have always admired your abilities. But what about the walnut sauce for the pasta? Mary, please tell us the whole truth about what happened. Was the sauce genuinely quite tasty?
Re: Walnut sauce?ing
It’s a fantastic Ligurian meal prepared with ground walnuts that have been ground into a paste. So quit acting like you’re from California. The Podesta brothers were well-known in Washington for their Italian food and for hosting large salon and fund-raising dinners, which were frequently prepared by their mother.
Claim: Comet Ping Pong is at the center of it.
The proprietor of Comet Ping Pong, a Washington-area restaurant that has been linked to important Democratic politicians, was named in several pizza-related emails. An email proposing a pizza fund-raiser there stoked rumors about sex parties, according to the newspaper.
Comet Ping Pong and OBAMA.and Podesta?.
Hello. On Thursday night, a group of my young lawyer-type pals will be having an Obama Fundraiser at Comet Ping Pong, after which they will be watching the debate. There should be around 150 individuals in attendance, and they expect to raise between $25,000 and $35,000 dollars. We’d appreciate it if you could come over around 8 o’clock and give a little speech. Of course, they (as well as I) would be delighted to have you as a guest. I understand if you are unable to participate. Also, I saw that you will be reading at PoliticsProse in the near future.
- Would you want to eat supper at one of my establishments?!?
- What are your thoughts?
- The signage of the pizzeria was connected to satanic symbols by amateur web sleuths.
- The signage at Comet Ping Pong has been scrutinized by a conspiracy theorist.
Claim: An Instagram photo is proof of a link between Obama and Comet Ping Pong.
Conspiracy theorists used a photograph of President Obama playing table tennis to establish a link between him and the Pizza Hut eatery. In a film, this shot is introduced with “here is Obama at Comet Ping Pong.” YouTube video of a scene from the ” PizzaGate – What We Know So Far” film. It should be noted, however, that this shot is of a framed painting within the White House, and that the original photograph was taken within the White House, not at the Comet Ping Pong restaurant. According to a spokeswoman for the restaurant, Mr.
From the photograph “Celebrities Playing Table Tennis,” which was submitted by Timmy LaInside the White House, where the photograph was captured.
Claim: Comet Ping Pong and other nearby businesses use pedophile symbols in logos.
WikiLeaks obtained a Federal Bureau of Investigation document that revealed the following symbols are used by pedophiles to designate their sexual inclinations. Some conspiracy theorists said that other design elements employed by companies in the vicinity of the Comet Ping Pong restaurant resembled emblems of pedophilia.
However, a plethora of other prominent American company logos feature forms that are quite similar to this one. A common motif in corporate logo design is the usage of hearts, triangles, and spirals.
Claim: Comet Ping Pong had a secret kill room and posted a picture of it on Instagram. Fake stories claimed underground tunnels and child trafficking in the basement.
Instagram The photograph depicts what seems to be a walk-in refrigerator at the restaurant, which is reported as being part of a network of underground facilities. Comet Ping Pong, on the other hand, does not have a basement, as confirmed by a reporter. It was taken during a visit to a restaurant that Mr. Alefantis was considering leasing, according to a spokeswoman for Comet Entertainment. Comet stores vegetables, cheese, and proving dough in a low-slung refrigerator at Buck’s FishingCamping, Mr.
The ingredients for Comet’s recipe were stored in the walk-in refrigerator.
Claim: The owner of Comet Ping Pong admitted he was a pedophile – on a T-shirt.
Instagram It was discovered on James Alefantis’ Instagram account, and followers of the PizzaGate movement considered it to be proof that he is a child molester. However, the individual in the black T-shirt was not James Alefantis, as previously reported. A another restaurant in Washington, entitled L’Enfant Cafe-Bar, was co-owned by the individual in question. It was named after Pierre Charles L’Enfant, a French-born American colonist who served under George Washington during the Revolutionary War, in case you were wondering.
Claim: John and Tony Podesta personally kidnapped Madeleine McCann from her bed at a Portugal resort in 2007.
Another component of the conspiracy theory was an alleged connection between the Podesta brothers and the child abduction case of Madeleine McCann, which occurred on May 3, 2007, according to the idea. It was frequently cited as evidence in the case when two e-fit (electronic face identification technology) images were revealed by British investigators. A conspiracy theory poster that draws parallels between the Podesta brothers and police sketch images is shown. In this version, the image of Madeleine McCann has been removed because it was offensive.
According to The Guardian, the guy was described as “white, between the ages of 20 and 40, with short brown hair, of medium build, medium height, and clean shaven” by others who witnessed him.
Podesta’s presence in Portugal was confirmed only by “FBI Anon,” who was mentioned in Victurus Libertas, a conspiracy-minded news website that believes, among other things, that the Titanic was purposely sunk and that the queen of England is a reptilian extraterrestrial.
Pizza Gain (Italian Easter Pizza)
Known variously as Pizzagaina, Pizza Rustica, or Pizza Chiena, Pizza Gain is a unique type of Italian Easter Pizza that is unlike any other pizza you have ever tried before. Forget about the tomato sauce; this stuffed pizza is more like a cheese and salami pie with a pizza dough on the outside. Beautifully layered and decorated, this stunning pie is the ideal dessert for an Easter brunch.
