Pizza lovers looking for a Veganuary fix? Dr Oetker has you in mind!

Because this Veganuary and for the rest of the year, too, Dr Oetker has introduced two utterly delectable vegan pizza flavours that are sure to make your mouth water!

There is Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza Vegan Pepperoni-Salame pizza, plus the equally delicious Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza Margherita Pomodori.

They are easy to cook at home, just follow the instructions on the pack, but in general all you need do is to preheat your oven, remembering to remove all film from your pizza.

Then bake the deep-frozen pizza on the rack in the bottom shelf of your oven. 

Conventional 220°C 10-12 mins. Fan 200°C 11-13 mins. Gas mark 6 10-12 mins.

More detailed instructions will be provided on the packaging of your particular pizza. 

And then enjoy it either with your family, friends or by yourself for that little bit of essential self-pampering!

Incidentally, check out their other pizzas including gluten free varieties and if you are a keen home cook, don't forget the Dr Oetker range of essential cooking ingredients.

You can check out their entire range here https://www.oetker.co.uk

Incidentally I love adding Dr Oetker chocolate chips to my drinking chocolate at night, but that's probably just me!

And in case you are wondering Dr Oetker was a real person and in 1891, Dr. August Oetker founded the  family business by opening a pharmacy in Bielefeld, Germany where he perfected his first culinary product, which was a baking powder that assisted cooks to be able to bake perfectly. And the rest, as they say, is history.  

Our pizza secrets revealed!

A new nationwide poll reveals we Brits have developed a taste for top-notch pizza toppings with pizza customisation at home sweeping across the nation and giving rise to a new breed of pizza “super toppers." Plus, our top pizza toppings uncovered.

Every year, the UK sees a massive £5 billion spent on pizzas, and while 80% of these are typically purchased from restaurants and takeaways, the landscape is evolving. This shift has led to a growing appetite for homemade pizzas and shop-bought alternatives that can be personalised and enjoyed in the comfort of one's own home.

Cooks&Co, the award-winning range of exciting store cupboard ingredients, is at the forefront of this pizza revolution, witnessing first-hand the surging demand for its quality ingredients as pizza toppings. 

Its Green Frenk Chillies is now the no.1 best seller and its Sweety Drop Peppers has entered the top 10 best sellers list, too. In response, 

the brand recently conducted an extensive nationwide study to dig deeper into the pizza-topping preferences of Brits, revealing a nation of astute pizza enthusiasts who relish the chance to become culinary pizza artistes, experimenting with a diverse range of favourite toppings and flavours.

DIY Pizza Customisation Sweeps the Nation and gives rise to Super Toppers

On average, pizza-loving Brits across the UK tastefully embellish their pizzas with just under 3 distinct toppings. However, there's an extraordinary league of pizza enthusiasts, 2.7 million strong, known as the "super toppers," who take culinary creativity to new heights by piling on an impressive 6 or more toppings.

The art of pizza customisation isn’t just reserved for home-made pizzas either, nearly half (47%) of Brits admit to pimping up their shop-bought pizzas with extra toppings.

Surprisingly, almost a fifth (19%) of Brits admit to going one step beyond and stripping away toppings from store-bought pizzas and replacing them with their own favourites. The 25-34 age group takes the reins in this picky topping transformation, with a third (33%) of them doing it. Northern Ireland residents proudly claim the title of champions in the customisation arena, with a quarter (25%) confessing to taking part in this flavourful makeover.

Beloved Ingredients, Taste Divisions and Trending Ingredients

In the world of pizza toppings, the preferences are absolutely clear. The top five favourites include extra cheese, shredded or chopped chicken, pepperoni, onions, and mushrooms. Conversely, the list of least-liked toppings comprises figs, jackfruit, aubergine, broccoli, artichoke, and seafood. The ever-controversial pineapple is still a topic of fierce debate, with almost half (48%) embracing its sweet tang, just over 2 in 5 (43%) staunchly refusing it, and 1 in 12 (9%) remaining undecided.

The popularity of pizza toppings like sweet peppers, chillies/jalapeños, and sundried tomatoes, mirrors broader culinary trends. These flavours offer bold, unique taste experiences, aligning with the growing interest in Mediterranean and Latin American cuisines, where these ingredients frequently shine forth.

 Paired with other ingredients they help elevate pizzas to new heights of flavour and excitement, making them increasingly popular among pizza enthusiasts in the UK.

Said Katie Atkin, Brand Manager, Cooks&Co: "In Britain, we're a nation of pizza lovers who value quality ingredients and enjoy experimenting with different toppings and flavours. The findings shed light on the ever-evolving world of pizza, where customisation knows no bounds, and the quest for the perfect slice is a culinary adventure in itself.

