The above title is a well-known german expression referring to translation, and meaning 'translated and improved', that is, the translated version is better than the original one.
This expression could be applied to any form of 'conversion' , not only from language to language. Food , for example. Sometimes, a version of a certain dish is better than the original one.
The vegetarian pizza, a popular dish, has its modern roots in Naples, south Italy. I happened to eat pizza in Naples and in other parts of Italy, and didn't like it. I constantly compared it to my local pizza in Israel, and concluded that the local one was much improved, it tasted better.
There's another kind of pizza 'on the market', a non-vegetarian pizza with a minced meat topping (lamb or beef) mixed with minced veggies and herbs. This pizza is of turkish-armenian origin, and is named 'lahmajoun' (or lahmacun). They introduce it in a taboon oven, which is hot enough to cook the raw meat and dough simultaneously and the result is "to die for".
the taboon
There was an eatery near my place of work based on this turkish delicacy. So, I had quite a few lahmajouns at that time. Once, I told someone (a tourist guide) that the first thing I 'll do if, and when I visit Turkey is to have an authentic lahmajoun. Ha,ha, ha, was his reaction, authentic or not, this, here, is the best lahmajoun you'll ever get.
Remembering my experience with pizza in Italy, I said to myself, that maybe he was right. Perhaps, the Israelis found a way to ..."verbesser' (improve) the original.
Nowadays, I seldom eat pizza or lahmajoun. I do however, eat almost daily 'tahini' (techina in hebrew), the one and only, the sauce that goes well with any pizza and with everything else. I don't care about its origins and versions. I rely only on my own version. I buy the main ingredient - sesame-seeds' paste , and make it as Sinatra would say - 'My way', adding the essential three items: lemon juice, garlic, water.
* web pictures
Yes, it's always best to make it "My Way". Sounds like a great sauce for so many things. I tend to like to make things 'my way' too. I made a pie without the crust since that would be too. I put the flour in other places "the crumb" I liked my version of the Cranberry Apple Crumb pie.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the post. Happy New Year!
I like the song,the singer, and the two words: 'my way'.
DeleteWhen I retired I wrote a speech, mentioning that now I'm entering a new era - a period of doing things my way only - no rules, no boss, no coworkers.
Happy New Year!
Your version looks so good, pizza is a favourite in our house.
ReplyDeleteThe two pizzas displayed in the post are not my version. It's the 'tahine' sauce that I make my own version.
DeleteIm not a fan of pizza although I make it for the men in the house sometimes (using my bread machine for the dough) but my son once made a version at school using shortcrust pastry instead of dough, the base was crunchy and delicious and I would eat it again :)
ReplyDeleteYour son's pizza sounds professional. So,no wonder you would have it again.
DeleteNow I am hungry!
ReplyDeleteBoth pizzas, the vegetarian and the non-vegetarian look yummi, and make one feel hungry.
DeleteYou are making me hungry!
ReplyDeleteWell, the description and pictures of the pizzas, do make one's mouth watering.
DeleteYou come up with the most interesting topics… with a twist. : ) I’m always looking forward to your new posts.
ReplyDeleteYes, a not so well-crafted document can become a well-crafted translation. A translator should always be attentive. They don’t want words or expressions to get lost in translation. Not an easy task. Some words have no English equivalent, for instance.
Tahini is one of my favourite sauces. When I buy take-out from my favourite Lebanese restaurant, I always ask for extra tahini sauce.
As for pizza, it is common knowledge that no matter how full you are, there is always room for an extra slice of pizza as there is room for dessert after a heavy meal. : )
It seems that the tomato can be traced back to the early Aztecs and that the Spanish explorers were the ones who introduced the tomato plant to the Europeans. It was a Napolitano baker who first used tomato sauce on pizzas, an Italian friend told me.
I love all sort of pizzas, except the Hawaiian pizza that, by the way, was “invented” in Canada!!
Chicago is famous for their deep-dish pizza baked in an iron skillet. I haven't had the pleasure of tasting this kind of pizza yet. : )
Thanks Catarina for your very kind words. It would seem you've got great knowledge in many fields: translation issues, Tahini sauce, sorts of pizza, tomatoes etc...
DeleteI never heard of lahmajoun, but it sounds delicious. I looked it up to see if I could buy it here in the Phoenix area and saw it was offered at an Armenian restaurant here. I'll have to put it on my list of things to try in the new year. I do agree with you. Some of the best things we have eaten were the things we made ourselves, "My Way". We often say the dishes taste better than if we got them from a restaurant. Enjoyed reading this blog post of yours as I once again learned something new :)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
betty
The armenian version is probably similar to the turkish one that I'm familiar with. The outcome will depend on the experience of that particular restaurant to handle this kind of pizza.
DeleteI like pizza. I like it best when I make it myself.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure of that. There's nothing better than a home-made pizza.
DeleteDuta, in response to your comment on my post today: Yes, Simeon had been promised by God that he would see the Messiah in his lifetime and he knew that's who the baby was.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sandi. As far as I know in Judaism they're still waiting for Messiah.
