Puccia and Sorriso Di Marco: what they are and how to present them, from street food to themed events

In these articles, we often present pinsa as a versatile food, because we know we can enjoy on many different occasions, from starters to the dessert that closes a dinner among friends. However, pinsa, or rather its dough, can also be used for different products that start from a common base and differ in shape and texture, each developing their own unique qualities.

Puccia and sorriso are the two most evident examples: let’s explore what they are, their strengths, and how to present them to the public, starting with street food and then considering other ways to showcase them, such as including them in gourmet menus, creating themed events, or selling them online through food delivery.

A brief note is necessary: puccia and sorriso are products specifically desigened for the catering industry, with a particular focus on street food due to their shape and size. Both are based on the dough of pinsa, using the well-known mix of flours, high hydration, and long leavening with sourdough. They are available pre-packaged (frozen), but there’s nothing stopping you from using the same mix of flours as pinsa to prepare them on the spot, just like you would for our main product.

Puccia is a typical bread from the Puglia region, particularly from the southern-central part (Salento and Taranto), characterized by a slightly flattened round shape. Even within the region of origin, there are a lot of versions, all sharing the same small size (about 20-30 cm in diameter at most), with little to no crumb and a soft, light texture, thanks to the high hydration dough. It has a delicate flavour, and can be enjoyed with fillings of all kinds, from cured meats and cheeses to grilled vegetables and traditional sauces. It can also be an excellent dessert.

We believe puccia is an opportunity for the food service industry. As mentioned, it is great for street food thanks to its quick preparation, lightness, and delicate flavour, but it is also interesting for bars and other venues like pubs, which can focus on a new, intriguing product that is quick to prepare and stands out significantly from the usual sandwiches, piadina and focaccia. Plus, why not focus on its innovative aspect to make it a centerpiece of your menu, perhaps in regions where it is less known, by hosting themed events in your venue or delivering it directly to customers through food delivery?

As noted before, Di Marco’s puccia comes from the same high-hydration dough that made pinsa romana famous and follows the same artisanal processing methods. The product is hand-stretched, blast-chilled, and can be stored at -18°C for up to 18 months, for waste-free cooking. Moreover, it offers the same quick preparation as pinsa, as it is ready after 4-5 minutes in a static oven at 300° or 7-8 minutes in a ventilated oven at 250°.

Sorriso is another Di Marco innovation designed to meet the needs of modern dining. The product is made with the same dough as pinsa romana, but it has a distinctive shell shape that perfectly accommodates and “captures” a wide variety of fillings. Its structure, folded over itself, makes it practical and versatile, ideal for a quick and informal meal; in fact, Sorriso is also an excellent option for street food, as it simplifies preparation and eating, even outdoors or on the go, without sacrificing the distinctive qualities of pinsa. Like its illustrious counterpart, Sorriso embodies the mix of lightness, flavour, and digestibility, is made artisanally, can be defrosted in 3-4 minutes at room temperature, and cooked in just 4-5 minutes in a static oven at 300° or 7-8 minutes in a ventilated oven at 250°.

Innovation helps any culinary initiative succeed. Whether in street food or more traditional venues, customers are always looking for novelty, unique experiences, and new flavours.

Puccia and sorriso fit into this trend, as they are innovative and appealing products, where tradition and modernity meet. Offering puccia and sorriso means standing out from the competition without the need for bold investments or advanced skills: just a little over 5 minutes in the oven and they’re ready. It doesn’t get better than that…