“Our commitment to providing premium ingredients for the pizza-loving community and other dishes aligns perfectly with the creativity and passion we see in Brits' pizza-making endeavours and we're thrilled to be part of this flavourful journey.”

For more information on Cooks&Co's premium ingredients, please visit their website https://cooksandco.co.uk

Indoor pizza ovens is a new trend in the UK

Following on from the utterly dismal British summer, indoor wood-fired pizza ovens Are the latest major trend.  

They say that it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good and such is the case with British company, Orchard Ovens.

Because Preston, Lancashire-based Orchard Ovens, has experienced a spike in enquiries about its Cucina oven, which is a special oven, one designed to be installed at the heart of a kitchen and creating a wide variety of wood-fired cooked foods in doors.  

Orcard Ovens now views the Cucina as the immediate future of wood-fired oven ownership in the UK, due to the credentials required of any indoor oven.

Orchard Ovens says more diligence is being shown by indoor oven seekers than is normally the case with those looking for an outdoor oven. 

Hardly a second thought is ever given to money wasted on so-called outdoor pizza ovens, which fall apart due to poor quality and the fact that they are constructed using inappropriate materials. 

Anyone installing an indoor oven is fully aware that they can't afford to fit an oven not fit for purpose.

The fear of having to renew their entire kitchen, not just the wood-fired oven, disrupting design, layout, worktops and surround, is leading to the new boom at Orchard Ovens, where authentic, artisan-built woodfired ovens have a reputation when it comes to their lifespan.

Notably, astute homeowners, making the right choice, are often of Italian descent.

One is Luca Ferrazzano, who is now a resident of Bristol but originally hailing from Naples, the spiritual home of pizza, where pizza has protected UNESCO status. Such is the guardianship over Neapolitan pizza that severe rules govern its cooking and promotion.

It's fairy to say that Luca had previously struggled with British made pizza ovens. He found them too unreliable for a financial investment and not authentic enough to match his high native Italian standards. Unfortunately he also found them to be just about incapable of cooking anything, unless the weather was absolutely perfect.

After further consideration this led him to investigate indoor pizza ovens as an option and, wanting an oven that wouldn't see him mocked by visiting Neapolitan relatives, he turned to Preston-based Orchard Ovens.

Orchard Ovens is the only UK supplier of top-notch Tuscan Valoriani ovens, including the Cucina, a ready-built oven that can be fitted quickly inside an indoor kitchen, once the correct flue arrangement is installed.

The Ferrazzano family had the Cucina fitted by the Orchard Ovens’ team and is now wowing his friends who had no idea it was possible to have an indoor woodfired pizza oven.  

And Luca’s relatives from Naples can't detect any difference between its pizza and that enjoyed in a downtown Naples pizzeria.  

Obviously using only traditional ingredients plays an important part, but the oven ensures accurate cooking of food, due to the best insulation and best construction materials. There are no issues with cold spots and no problem in retaining heat.

Luca has realised that, unlike other ‘pizza ovens’, the Valoriani ‘Cucina’ is superb, with no temperature differential between the top of the oven and the bottom.  In others he'd previously tried, users either have to burn the pizza’s top or bottom and compromise on this.

But now, regardless of what the British weather brings us, sun, rain or snow, his Cucina pizza oven can be fired up and, thanks to its massive versatility, used for a wide variety of dishes, from curries to Lancashire hotpots and bread to shellfish, steaks and even chips and Yorkshire puddings.

Orchard Ovens’ director, Andrew Manciocchi, says, “We couldn't have a better recommender of the Cucina oven than a native of Naples, for whom oven authenticity and quality are obviously crucial.

“Luca is one of a number of customers who decided the way forward, in an era of climate change and wet summers, is to install an indoor, rather than outdoor, woodfired pizza oven.  The shift in thinking we've seen this summer is notable, so we shall be going all out to supply Cucina ovens right through the late summer, autumn and inot winter.  These will be in situ in time to cook up wood-fired festive treats for Christmas, providing lots of joy.”

To find out more about the Cucina (£3495), which comes in a wide variety of colours and for which installation can be quoted, call 01772 250000. More information can be found at www.orchardovens.co.uk  

Aldi launches pizza delivery service for new Domino's inspired pizzas

Aldi will deliver its new Ultimate Takeaway pizzas in the student cities of Manchester, Cardiff and Edinburgh.

The new pizzas are up to 83% cheaper than Domino’s at a very modest £3.99 each.

Delivery slots are available to book in advance from today onwards. And what's more? There are ZERO delivery charges!

Aldi, declared as Pizza Retailer of the Year, has announced it’s about to launch its first ever pizza delivery service across three cities in England, Scotland and Wales, on Tuesday Third of October.

