Anything 'Pizza' makes me skeptical . Having tasted Pizza by the dozens in various cities across Italy and in other parts of the European subcontinent, falling for Pizza doesn't come easy! (Click here to read my Travel tales across the world)
I truly believe a Pizza should burst with flavors , melt in the mouth albeit without the feeling that you've eaten something"bread". The pizza base should act as a carrier of flavors and not a 'barrier'. This tells you I disapprove of any thick-crusted pizza. This wasn't the case until I visited Italy. Also, after eating at quaint cafes across the Mediterranean belt, I felt chain outlets back home were nothing but a distortion!
In Dec 2012, Pizza express opened its doors to our home:India, a place which was familiar with the American version of the Pizza. Its only in 2014, that Pizza express scaled up in Mumbai with 5+ outlets across the city & end of 2014 saw it coming up in Delhi.
I have been a regular since 2014. Because the Romana Pizza inspired from Italy , is 'authentic' and probably the best in town. The founder Peter, was just a schoolboy when he first fell in love with pizza. Later, though, he spent years pursuing this obsession on his travels. So many jobs. So many cities. Except for London, where great pizza just did not exist. There was only one thing to do. PizzaExpress was launched in 1965. In Wardour Street. And in chaos. His Italian oven was too big for the door. So he knocked down the wall. Oven in. Oven on. And so it began.
Here's a round-up of all that I tried in 2015. And mind you, this makes for a great Valentine feast ;)
Decor:
I love the white Marble slab tables, earthy & peaceful! A signature black and white striped pattern is seen in the cutlery, the staff's shirts reminding me of the Beagle boys :) A very welcoming ambience that gives you a fine-dine feel. Why shouldn't it, when the credit card's gonna be swiped generously!
I am not very experimental with drinks. In fact I avoid drinking with food. But the staff insisted I try these. The Sunrise iced tea with its perfect blend of orange and pineapple juice with a hint of mint wins hands down! I ordered two :P
The watermelon cheese salad is for the person on diet or if you're trying to impress your date with your healthy habits! Oh well, its just as delicious as any other Pizza express preparation. The dip is made from mustard and a few secret ingredients which bring a tang to the salad! The dip is available with or without egg. Though i love this, I 'd still prefer the guilt-laden options :D Also, because this recipe is easy to replicate at home!
I can kill for Basil! Thats how much I love anything with basil - So this pesto pasta was a natural choice. I love how new potatoes make this creamy along with the nutty basil pesto. Trust me you'll need to burn quite a few kcals after having this one! Generous use of olive oil is a signature of most preparations at Pizza express, whats not to love!
This is the Romana pizza I was talking about. Ever since I had this, I have not gone for any other! The catch- you have to finish it before it get cold! The easiest part is you can, because its delicious! The tomato sauce used on Pizza at Pizza express is specially flown in from Italy and it has a story-
"Our famous tomato sauce, used in our kitchens since 1965, is made by the Greci family, near Parma, to a recipe perfected by Pizza Express founder Peter Boizot.
Peter travelled to Italy at harvest time, securing the sweetest sun-ripened tomatoes to be crushed into sauce within 12 hours of picking. After seasoning with salt & pepper, the finish touch was a fresh basil leaf added to every can, something the Grecis still do today."
The gelatos in India haven't yet replicated the recipes from its place of origin- Italy. Again , this is something that I have tasted at many cities across Europe and sadly no one in India gets it right!
The thing about Raspberry Cheesecake is that its a delicious flavor, but certainly not a gelato. Pizza express has done everything right except this . If you try other desserts from the menu like the banofie pie or the cheesecake or even the Tiramisu for that matter- THEY ARE perfect! So perfect, you don't wanna miss them!
Everything about this place is so perfect! But i deduct a star only because I wish the menu was priced a little lower than this! A Romana pizza ranges from 575-695 without taxes. Including a starter, a main course , a dessert, 2 drinks, the bill for 2 people is 3000INR approx. If it wasn't for the flavors, I wouldn't have been a FAN!
