Domino's International 'Calzini' Is A Trendy, Tiny Take On The Calzone

Of all the mouthwatering Italian classics lining the glass shelf display at a local pizza parlor, calzones might be the most impossible to resist. The warm, crusty pocket with a cheesy, doughy center is dreamy beyond doubt. Calzones, or calzoni, were created in the 1700s by street vendors in Naples who folded uncooked pizza in half before baking it. And ever since this simple, yet brilliant pizza-folding method was born, the world hasn't been the same. Calzones are everywhere, and everyone wants a bite.

Although they were invented as street food for Neapolitans on the go, calzones, as we know them today, aren't exactly pedestrian-friendly. The thick, handheld crust usually isn't enough to stop the melty cheesy goodness from seeping out and causing a goopy, oily mess. 

Domino's, a master of bringing convenience to Italian cuisine, has come up with a solution that could someday take the world by storm.

In pursuit of packing all of the deliciousness of a calzone into a compact, portable bite, Domino's has come up with the ultimate collation: the Calzini. A play on words combining "calzone" and "mini," the calzini is as simple-yet-brilliant an idea as its folded pizza predecessor.

The Calzini was conceived by Domino's in Germany in 2022. "The Delicious Dough Bags" were hard launched on the Domino's Deutschland Instagram page in November, and they've graced the menus of Domino's located throughout the country ever since. Domino's devotees took great delight to the announcement, with the post accumulating more than 400 likes.

The options for fillings in the handheld pizza pockets include salami, ham with peppers, and spinach and mushroom, all of which are sandwiched with melty mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. As a smaller alternative to a traditional calzone, Calzinis can make a satisfying snack, appetizer, or light meal. 

To date, there has been no hint that the Domino's company plans to roll out Calzinis of any form in the United States (or any other country at that). Enthusiasts shouldn't lose hope, though. The fact that the item is still on German Domino's menus four months later signals a successful launch of the product and potential for trials in Domino's locations abroad. 

Until the day that our local Domino's shops offer Calzinis, there are actions we can take to come as close to the handheld product as possible. A quick internet search reveals a vast selection of calzone recipes that can be prepared in palm-sized pieces. And, of course, you can always fold a regular slice of pizza on the go, New Yorker style.

While keeping a watchful eye on our local Domino's menus, for now we'll have to stick to sitting down and enjoying the original dish in all its large, warm, crusty, cheesy, gooey glory.