 Serving up its brand-new Ultimate Takeaway range, customers can pre-order pizzas for just £3.99 each, whilst not incurring any delivery charges.

With a medium Meateor pizza from Domino’s currently setting shoppers back at £20.99, plus a £2.50 delivery fee, the Aldi service can save pizza lovers over £19 per pizza delivered, a stunning 83%.

Launching across key student locations across the UK, Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff, to coincide with Fresher’s Week, pizza fans within selected postcodes can pre-book their delivery timeslot via the dedicated website, aldipizzadelivery.co.uk, from today onwards.

Within the brand-new Ultimate Takeaway range are three Domino’s inspired flavours: The Meaty One (524g) (inspired by Meateor), a sizzling sausage and meatball feast, The Banger (462g) (inspired by Absolute Banger), a smoky hotdog delight with a spicy kick, and The Texas Style BBQ Chicken & Bacon (502g) (inspired by Texas BBQ), boasting tangy BBQ sauce, succulent chicken and smoky bacon (each £3.99, 8 slices).

The delivery service will let customers select up to two of these delicious new flavours to be delivered hot and fresh to their door. The range, which is Aldi’s most Domino’s-like pizza offering so far, is launching in stores nationwide from Ninth October, so those who can't manage to bag a delivery slot can also grab a to go.

Julie Ashfield, who is the MD of Buying at Aldi UK, said: “With prices of takeaways soaring, we’re really excited and pleased to be able to offer shoppers delicious pizzas at a fraction of the price of the more expensive high-street chains. 

“The quality ingredients and affordable price of the Aldi Ultimate Takeaway range will no doubt change people’s idea of the supermarket pizza.

“Better yet, we’re thrilled to be able to deliver this product hot to shoppers’ doors and truly treat our customers to the full takeaway experience.”

Want a slice of the action?  

Available from today, shoppers can visit aldipizzadelivery.co.uk to pre-book their delivery slot (limited postcodes available for launch)*

Delivery timeslots are from 5pm – 9pm on Tuesday 3rd October

aldipizzadelivery.co.uk is now live for customers to pre-book their delivery slot.

The new Ultimate Takeaway range can be purchased in Aldi stores and via Click & Collect from 9th October. 

www.aldi.co.uk

2,000 cheeses to try on your Witt's Pizza Oven for National Cheese Pizza Day!

Award-winning Scandinavian Witt’s Pizza Oven range has been wowing food reviewers and customers alike with its ultra-fast heating and rotating technology since its launch earlier this year. 

It really doesn’t get much better than bubbly, melty, cheesy goodness on fresh, homemade pizza dough. 

Whether you want to opt for a Smokey gouda, Gorgonzola, or a four-cheese special pizza, you should add a variety of cheeses to your pizza to celebrate National Cheese Pizza Day this Tuesday 5th September. (EDITOR: National Cheese Pizza Day? Wow!)

We've asked Geoff Johnson Witt Sales Director and Pizza Guru at Witt UK & Ireland for his comments: "It’s not all about Mozzarella! There are nearly 2,000 different classified cheeses all around the world, and a surprising number will work very well on your home-baked pizzas."

Her went on to say: "You can try mature or vintage Cheddar for a more tangy twist, goat cheese for a piquant creamy flavour, or chilli-enhanced cheeses for that extra pizzaz. 

"Pecorino-Romano sheep’s cheese is one of our favourites to give pizzas a salty bite, and for vegans, there's a growing range of fabulous animal-free cheeses with a range of flavours from milder to richer and smoky.

"The absolute joy of having your very own pizza oven is that you can experiment and having fun cooking with the family, so celebrate National Cheese Pizza Day this year by trying some of your favourite cheeses on delicious home-cooked pizza."

You can learn more and buy your Witt's pizza oven and accessories here https://www.wittpizza.com.

I have just had an idea: How about experimenting with turkey, roast potatoes (perhaps sliced?), traditional Christmas dinner vegetables and Christmas dinner herbs and spices, so that you can be ready to absolutely rock your friends and family members Christmas Day with a fantastic Christmas Dinner pizza?

Celebrate National Prosecco Day with a Witt pizza

Why not raise a glass to National Prosecco Day this Sunday 13th August with the perfect pairing, delicious authentic Italian homemade pizza and bubbly Prosecco?

Pop open a bottle of fizz, gather your friends and family members, and host a Prosecco filled pizza party with the help of Witt pizza curators of the impressive pizza oven range which is taking the UK by storm this throughout this summer.  

Says Geoff Johnson Witt Sales Director, and Pizza Guru at Witt UK & Ireland: “The crisp, aromatic flavours of Prosecco makes it a suburb partner with even the more traditional types of pizzas. 