Join them on Facebook and Twitter for all the fun and updates!
*Dinner sponsored by Pizza express, Views purely my own*
I truly believe a Pizza should burst with flavors , melt in the mouth albeit without the feeling that you've eaten something"bread". The pizza base should act as a carrier of flavors and not a 'barrier'. This tells you I disapprove of any thick-crusted pizza. This wasn't the case until I visited Italy. Also, after eating at quaint cafes across the Mediterranean belt, I felt chain outlets back home were nothing but a distortion!
In Dec 2012, Pizza express opened its doors to our home:India, a place which was familiar with the American version of the Pizza. Its only in 2014, that Pizza express scaled up in Mumbai with 5+ outlets across the city & end of 2014 saw it coming up in Delhi.
I have been a regular since 2014. Because the Romana Pizza inspired from Italy , is 'authentic' and probably the best in town. The founder Peter, was just a schoolboy when he first fell in love with pizza. Later, though, he spent years pursuing this obsession on his travels. So many jobs. So many cities. Except for London, where great pizza just did not exist. There was only one thing to do. PizzaExpress was launched in 1965. In Wardour Street. And in chaos. His Italian oven was too big for the door. So he knocked down the wall. Oven in. Oven on. And so it began.
Here's a round-up of all that I tried in 2015. And mind you, this makes for a great Valentine feast ;)
I love the white Marble slab tables, earthy & peaceful! A signature black and white striped pattern is seen in the cutlery, the staff's shirts reminding me of the Beagle boys :) A very welcoming ambience that gives you a fine-dine feel. Why shouldn't it, when the credit card's gonna be swiped generously!
I am not very experimental with drinks. In fact I avoid drinking with food. But the staff insisted I try these. The Sunrise iced tea with its perfect blend of orange and pineapple juice with a hint of mint wins hands down! I ordered two :P
Chilli flakes or Herbs? Herbs anytime :D Well, this is just a shot I love because of the vibrant pepper shaker.
A meal at Pizza express is incomplete without dough balls in my honest opinion.These freshly baked fluffy dough balls melt in the mouth. When you order the 6 dough balls , butter is the only dip , but for 16, you get the Pesto and Pesto rosso. I tell you, you must try the basil pesto dip and the pesto rosso- which is sundried tomato pesto dip. Don't worry - you dont need to order all 16 dough balls for that. Just add the dips for an extra charge. Thank me later:D
The watermelon cheese salad is for the person on diet or if you're trying to impress your date with your healthy habits! Oh well, its just as delicious as any other Pizza express preparation. The dip is made from mustard and a few secret ingredients which bring a tang to the salad! The dip is available with or without egg. Though i love this, I 'd still prefer the guilt-laden options :D Also, because this recipe is easy to replicate at home!
"Our famous tomato sauce, used in our kitchens since 1965, is made by the Greci family, near Parma, to a recipe perfected by Pizza Express founder Peter Boizot.
Peter travelled to Italy at harvest time, securing the sweetest sun-ripened tomatoes to be crushed into sauce within 12 hours of picking. After seasoning with salt & pepper, the finish touch was a fresh basil leaf added to every can, something the Grecis still do today."
The thing about Raspberry Cheesecake is that its a delicious flavor, but certainly not a gelato. Pizza express has done everything right except this . If you try other desserts from the menu like the banofie pie or the cheesecake or even the Tiramisu for that matter- THEY ARE perfect! So perfect, you don't wanna miss them!
Everything about this place is so perfect! But i deduct a star only because I wish the menu was priced a little lower than this! A Romana pizza ranges from 575-695 without taxes. Including a starter, a main course , a dessert, 2 drinks, the bill for 2 people is 3000INR approx. If it wasn't for the flavors, I wouldn't have been a FAN!
Join them on Facebook and Twitter for all the fun and updates!
*Dinner sponsored by Pizza express, Views purely my own*
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ila