It’s almost our favourite day of the year. National Pizza Day (February 9th 2024) is just around the corner and to celebrate we’ve shared six slices of must-try pizza news in London
Have all the fun with Pizza Pilgrims’ La Fonduta guest special
Pizza Pilgrims, the renowned pizzeria celebrated for its authentic Neapolitan style, is thrilled to reveal its February guest special, La Fonduta. This collaboration brings together the world of pizza with the alpine charm of fondue and will be available across all Pizza Pilgrims sites throughout February.
Drawing inspiration from the rich culinary heritage of the Italian Alps, La Fonduta pays homage to the beloved cheese fondue. This chilly February, Pizza Pilgrims invites you to join on an Alpine expedition, with this extraordinary white pizza crafted from a delectable blend of exquisite Fontina DOP and velvety mozzarella. Brace yourself for an explosion of flavours that will undoubtedly ignite the passion of cheese enthusiasts, providing a heart-warming experience amidst the winter cold.
True to Pizza Pilgrims’ signature style, La Fonduta features the pizzeria’s 72-hour double-fermented, slow-proved and hand-stretched dough, ensuring a pillowy, puffy crust, as typical of the Neapolitan style. The addition of Fontina cheese fondue and mozzarella creates a symphony of cheesy goodness, complemented by a side of fried potatoes and pickles for an extra alpine touch.
Priced from £14, La Fonduta is a celebration of the authentic flavours of Italy, from the traditional Neapolitan style pizza base alongside with a taste of the alps bring après to London.
When: Available now
Where: Various locations
Wallet: £14.00
How: Find out more and make a booking via pizzapilgrims.co.uk
Satisfy a sweet tooth with Bagatelle London’s Winter Sun
Ideal for someone with a sweet tooth, look no further than Bagatelle London, with its award-winning ‘Winter Sun Pizzetta’ creation by Head Pastry Chef, Manon Santini.
The ‘Winter Sun Pizzetta’ is a creation crafted from a cereal pizza dough, topped with a chestnut pastry cream, subtly flavoured almond praline with vanilla, and Corsican clementine confit. To enhance this gustatory experience, clementine supremes are added to bring a fruity freshness, roasted almond slivers for crunchiness, and finally, pieces of candied chestnuts that provide a touch of indulgence.
Mayfair fine-dining restaurant, Bagatelle London is a renowned culinary destination, offering a blend of French flair and contemporary dining experience. Nestled in the heart of London, Bagatelle is celebrated for its exquisite cuisine, vibrant atmosphere, and unparalleled hospitality. Ooh la la.
Where: 34 Dover St, London W1S 4NG
How: Find out more and make a booking via bagatelle.com
Wallet: £26.00pp
Bite into over ten varieties at Bocconcino Soho
Fresher than fresh. Enjoy a slice of La Dolce Vita with Bocconcino Soho’s selection of fresh-to-order wood fired pizzas. With over ten varieties to choose from, indulge in authentic Roman-style pizzas full of Italian charm.
With the menu playing homage to Bocconcino’s original Forte dei Marmi roots, feast on best-sellers including Pizza Diavola (£22) with mozzarella and spicy salami, Pizza Bufalina (£17) with buffalo mozzarella and sweet basil or their signature Pizza Bocconcino (£18) with Parma ham, fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and stracchino.
To elevate your pizza even further, add luxurious black truffle shavings for an additional £15 per 5 grams.
What’s more, Bocconcino Soho offers a Bottomless Pizza & Bubbles Brunch every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-3pm. For £59pp, guests can expect live music and spectacular spreads of all you can eat pizza alongside 90 minutes of free-flowing bubbles.
Where: Bocconcino Soho, 59 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7JY
How: Find out more and make a booking via bocconcinorestaurant.co.uk
Wallet: Prices from £17.00
Be transported to New York with Alley Cats
Londoners can take a bite of the Big Apple with the opening of Alley Cats Pizza. Championing New York’s iconic pizza scene, this bold and brilliant new neighbourhood joint, situated on 22 Paddington Street in Marylebone transports diners to the city’s swinging pizza scene with artisan creations inspired by Manhattan’s Italian community.
With distinctive style and flair, Sicilian Head Chef Francesco Macri has been honing his skills for over a decade and ups the ante using Southern Italian ingredients such as sweet San Marzano tomatoes and creamy Buffalo Mozzarella from Campania. With recipes passed down from his grandmother, his perfect pizzas also feature aged Mozzarella from Molise with added taste and size achieved through baking the pizzas in the traditional thin and crispy style with the option of bold toppings and dippers.