The sparkling fruit nuances and light balance of Prosecco really create a wonderful contrast to the denser tones of cheese and sliced meats, and its clean, refreshing punch partners especially well with seafood toppings such as prawns and shellfish.”

https://www.wittpizza.com/

(Image courtesy of Nicole_80 from Pixabay)

Pizza-free cooking in pizza ovens from Witt?

Award-winning Scandinavian Witt’s Pizza Oven range has been impressing customers and publications like BBC Good Food, Ideal Home, and Independent since its launch earlier this year. 

With its stylish design and ultra-fast heating technology, the Etna Fermo Pizza Oven does more than render perfect pizzas. It does so much more, besides!

Geoff Johnson Sales Director and Pizza Guru at Witt UK & Ireland said: "The Etna Fermo Pizza Oven is fast heating and has a large cooking space meaning that not only can it produce perfect pizzas, it’s also great for roasting or searing meats, fish, vegetables as well as baking bread or delicious desserts.” 

“Firstly, I really recommend that you invest in a good quality cast-iron skillet, it can handle intense heat and will work perfectly for many dishes. But you should never food directly onto your pizza stone, or it could become saturated with meat fats and also smaller foods like vegetables need to be contained during the cooking process.”

Geoff’s favourite things to cook in a pizza oven other than pizzas?

Roast Chicken with Lemon, Garlic, and Herb Butter 

“My go-to for roast chicken is always lemon, garlic and herb butter - spatchcocking is a great way to reduce cooking time, and it’ll fit on a cast-iron pan in your Witt pizza oven.” 

Focaccia 

“Using pizza dough, garlic, Rosemary, salt, pepper and plenty of olive oil, you will have delicious homemade Focaccia in 30 minutes.”

Vegetables

“Even delicate vegetables such as tender stem broccoli can be cooked in your pizza oven. Most vegetables will benefit from a light coating of oil, salt, and pepper before you add them to the hot skillet. Keep an eye on them and make sure to turn them regularly. They really don't take too long to cook.”

(EDITOR: I feel turkey (perhaps breasts or wings?) and Christmas dinner vegetables would cook up nicely in a Witt pizza oven.)

https://www.wittpizza.com

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Witt-Etna-Fermo-Pizza-Rotating/dp/B0BJW8Q2PZ

New and Delicious Halal Snacks from Takul

Takul, makers of Halal accredited ready meals, has some new and delicious snacks and ready meals which are tasty but also kind to the wallet.

Both costing less than £10 and three times less than the equivalent take-away options, their pizzas and samosas are certain to tickle the taste buds as well as tick the box of being hassle free and perfect for a busy lifestyle.

Takul pizzas

Available in Pepperoni, Meatball Marinara, Chicken Fajita and Meat Feast Flavours, Takul really has provided something for every meat-loving pizza eaters and each promises a personal touch, just like you'd find at your favourite pizzeria. 

Takul prides itself on handcrafting the pizzas in each phase of production, with the dough proved for a full 24 hours before being fully baked to give the best flavour.

The tomato sauce is sourced directly from Italy itself and seasoned in-house with olive oil, oregano and specially selected sea salt. Then the high quality 100% Halal toppings are individually spread on top by hand. 

Available in both Tesco and Sainsbury's in their dedicated chilled World Foods sections, each pizza has an RRP of £4.00. There's also a 20% off promotion in Tesco until 8 August 2023.

Takul samosas

With three wonderful flavours to choose from; Lamb, Vegetable and Chicken Tikka Takul's samosas are the perfect starter for your banquet or snack on the go.

Using authentic recipes from around the globe and the finest Halal ingredients, Takul is proud to use a home-style cooking process for creating these samosas with each one handcrafted before being packaged up.

They are available in Tesco in the chilled World Foods section with an RRP of £2.65. There's also a 20% off promotion in Tesco between 12 July 2023 and 8 August 2023.

Delicious Halal convenience

Takul was designed for the modern British Muslim shopper, giving them a voice on the shelf and in-store, reflecting the exciting, diverse, multifaceted lives they live.

Whether you're a busy parent juggling a hectic family life, or a young go-getter balancing work and play, Takul's pizzas and samosas are sure to add a burst of flavour to your life, whilst being cost effective and super convenient.

Witt's Pizza Expert has some top tips for your home pizza cooking

Award-winning Scandinavian Witt’s Pizza Oven range has been wowing customers and publications like BBC Good Food, Ideal Home, and the Independent since its launch earlier this year. Witt’s pizza expert has revealed his top tips to get the most out of your pizza oven investment, helping you create tasty pizzas for many years to come.

Geoff Johnson who is the Sales Director and Pizza Guru at Witt UK & Ireland said: "There’s nothing better than hosting a pizza party during the summer months. 

