While going to school in Perugia, Umbria, Italia in 2007 I ate out a lot and of course ate out a lot when
I lived in Italy for two years. I always thought Italian food in Italy was better than in the U.S.
However while in Perugia I would eat out sometimes with people from other countries and the U.S. They all
had their comments about how the Italian food back where they lived was better than in Italy. Especially the
pizza. Per esempio this one lady from Brazil would go on and on about how the pizza was so much better in Brazil
and another guy from New York said the samething. Per essere onesto I was thinking the samething about the pizza in California.

Has anybody else had an experience like this with people who think their Italian food is better than the Italian food in Italy or at least the pizza?

It's all a matter of taste really. I have come to accept the fact that American Tastes are different from Italian tastes. There are so many things that Americans consider delicious that Italians would probably consider to be disgusting and vice versa. Italian Food is just simpler than American Food. American Food could be considered to be too overpowering to some Italians.

Good question, Villa
I of course much prefer Italian Pizza in Italy than what I get here. I actually do not go out for pizza here in the US - I bake my own !
I think Italian pizza is more 'advanced' ... meaning American pizza is like easy listening in music - it is ok for everybody, specially kids - it is a very easy taste to acquire - Italian pizza for me requires a more sophisticated palate - Foreigners yes sometimes complain of Italian pizza flavor but after a while they get used to it and when you get used I think Italian pizza in Italy is superior.
Also it is cooked on a wood oven without all the greases and the extra fatty staff they add to American Pizza.
2 years ago Pizza Hut even had the audacity to propose Pizza-lasagna.
On a special occasion I do not mind the thin crust Pizza Hut Veggie pizza but it is only a sort of emergency food for me.

It really depends I guess on taste, and what you want to put into your system. I loved the rather greasy, thick pizzas in the UK (American style I think), but the thin crust ones here are far healthier and have more taste (more subtle taste) than those in the UK. For the 2-4 weeks we spend in the UK now, we feel OK to "pig out" on KFC, MacD, Chinese take away etc., but for health and and real taste (this coming from someone who smokes and drinks!) I prefer Italian every time!

Naples Pizza > All.
Simple and clear

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mmmmmm pizza!!
where I live, there are many many italians so there are many bakeries that make delicious homemade italian pizza however nothing compares to the pizza in italy. However i think it depends where in italy. I find in more touristic areas they americanize the pizza. I think I was in firenze and there was a pizza place that had frenchfries(actual fries not potatoes) on pizza and another one with pasta(penne pieces) on it, and if i recall i remember seeing one with shrimp anyways closers towards the little towns where they make the pizza for the people who live there and not specifically for tourists is where you can find fantastic pizza. thats my opinion!!

My first moment of culture shock after living in Italy was having pizza in Upstate NY. I was horrified at the amount of toppings! I had be accustomed to enjoying the flavors of just one or two toppings that didn't compete but complemented. Per esempio: potato & rosemarino, sausage & caciotta (cheese) on a very thin crust. Delicioso!

It's just a difference in personal taste. American pizza isn't bad, in fact it can be excellent, depending on who you ask. I prefer "lighter" italian pizza just because i like to eat lighter meals. But other people may prefer heavier meals. To each his own!

I have to admit I didn't like Italian pizzas. This is because they aren't seasoned the way we are accustomed to in Germany. Of course, the italians have catered to the market, just like the chinese do. My ex sister-in-law is Chinese, and I didn't like her food either. My taste buds have been ruined .. LOL

I agree that sometimes we feel that it may be a great pleasure to have othe cultures food..it ruins our taste buds...my Italian friends would order boring food when we lived in Australia and I hated it..but then I went to Italy and feel in love with the pizza..I see how they compliment each other and well the base is diffeence so its not really that boring as in Australian where the base is so bland you really need alot of toppings to make it taste good! Also you can eat healthy and enjoy pizza at the same time in Italy!! hahaha
so I love Italian Pizza..and I cant eat ice cream anywhewre due to the the enjoyment of lovely gelato in Italy