At 11.30am today throughout the UK and Ireland, PizzaExpress will introduce a new line up of starters, pizzas and one pasta dish created by celebrated Calabrian chef, Francesco Mazzei. Known for his much lauded upscale Italian restaurant L'Anima in the City of London, Mazzei spent the past six months working alongside PizzaExpress's executive chef, Antonio Romani, to develop the six signature dishes that comprise his Italian Hot menu.
Londonist had a sample at the menu launch last night at PE's Greek Street location. We liked the Calabrese pizza. Supposedly PizzaExpress's hottest pizza yet, we appreciated its mix of southern Italian ingredients, especially the milky fior di latte mozzarella and the spicy n'duja sausage. As for the rest of the new menu well if you know PizzaExpress, then you know the score. Not bad, pretty good. Prices seem reasonable. The starters (a “classic Italian salad” and an “original twist on a mozzarella and tomato salad”) cost around five quid. The mains, four pizzas and one oven baked pasta dish weigh in around £10.
Fans of PizzaExpress (certainly someone reading this post will dine there today): you'll be delighted to find Mazzei's menu a refreshing addition to your old reliable standby.
Fans of Mazzei and his restaurant, L'Anima: have a go at a the Mazzei menu (and leave your comments below!). Obviously, this is a much less expensive (and less cushy) way to get your Mazzei fix. Do you approve?
Rest of you lot: shrug your shoulders and carry on.
Find out more about the Francesco Mazzei Italian Hot menu at PizzaExpress here.