"The joy of entertaining family and friends while serving up delicious homemade pizzas from your very own pizza oven in your back garden is a very special moment, and a chance for everyone to show off their most creative pizza making skills. 

"From classics like the Margherita, to more out-there recipes like chocolate spread and strawberries, pizza making is a fantastic chance to bond with your loved ones and have some fun.” 

Actually, there's no reason that pizzas have to be savoury, so you can make yourself and your friends and family a tasty dessert pizza after you and they have polished off your earlier savoury creations!

Geoff’s top tips to get the most out of your pizza oven:

Select a good location

“Make sure you pick a prime location for your pizza oven. It must be on a stable heat safe table/surface placed in a nice social spot, so you don’t miss out on any of the action.”

Preparation is key

“I suggest having the dough shaped ahead of time and the toppings ready to go, you could even have everyone add their own toppings for extra fun!”

Invest in a pizza peel

“Without a pizza peel it can be tricky to get pizzas in and out of the pizza oven, so don’t hesitate in ordering one of these handy tools.”

Serve up family-style

“I suggest serving your pizzas family style at your next pizza party, this minimises stress and means no one is sitting around waiting for their pizza. Ensure you to opt for crowd pleasing toppings, then serve up a few bowls of salads and sides for good measure.”

Experiment by cooking other foods

“There are so many other foods that you can cook in a pizza oven. Including garlic bread, roasted chicken, charred potatoes, and even quiche!” 

https://www.wittpizza.com.

Asda brings you a Pizza the action

With Summer in full swing, the Lionesses about to take on their biggest football tournament yet, and families looking for ways to treat themselves for a bit less, Asda has unveiled its latest pizza counter meal deal, live from 24th July, for a stunning £6.00.

Shoppers can visit the supermarket's pizza counters in store and pick up two medium sized pizzas and one medium sized drink, whilst saving a whopping £4.00 compared to if shopping without.

With 14 pizza options to choose from, on either thin and crispy or deep pan bases - there is something for everyone. 

The varieties, which include family favourites like the Medium Stonebaked Thin & Crispy Mighty Meat Feast, Medium Deep Pan Pepperoni Feast and Medium Stonebaked Thin & Crispy Aloha Hawaiian. As well as the option to create their own with up to four toppings.

And vegetarians will not be ignored, as they'll also be able to take advantage of the deal too, with the following options-

Medium Stonebaked Thin & Crispy Very Veggie Supreme

Medium Deep Pan Very Veggie Supreme

With vegans able to opt for vegan cheese on their pizzas, so they can enjoy it too!

Once customers have selected their delicious pizzas, they'll also be able to choose a drink to wash it down with from the following tasty options:

Coca Cola, 1.5L

Diet Coke, 1.75L

Fanta Orange, 1.5L

Coca Cola Zero, 1.75L

Sprite, 1.5L

Besides making some fantastic savings, customers will also be able to enter to win one of six £100 Ticketmaster e-gift cards per week (between 24.07.2023 to 15.10.2023). They'll just need to scan the QR code on marketing materials and complete the online form.

Get ready for summer evenings at home, to enjoy whilst catching up on the football with friends and family or just stock up the freezer at asda.com or your nearest Asda pizza counter.

Making the 2000 Year Old "Pizza" from Pompeii

 

I subscribe to the YouTube channel of Max Miller and I was so impressed by his video of making a pizza style meal form 2,000 years ago that I decided to share it with you.

You can follow Max here:- https://www.youtube.com/@TastingHistory.

Pizza lover travels 6,000 miles to get pizza perfection

Witt’s Pizza Oven range has been wowing pizza-aficionados all over the world since its launch earlier this year.

But one pizza enthusiast certainly went more than the extra mile to get his hands on a pizza the action.

Alejandro Lead is from Mexico and loves nothing more than to make tasty homemade pizzas for his family and friends and was seeking for the ultimate oven to deliver hot, crispy pizzas every time.

After researching brands online, Alejandro settled on the Witt ETNA Rotante, know for its unique rotating pizza stone which ensures 360 degrees of perfectly cooked toppings and crispy crusts, all in under a minute.

However, there was only one problem, the oven isn’t yet available in Mexico. But! Alejandro wasn’t going to let this stop him on his quest for the ultimate, perfect pizza, and so he embarked on a remarkable journey with his son Junior, to Germany to purchase his dream oven.

Two flights, two train journeys, and 24 hours later, Alejandro, who shares his pizza creations on Instagram @pizzacasadileo, became the proud owner of a Witt ETNA Rotante.

Now he's back home in Mexico, Alejandro is working his magic to create delicious pizzas and says: “We really enjoy making pizzas and I knew I wanted to have the best oven out there, no matter how far I had to travel to get it!