DeleteI think that whatever version of a dish I eat first sets the standard for what all subsequent ones should taste like.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds quite logical to me.
DeleteI like to eat pizza so much, any sort of pizza, wish you happy holidays
ReplyDeleteI believe you. Pizza is very popular among all ages!
DeleteHave a Happy New Year!
I love pizzas, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Happy New Year to you.
ReplyDeleteI think pizza is the number one dish in the world,the most popular, loved dish everywhere.
DeleteI don't like meat, but I get my proteins and other nutrients in fish, eggs, dairy products, fruit and vegetables. Thus Mediterranean and Middle Eastern food is very popular at our place, including vegetarian pizza, chumus, techina, eggplant mince and every other make-my-heart-melt food :)
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your comment, I added the hebrew techina word for tahini. Thanks.
DeleteMediterranean food is considered the most healthy food and highly recommended by nutritionists.
I am sorry but the word "vertaucht" doesn't exist in German it should be "Übersetzt und verbessert" to translate = übersetzen.. With Pizzas you can make whatever you want. The origin was in Sicily where poor people used all leftovers and put it on dough which they rolled with one hand in the air until it became a sort of huge pancake. Then it was cooked on open fire in the stone oven. You can put anything you want on a Pizza, let your phantasy work !!
ReplyDeleteGattina, thank you for giving me the right german word for 'translated'. Thank you also for the interesting information on the history of the pizza. It is such a beloved dish all over the world!
Deletetks for sharing artikel
ReplyDeleteITTELKOM JAKARTA
Thank you for reading it.
DeletePizza is a popular dish and there are many different recipes. Whatever a persons favourite is, it should be enjoyed :)
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Judging by the many recipes available, we can almost say that there's a pizza for everyone.
DeleteUmmm, very interesting. I LOVE pizza, pepperoni please.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting my post. I truly appreciate that you took the time to read my post and to leave such a great response.
You're welcome.It looks like the pizza will always be there for people to enjoy eating it.
DeleteBoa tarde, minha querida amiga, sou apaixonado . Obrigado pela visita e carinho. Desejo um ano de 2022 com muita paz e saúde.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome.
DeleteWishing you much joy, health, and happiness in the upcoming year!
Woe! I think it's yummy! Thank you very much for the useful post)
ReplyDeleteBy 'yummy' you mean the pizza.
DeleteWell, I'm glad my post was useful to you, Victoria dear.
I have never tried a Turkish pizza before but that looks tasty! I like pizza although we don't eat it as often as we used to.
ReplyDeleteHope that you had a magical Christmas :)
Away From The Blue
Well, there's always a first time. You'll ,no doubt, have the occasion to try it and enjoy its flavors.
DeleteThere is a "pizza for everyone," I think DUTA. My husband and I can't agree on which type of pizza is best. He likes one, I like another. Happy you have found one that you love. I haven't had pizza from other countries, but how fun to give them a try.
ReplyDeleteOh Bica,may all our problems in life revolve around the choice of pizza we wish to eat:)
DeleteLOL, wouldn't that be a lovely world. :)
DeleteIt certainly would!
DeleteBica, I wish to compliment you for the amazing layout of your blog.I know I wouldn't be able to do such a beautiful arrangement.
We have a couple of expressions we use for food that is maybe not quite what you think it should be -- "Food Shaped Objects" (or chicken-shaped object, etc.) and "___ Food" (like "cheese food," which might be something like Velveeta, a cheese that includes cheese and loads of preservatives and such! But I agree completely that sometimes your own version is better -- if not authentic, it's better for you! I have a feeling our US pizza and that we'd find in Italy is not at all the same. Maybe better, maybe not -- or maybe just a pizza-shaped object!
ReplyDelete"Food shaped object"- I like the sound of it. I'm sure you are right about the pizza in the USA;it's probably pizza shaped object, more like a local version of the italian pizza.
DeleteWe enjoy pizza, both the "traditional" versions with tomato, but also the white pizza which uses cheeses instead. I really do not like sausage or pepperoni as they are too greasy for my tste, but chopped meat or just basil and veggies are OK.
ReplyDeleteן've never had cheese or sausage pizza, only the 'traditional one with tomato. The turkish pizza with the minced meat topping, however, is a real treat.
DeleteAnd, we also like to experiment and make our own at home. Making pizza dough is rather easy. Sending you best wishes for a better and Happy New Year, Duta.
ReplyDeleteHome-made pizza is,of course,the best and healthy option.
DeleteWishing you too the very Best in the upcoming new year!
übersetzt u. verbessert, indeed! All things are made better with garlic and lemon juice. :D
ReplyDeleteDefinitely. I can't imagine my kitchen without these two ingredients: garlic and lemon juice. In fact , I think, these two have a high 'place of honor' in any standard kitchen.
DeleteYour article cool bro, keep it up like it
ReplyDelete