Grab a slice like a true New Yorker or enjoy in all their glory at 14-inches from lunch to dinner seven days a week. Highlights include Smoked Pepperoni dressed in tomato, aged mozzarella, habanero, and honey to Fennel Sausage with tomato, pancetta, red onion, and pecorino flakes alongside the ‘Vodka’ crafted with four-hour slow-cooked vodka in the creamy tomato sauce topped off with mozzarella.
Those seeking a lighter option can opt for the white-based Wild Mushroom with three types of wild seasonal shrooms – King Oyster, Portobello and Chanterelle – topped with taleggio cheese, aged mozzarella, red onion jam and fried sage, or Vegan Fire dressed with tomato sauce, roasted bell pepper, crispy potato, pesto and nduja.
Sweet-toothed signatures from the dessert menu include indulgent Tiramisù – the quintessential southern Italy dessert, drenched with modern New York flair with roasted hazelnuts, salted peanuts, and pistachio, alongside Vanilla Soft Serve – classic vanilla ice-cream with fun, flavoursome toppings to choose including Amarena cherries, toffee fudge sauce, honey, and salted peanuts.
How: Walk-ins only. Find out more via alleycatspizza.co.uk
Where: 22 Paddington St, London W1U 5QY
Find time (and room) for Florencio Pizza
Another one bites the crust. The team behind modern Argentine grill ZOILO on Duke Street (W1) is excited to be growing with the launch of Florencio Pizza. Opening just around the corner from ZOILO within its beloved Marylebone neighbourhood, Florencio’s ovens and doors are now open.
In launching Florencio, Chef Patron Diego Jacquet realises his long-held dream of opening a very personal style of pizza restaurant which brings together the influences from his upbringing in Argentina, and his global travels as a chef.
Born in Buenos Aires, Diego spent most of his youth in Patagonia, where he discovered his love for food and wild produce – something that is very clear to see on the menu at ZOILO, which opened in 2012.
Florencio will also embrace the cultural diversity of Argentina, including influences from the country’s Italian immigrants, and celebrate the tremendous Argentine passion for food.
The Florencio pizzas are made from a 48-hour fermented dough, using a special blend of flours curated by Diego, that will create a well-defined crust packed with flavour. The menu offers a short list of pizzas including Margherita, AKA MUZZA as found in Buenos Aires, using a mix of the best Fior de Latte, Provolone & Parmesan cheeses, and a FUGAZZA (onions, Provolone, oregano & spicy honey), to name just two.
All of the pizzas will use the best cheeses, premium tomatoes & seasonal produce, and be cooked in the restaurant’s bespoke pizza oven which will take centre stage at the front of the restaurant.
Where: 14 Seymour Place, W1H 7NF London
How: Find out more and make a booking via florenciopizza.com
Sink your teeth into DE NADAS’ Pizzanadas
DE NADAS, the empanadería specialising in Argentinian hand-shaped empanadas, is bringing a little burst of sunshine this February with the UK’s first Pizzanada.
Celebrating Argentina’s unique Italian heritage and the influence on its food, DE NADAS has created an ‘ode to the pizza’ with two Pizzanadas – a Margherita and a Diavola.
Available at DE NADAS’ Portobello & Shoreditch shops, the Pizzanadas will be launched on National Pizza Day on Friday 9th February for just €1 (86p) – and then available for the rest of the month at £3.50 each.
The Margherita Pizzanada features classic marinara sauce, mozzarella, olive oil and fresh basil, whilst the Diavola, has been created with spicy pepperoni. Like all DE NADAS empanadas, these pizza hybrids are shaped-by-hand with 100% Argentinian dough, and baked, and not fried.
Bought individually or in bundles of three (£9.75), six (£19), nine (£27) or 12 (£34), DE NADAS features 15 different shaped empanadas with meat, vegetarian and plant-based fillings. Monday to Friday from 12pm until 3pm, lunchboxes are also available with empanadas and salad (£8 x 2 or £9.75 x 3).
Other fillings span Classic Beef, Ham & Cheese, Chorizo, Spicy Lamb and MDQ, the Argentinian take on the Hawaiian. Vegetarian options include Smoked Malbec and Puca Capa, with cheese, coriander and aji molido, Caprese, Blue Cheese & Pear and Palmitoswith mozzarella, palm hearts and salsa golf. And, for vegans there is a juicy roasted Butternut Squash & Kale.
How: Visit denadas.co.uk to find out more
Wallet: Pizzanadas will be just €1 each (86p) on National Pizza Day, Fri 9th February only.
Where: Multiple locations
