Final Answer? Moozedell!

Final Answer? It’s Moozedell!

Four years ago (here) I started the Nebaletan Word of the Day.  One of my first was MOOZEDELL!  Back then, I was just experimenting with the “Nebaletan Word of the Day,” but since, I think that I’ve refined and improved it.

So, it might be time to revisit one of my favorite Nebaletan Words.

MOOZEDELL – pronounced – moo-za-dell.  If you notice in September 2020 there is a different pronunciation.  I had pronounced it lightly differently – moo z del.

It’s these different pronunciations of that white gold that are the prime subject of this.

I learned moo-za-dell. And, in my opinion, that’s the ONLY PROPER WAY to say MOOZEDELL.

Let me provide some examples for further proof that MOOZEDELL is proper:

1. the Italian-American dictionary (see here) says:  “muzzarell’/muzzadell’ – Italian cheese (mozzarella) [mootz-aa-DELL]”  That’s a funny thing about Nebaletan, r’s become d’s, and there are many other examples of this. 
2. One of my favorite panini joints in Napoli is Pan ‘e Muzzarell’ (see here).  Again, there’s the r and d thing.

QUICK ASIDE:

Pan ‘e Muzzarell’ is adjacent to the Piazza del Gesù in the old town part of Napoli (see map here) which runs parallel and one block from Spaccanapoli (aka Via dei Tribunali).  Piazza del Gesù is important to me since the Chiesa del Gesù Nuovo (see here) is in this Piazza.

First it’s façade is architecturally wonderful.  It has “pyramids with cryptic signs engraved by the Neapolitan stonecutters (from https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiesa_del_Ges%C3%B9_Nuovo).  Given that Great Grandpa Lucio was a stone mason, I feel a connection.  Also, these pyramids provide near-mystic, Masonic, quality.

On the interior above the portico (main entrance) there’s a fabulous Baroque painting called

Expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple which was painted by Francesco Solimena (see here).  I have the Solimena surname in my family tree.  So, Francesco could be a grandfather or uncle!

And finally, there is the crypt of Giuseppe Moscati (see here) who was considered the doctor of the poor.  Now that I have a child who’s a doctor and a descendant of the Southern Italian poor, this crypt has special meaning.

ASIDE FROM ASIDE

Recently, one of Cathy’s childhood friends and her husband visited us for a pizza party at our home.  She didn’t get off her cruise ship in Porto di Napoli out of fear.  And this was in spite of her Southern Italian roots.

I was flabbergasted but held my cool while explaining the art, architecture, and incredibly warm people that we’ve experienced. 

Cathy and I have walked nearly 100 miles (no lie…look at our Strava) in 5 visits in almost all parts of Napoli without incident.  We were lost at night in the Spagnoli Quartieri (Spanish Quarter) considered a tourist no-no.  We happened upon Neapolitan strangers who spoke zero English but happily pointed us to the subway station and our way back to our AirBnB.

END ASIDE FROM ASIDE and ASIDE

Back to MOOZEDELL…

I recently found this – https://howtosayguide.com/how-to-say-mozzarella-in-italy/: 

Campania and Southern Italy In Campania, the region where mozzarella was born, the locals have a unique way of pronouncing it informally:

“Mut-za-rell”

Notice the shift from “mozza” (in the informal pronunciation) to “mutza.” This small variation adds a touch of southern charm to your Italian mozzarella mastery.

So with this in mind, when we, recently had neighborhood friends over for a pizza party.  I prompted a group discussion about the proper pronunciation of MOOZEDELL.  Our group included Carmine, who was born and raised in Avellino before moving to the USA, and Ben (mentioned in my last post (here) who is a first-generation Sicilian-American.  I was somewhat surprised to learn that both Carmine and Ben said mooz-a-rell-a given their Southern Italian roots. 

Whereas, my cycling buddy, Chuck, with Sicilian roots says MOOZEDELL! 

I’ll go with Chuck, Final Answer? Moozedell!