“The Rotante heats up so quickly and the electric motor and rotating stone makes cooking so easy, delivering perfectly cooked pizza every time!”

Cathrine Orloff Risum, Product Manager Outdoor, at Witt said: “It’s incredible a man literally on the other side of the world is reaching out to Witt in Denmark in his search for the perfect pizza oven. That’s what we call a real pizza love story!”

Capable of accommodating pizzas up to a family feast friendly 16inches (40.5cm), the Witt Etna Rotante is perfect for pizza parties, chefs, and pizza-aficionados alike and has already taken Europe by storm.

Already available in Harrods, Selfridges, UK independent retailers, selected garden centres and Witt’s Amazon Store, the Witt Etna Rotante is available now, priced at around £699.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Witt-Rotante-Degrees-Rotating-Prepares/dp/B0BJW5WFBT

Buy Witt's Pizza Ovens via Amazon Prime Week

Top-selling and award-winning Scandinavian Witt’s Pizza Oven range has been wowing reviewers and customers with its ultra-fast heating and rotating technology since its launch earlier this year, receiving 5 STAR reviews and accreditations in publications like BBC Good Food, Ideal Home, and the Independent. 

This Amazon Prime week, Witt has wrapped up all the tools you'll require to make pizza like a pro in one convenient discounted package.

Buy the Witt Etna Fermo (RRP £579.00) or the Witt Rotante (RRP £699.00) and receive a free bundle of pizza making accessories worth over a cool £110, including the Witt Perforated Pizza Peel 14’ (RRP £54.99), Witt Wood Pizza Rolling Pin (RRP £29.99), and the Witt Pizza Oven Brush (RRP £29.99). 

This delicious offer kicks off on Monday 10th July and runs until Monday 24th July.  

https://www.wittpizza.com/

Co-op expands Goose Island partnership with launch of two frozen pizzas

The Co-op has announced it's set to expand its popular Goose Island frozen food range with the launch of two new exciting pizza flavours, taking the total number of products in the collaboration to a magnificent seven.

New additions to the bar snacks range include a Double Pepperoni Pizza (515g) and BBQ Cheese Feast Pizza (510g), which have both been developed with the bold American flavours from Goose Island’s IPA to enhance the takeaway style home dining experience with authentic Italian cooking methods.

A testimony to Co-op’s commitment to high-quality produce, the pizzas are actually made in the heart of Italy, hand-stretched with 24hr leavened dough and baked in a traditional wood-fired oven, thus ensuring a light and airy crust. 

Comprising of a deep pan pizza base topped with Goose Island IPA BBQ sauce, the Double Pepperoni Pizza is nicely finished off with mozzarella and pepperoni pieces whilst the Cheese Feast Pizza combines mozzarella, Emmental, provolone and Italian hard cheese.

Targeting foodie customers who are seeking out quick and easy dinner solutions, the new pizzas are an ideal match for the brewery’s beers which includes Goose Island IPA Single Can (330m) and Goose Island IPA Cans (4 x 330ml). The pizzas also join the existing line-up of Goose Island snacking SKUs which launched back in 2021 and are infused with the brewery’s iconic award winning IPA. The five “finger-food favourites” includes: onion rings, halloumi fries, mac ‘n’ cheese bites, chilli cheese bites and loaded fries.

Rebecca Oliver Mooney, who is the Head of Commercial at Co-op, said: “We’ve seen a phenomenal response to our bar snacks collaboration with Goose Island and the new pizzas are the perfect way to add innovation to the popular range as they continue the food and beer pairing.

“We are focused on providing our members and customers with convenient solutions, so we’re confident our members and customers will buy into the range even more so with these new additions which provide shoppers with a complete ‘fakeaway’ range to conveniently cook up at home."

Olivia Moore, Goose Island Brand Manager said: “We’re incredibly excited to be bringing this new addition, which gives consumers the opportunity to perfectly match their pizza and beer. The Goose Island IPA BBQ sauce is infused with our award winning IPA, the flavours from which bring something really special to the range.”

The pizzas are available now in the frozen food section across 816 Co-op stores and online at shop.coop.uk, priced at £3.75 each.

Witt's Pizza expert reveals his top cleaning tips

The award-winning Scandinavian Witt’s Pizza Oven range has been wowing reviewers and customers with its ultra-fast heating and rotating technology since its launch earlier this year. And as the weather heats up, it’s a good time to give your pizza oven a clean so you can continue serving delicious homemade pizza all summer long.

Witt’s pizza expert has revealed his top pizza oven cleaning tips for pizza aficionados. Info below for editorial consideration.