Italian Easter Pizza: A Pie With many Names
Pizza is a word that simply means pie in Italian. We’ll need a minute to process this information. The reason for the unusual appearance of this pizza is since it is unlike any other pizza you have seen.
Despite the fact that it is unfamiliar to non-Italians, this Easter pizza is quite popular throughout the country. This celebration meal is so well-known that it truly doesn’t have a proper name. Instead, it goes by a variety of names that all refer to the same item.
The History Of Italian Easter Pie
Italian simply means “pie,” and pizza is a type of pie. Let’s take a time to process it. And that’s why this pizza looks so unlike any other pizza you’ve ever seen before! Even though this Easter pizza is unfamiliar to non-Italians, it is quite popular throughout the country. This celebration meal has become so well-known that it has been given no official name. Instead, it is known by a variety of names that all refer to the same concept.
Pizza Rustica Comes To The States
People from Naples and other southern Italian cities who came to the United States carried their culinary traditions with them. When pizza rustica became popular in the United States, it was given the label “pizza gain” (orpizzagaina). Because many of the specialist ingredients that the Italians were accustomed to utilizing to prepare their pizza rustica were difficult to come by in America, they had to innovate in order to survive. Salamis and cured meats from traditional Italian recipes were substituted with ham and pepperoni, and more readily available cheeses were utilized to create the lovely, cheesy layers on the pizza.
Pizza Gain Today
What this implies for us is that pizza rustica (also known as pizza gain) is more of an idea than a recipe that must be followed to the letter. If you can’t get a certain meat, use something similar that you can get your hands on. If you are unable to obtain the cheese that is specified, substitute what you have on hand. The goal is to construct a beautiful, multi-layered masterpiece that will fill the spirit with joy when the Lenten fast comes to an end and Easter arrives.
What Cheese Is Traditionally Used In Pizza Rustica?
Basket cheese is a classic ingredient that can be found in almost every traditional recipe for pizza rustica, and it is used to make the crust. As the cheese drains, it is squeezed into baskets to make basket cheese. Basket cheese is made from fresh cow’s milk. After being pressed, it retains the impression of the basket, which gives it its name. Basket cheese is difficult to come by in the United States unless you live near a decent Italian deli or store that specializes in imported foods. (And even if you do, it may only emerge for a few weeks before Easter, so be patient.) But don’t be concerned if you don’t know what you’re talking about when it comes to this rare Italian cheese.
The softness and taste of these cheeses are a lovely addition to the rustica pizza.
Cured Italian Meats In Pizzagaina
Layered between the cheese mixture and the cured meats are a variety of typical Italian cured meats. Some of the classic meats, such as prosciutto, are likely to be familiar to you already. Many, on the other hand, you may not be familiar with.
- Prosciutto di Parma is a dry-cured ham that comes from the Italian city of Parma. Prosciutto is a thinly sliced ham with a buttery texture and a little salty flavor that is served cold. However, any thinly sliced, salty deli ham would suffice in this situation
- Serrano ham is recommended. Soppressata– A dry pork salami from Italy, soppressata is commonly peppered, however the flavors might vary depending on the producer. Although the texture and flavor are quite similar to those of deli hard salami (especially peppered hard salami), this is an excellent replacement. Capicola is a smoked pig neck that has been dry cured, seasoned, and smoked, and is considered a hybrid between prosciutto and sausage by some. Although it has a flavor and texture that is comparable to prosciutto, capicola has a meatier texture and is less salty than prosciutto. Thinly sliced smoked deli ham, prosciutto, or prosciutto di Parma would be suitable substitutes. Mortadella– Although mortadella is not a cured meat, it is included in some recipes for pizza rustica. This is a huge Italian sausage or lunch meat that has not been smoked, and it is commonly referred to as “Italian bologna.” The pink color and silky texture of bologna or olive bread would make an excellent alternative
- Nevertheless,
It’s possible that you’ll have trouble locating any (or all) of these meats if you don’t live near an excellent Italian deli. We’ve included several cost-effective alternatives above, so don’t be afraid to replace for meats that are easy to come by in your area. As we said previously, pizza gain is more of a concept than a recipe that can be followed step by step.
Each region in Italy (and each family) prepares their Easter pizza in a unique way, depending on what ingredients are accessible to them in their local area. Consequently, have some fun playing with the different combinations of meat and cheese that seem nice to you!
How To Make Pizza Rustica
The steps involved in creating this stunning pie are pretty straightforward. The dough is relatively firm, but it comes together quite readily once it has been chilled for a while. It is simple to combine the cheese mixture with the dough while the dough rests. The dough is divided into two portions when it has rested, with 2/3 and 1/3 of the whole dough being used. Your bigger part will be used to make the bottom crust, and your smaller section will be used to make the top crust of your pie.
- If you are having problems rolling the dough, cover it with a moist tea towel and set it aside for 5 minutes before proceeding.
- The most difficult element of creating pizza rustica is resisting the temptation to sample all of the meats and cheeses while they are being layered into their proper layers.
- A little for myself.” says the singer.
- I’m just putting it out there.
Our Italian Easter Pizza Gain Recipe
We were expecting to have to make some serious substitutions on the meats for our pizza gain, but imagine our delight when we discovered that our local Aldi grocery store had prosciutto, capicola, and soppressata sitting right next to their sliced sandwich cheeses. We were giddy with anticipation! Unfortunately, the basket cheese was a different story. As a result, we substituted feta for the basket cheese. Moreover, we can confidently state that the outcomes were delectable! A typical 8-inch baking dish held our pie, and it was more than enough to feed a family of eight.
In other words, if we had chosen to offer it as a free-standing piece, we could.
How To Serve Pizza Gain
Because of the amount of cheese contained within a pizza pie, it is vital to allow the pie to rest for 20-30 minutes before serving. The cheese will set and the slices will cling together nicely as you distribute them in this manner. Because this meal is frequently served for Easter brunch or as an Easter appetizer, it is generally prepared ahead of time to reduce the burden on the oven on Easter Sunday. If you’re cooking your pizza ahead of time, make sure it’s entirely cool before covering it and putting it in the refrigerator.
(Loosely tent the pizza with aluminum foil to prevent the top crust from becoming too black.) If you want to serve your made-ahead pizza gain cooled, don’t be afraid to do so as an appetizer, a main course for Easter brunch, or even as a light lunch.
For more Italian recipes, including our collection ofItalian Easter dishes, see more of ourItalian recipes and especially our collection ofItalian Easter recipes.
Pizza Gain AKA Pizza Rustica (Italian Easter Pizza)
Known variously as Pizzagaina, Pizza Rustica, or Pizza Chiena, Pizza Gain is a unique type of Italian Easter Pizza that is unlike any other pizza you have ever tried before. 1 (8×8) baking dish will be produced. (It’s possible to double the recipe to fill a 9×13 or 10″ springform pan with 2.5-3″ edges.) Preparation time: 1hr30mins Cooking time: 1 hourTotal time: 2 hours and 30 minutes Courses include appetizers, brunch, and lunch. Cuisine:Italian Servings:8people
For The Ricotta Filling
- 1lb bricotta
- 12lb feta cheese(patted dry if damp), crumbled
- 14c shredded Pecorino Romano cheese
- 3 eggs
- 1/8 teaspoon crushed black pepper
- 1lb feta cheese(patted dry if moist)
Putting It All Together
- 3 oz prosciutto, thinly sliced
- 3 oz soppressata, thinly sliced
- 3 oz capicola, thinly sliced (or mortadella)
- 6 oz mozzarella, sliced
- 4 oz provolone, sliced
- 1 egg, beaten with 1 tsp water (for the egg wash)
- 6 oz sour cream
For The Dough,
- In a medium-sized mixing basin, whisk together the flour, salt, and baking powder
- Combine the eggs and oil in a mixing bowl. Hand-mix until the ingredients are equally dispersed. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, water, and salt until the dough comes together (adding additional water, 1 tablespoon at a time, if required). Cover the dough with plastic wrap and set it aside while you make the filling.
For The Ricotta Filling
- Combine the ricotta, crumbled feta, grated Romano, eggs, and pepper in a medium-sized mixing basin. Mix until the mixture is smooth and uniform.
Putting It All Together
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Divide the dough into two sections, each approximately one-third and two-thirds of the total volume
- Cover the smaller half with the bigger portion, which should be rolled out to a 13×13 inch square. Fill your greased 8×8 baking dish with the dough, leaving approximately 1 inch overflowing the sides
- Bake for 30 minutes at 350°F. 34 of the ricotta filling should be spread over the bottom crust
- Using half of the prosciutto slices as a garnish, top the ricotta layer with the mozzarella, half of the soppresata, half of the provolone, and half of the capicola
- Repeat layers until all ingredients are used. Another third of the ricotta filling should be spread over the meat and cheese layers. As before, layer the remaining meat and cut cheeses on top of the first layer. Lastly, top it with the remainder of the ricotta mixture. Roll out your smaller part of dough into an 8×8-inch square and place it on top of the ricotta mixture to finish it off. Lightly wet the edges of the crust with a small amount of water, then fold the excess bottom crust over the top crust to form a neatly rolled edge. Egg wash should be applied to the crust. Make a few vent holes in the top crust with a sharp paring knife, being careful not to cut too deeply. Bake the pizza for 1 hour, lightly tenting the pie with aluminum foil if the top crust begins to brown too much during the cooking process. Allow the pie to cool for 20-30 minutes on a wire rack before cutting and serving. Alternatively, allow it cool entirely (2-3 hours) before refrigerating (covered) until ready to use.
Sarah is a founding member of the Curious Cuisiniere team. Her French Canadian Grandmother instilled in her a lifelong appreciation for ethnic food from a young age. Her years of knowledge in the kitchen and in recipe development are a result of her years of working in professional culinary environments. Since then, she has traveled widely and takes pleasure in bringing the tastes of her trips back into her dishes, which are simple and quick to prepare.