“A quick brush down after every use to remove food scraps is usually enough, but after a busy summer season of pizza parties, a deep clean might be required,” says Geoff Johnson, who is the Sales Director, and Pizza Guru at Witt UK & Ireland.

“When you leave remnants of dough, cheese, and sauce behind on your pizza oven, your oven will be less effective the next time you use it, the dough is more likely to stick, and the result won’t be quite so good. I recommend keeping your oven clean so it’s always ready to go, perfect for those spontaneous pizza nights with family and friends!”

Step 1. Turn it up

“Once you have cooked your pizzas, keep the oven burning at full temperature for 30 minutes. This will turn any leftover food to ashes.”

Step 2. Allow to cool 

"Once your oven is fully cooled, you can use a brush, like the special, dedicated Witt Pizza Oven Brush, to sweep any ash from the oven. Then wipe out any remaining ash with a soft, dry cloth.” 

Step 3. Wipe the oven exterior 

"Use a soft damp cloth to clean your oven's exterior. Mildly soapy warm water will do but do take care to dry it immediately and avoid paint diluters, abrasive cleaning products or any harsh chemicals, and remember, if you leave your oven wet, it can result in rust developing.

Top tip: If you want to keep your pizza oven clean for longer, I suggest that you should invest in a Witt Pizza Oven Cover.”

Step 4. Cleaning the pizza stone

“The pizza stone must only be cleaned with water; soap will leave soap residue in the joints of the stone. Remember you must never try to cool the stone down with water when the stone is hot as it can cause cracks and breakage.”

Step 5. Enjoy perfectly cooked pizza every single time!

https://www.wittpizza.com.

Couple launch new pizza franchise. Now you can join in, too

Rachael Willoughby and Elliott Richmond, who are the founders of the pizza franchise CasaGees, are celebrating the third anniversary of a business they set up to get them through lockdown.

The couple, who've worked together running their own software business for over two decades, hit on the  idea of surviving lockdown by making and delivering traditional Neapolitan pizzas within a four-mile radius of their home in Cleeve which is near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire.

Elliot's always made his own pizzas, including dough, after being brought up overseas and loving the traditional Neapolitan pizzas (no pineapples, though!). Friends often told him he should to start a pizza  business. But he never took the idea seriously, until he had no other option.

Elliot said: “When lockdown came and our business more than halved, we realised now was the time to ‘give it a go’. We were able to set up a simple pre-order system online thanks to our software expertise and that’s where it all began!”

Elliott makes his own dough and with no more than 48 pizzas made per evening, all orders are allocated a time slot, booked via the website. Delivery is kept to a four-mile radius to ensure the pizzas are delivered hot and in a timely manner.

Since then, the business has bloomed and grown with the couple making and delivering pizzas two evenings each week within their local community and making a monthly profit of around £2,000. Earlier this year, they also announced they were starting a franchise to encourage others who love cooking to do the same in their own communities.

To mark CasaGees’ birthday and to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III, half of their turnover from deliveries over the Coronation will be donated to one of three shortlisted local community projects:

*May Day in Woodmancote – an annual festival run in the community since 1983, that supports local community causes and charities.  The funds would allow them to book more activities for 2024.

*Stoke Orchard Community Centre – a community hub run by volunteers offering a space for a local toddler group, exercise classes and other events, it has also become a ‘warm space’ for those in the area. The funds would pay for painting, repairs and towards the cost of CCTV.

*Friends of Grangefield School – the Friends fundraise to fund additional activities for the children. They recently discovered their storage shed was no longer weatherproof and infested with mice. The funds would go towards the cost of a new shed.

Local people and regular customers are being asked to vote for the project of their choice and the winner will receive a donation of up to £500 later in May.

Rachael added: “We believe in giving back and that momentous weekend also allowed us to celebrate three years of CasaGees.

“We really can't believe we're celebrating our third birthday! When we originally set up it was as a temporary lockdown venture which we expected to last no longer than three months! However the demand from our lovely customers never stopped which tells us that we have a great product.

“Our next plans involve showing other couples how they can make a second healthy income by copying our proven model.”

Anyone interested in their own CasaGees' franchise can find out more by visiting https://casagees.co.uk/franchise-opportunity

Otto Pizza announces New Seasonal Toppings Menu

The UK’s only cornmeal crust pizza restaurant – situated in Notting Hill – announces the seasonal changes to its menu.

The brainchild of self-confessed slackers Tom and Rich, who discovered the recipe whilst on a GAP year road-trip through Portland in a camper van called Otto, cornmeal provides a much sturdier, more filling base for pizza crust – which can then be piled generously with toppings.

Otto is also famous for using unusual ingredients – often pairing vegetables with more traditional pizza favourites, making the restaurant a popular choice for vegetarians.

Pizza topping combos making an appearance this Spring include:

Spinach and Artichoke

Cauliflower Cheese

Leek and Bacon

Red Lentil Kofte

Leek and Potato

Otto’s pizzas are sold by the slice – or as a 6 slice taster platter. The chef also makes a base without gluten.

In addition to the new toppings on the menu, Otto also serves a daily special, details of which can be found on twitter @ottopizzauk.

Otto pizzas can be taken away and enjoyed at home or restaurant diners can pair pizza with one of Otto’s selection of American craft beers or a glass of New World wine.

Making Pizza A British Dish With The Stone Bake Oven Company

With the recession hitting UK manufacturing hard, it’s more important than ever to buy British and support UK manufacturing.

The Stone Bake Oven Company, who have held their own amongst the recession, tell how wood fired pizza ovens made in the UK, are proving to be an investment during the current economic climate.

With hard times making everyone, regardless of income, reassess the way they spend their pennies, more attention than ever, is being paid to the origins and the quality of products on the UK market.

The Stone Bake Oven Company, who hand cast a range of wood burning pizza ovens in England, use a modern aggregate, sourced within the UK which utilises reclaimed materials. The result is a technically efficient wood fired oven, which heats up quickly and retains its heat for hours. A wood fired oven can be used to cook authentic Italian Pizza, specialty roasts, desserts, breads and just about anything else.

“It’s often a misconception buying quality means spending more money “, says Tom Gozney the company founder, “our ovens are some of the most competitively priced on the market, and we are proud to support UK manufacturing and labour.”

The benefits of opting for British doesn’t stop there either, ever heard the phrase ‘buy cheap, buy twice?’ With a wood fired pizza oven by the Stone Bake Oven Company one can enjoy cooking in their oven either indoors or outdoors for years to come, with a selection of ovens to suit a range of budgets and space restraints.

The environmental benefits of choosing English products are vast. Manufacturing in the UK, means a lower carbon footprint due to reduced miles traveled by the product, and with the Stone Bake Oven Company the costs saved are passed onto the customer.The Stone Bake Oven Company are also proud to present a range of pizza ovens which promote the use of an environmentally sustainable fuel source, wood.

Available for many applications the Stone Bake Oven Company have a range wood fired ovens which are divided between the ‘at home range’ and a the ‘commercial wood fired ovens range’ too. The Stone Bake Oven Company are fast becoming a house hold name, gracing many kitchens and gardens with the affordable Primo Oven, to your local restaurant with their range of Gio commercial pizza ovens.

So this year, choose products and services from the UK. Look for quality and longevity and play a part in keeping UK manufacturing buoyant, whilst taking the time to enjoy mouth-watering, thin, crispy authentic pizza, from a Stone Bake Oven.

To view the Stone Bake Oven Company’s a range of pizza ovens, visit www.thestonebakeovencompany.co.uk.

Want a romantic foodie night in? Ristorante Pizza is what you need!

With Valentine’s Day reminding us that the only way to spend an evening is with those you love, now is the time to avoid the cold, get cosy and enjoy a Ristorante pizza together.

Indulge in ‘Italy’s Best Loved Pizza’ and fall in love with the delicious thin and crispy base. Plus, as we all know, opposites attract there are six different flavours, including Mozzarella, Speciale, Pollo, Funghi, Hawaii, and Pepperoni Salame, meaning there is a taste for everyone.

What could be more romantic than spending an evening indoors, hiding from the cold and experiencing a taste of Italy? Spoil your partner this Valentine’s Day with a satisfying Ristorante pizza. With a cooking time of only ten minutes from frozen, the rest of the evening can be spent gazing into each others eyes – that’s amore!

Ristorante is available from ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Morrisons, The Co-op and Waitrose expect to pay about £2.79.

Domino’s Launches Meal Deal Wizard - An online tool to help deliver the best possible deal on pizza orders

Domino’s Pizza  has launched a new Meal Deal Wizard to enable customers to get the best possible deal when ordering online. The tool automatically searches all of Domino’s offers and suggests meal deals based on the customer’s order basket.

To access the Meal Deal Wizard, customers simply need to visit www.dominos.co.uk, add the items they’d like to order to their basket and then proceed to the check out.

At the check out screen, customers click on the Meal Deal Wizard button and it will show the best available deal for their order and the savings that can be made. Customers can then chose their preferred deal at the touch of a button and confirm their order.

To find out more or to try the Meal Deal Wizard, log onto www.dominos.co.uk.

Customers in the UK can order online at www.dominos.co.uk and customers in the Republic of Ireland can order online at www.dominos.ie. In addition, mobile customers can order by downloading Domino’s free iPhone, iPad and Android apps.