Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Cheeky Preview: Pizza Pilgrims, Soho

Pizza Pilgrims

We all know street food is kind of a big deal at the moment, and rightly so. Everybody discerning Soho worker loves a big blow out on a slap up meal, but this is normally restricted to dinner times (unless you are a media guru with a wanton disregard of your companies expense budget and/or afternoons). Being able to pick up something cheap and delicious that you can enjoy on the go/at your desk is never that easy a task and is often disappointing, but can you imagine a world where you can get a delicious pizza quickly and cheaply as a takeaway lunch? Me neither.

That is until I met the Pizza Pilgrims. Two brothers who spent a few months travelling around Italy eating and learning about pizza, only to return to London to set up their own company. Jacking in their careers in media, and joining up with a 3rd "pilgrim", they created their travelling pizza oven on the back of an old three wheeled Piaggio van and are planning to bring hand held pizzas to a street side near you.


I was invited along to a pre-pre-launch tasting to see if they could make their pizzas better, and oh boy, those boys have got it nailed. First up was an ingredients test, trying out some Laverstoke Park buffalo mozzarella versus their cheese of choice, an imported Italian fior de latte, both unique in their own ways, but equally delicious raw. Best of all was a taster of their scamorza (or smoked mozzarella) which had a subtle oaky flavour. Finally, a shot of san marzano puree and a taste of their cooked dough. So eager was I to taste the final product, that I reconstructed their deconstructed pizza. And good it was too.


So there it is in all it's beauty, the finished pizza. Looks good doesn't it? Upon the first bite, the quality of the ingredients were clear. Even as the slow dribble of molten cheese slowly made it's way down my chin, burning everything in its path, I couldn't help but stick it out and savour the sweet mingle of dough, tomato and cheese. As I finished up that slice, more just kept on coming, just different variations on cheese and even one flecked with nduja that was top notch.

Whilst we digested the frankly obscene amounts of pizza we had just consumed, we had bowl of buffalo milk ice cream drizzled with flecks of salt and olive oil, another taste sensation (seriously, you should all try it). I love what these guys are doing, and the fact that they were already producing a top notch product out of the back of what is essentially a robin reliant, which can rival any high street pizza restaurant is just madness. Or genius. Keep an eye for updates via either their twitter account or their website, but expect an announcement over the next few weeks to find out where you too can get your chops around their pizzas.

Pizza Pilgrims - TBC (but Soho)

8 comments:

Hollow Legs said...

YAY! I am so pleased - being a friend of one of them I've followed this with interest, I reckon it'll do really well.

Anuj said...

Sounds great - can't wait! When does this open?

PDH said...

Another source of good pizza in Soho is always welcome! Can't wait to give them a go.

Odo said...

Looks amazing I will look for them as soon as I'm back, thanks for sharing mate

Steph said...

YUM. anywhere decent to get a NY style slice in London? still longing for a spot that satisfies that (ever-so-frequent) craving.

tehbus said...

@ Lizzie - I think you may just be right

@ Anuj - Soon, very soon (early March)

@ Pavel - I personally don't think we have enough good ones.

@ Odo - Expect kick off in mid to early March

@ Steph - Not sure about NY style slice, but for all it's faults, Pepe on St Martins Lane actually does a decent pizza by the slice.

The Perfect Trough said...

Looks fantastic. I work close by sometimes, so will definitely try in the next 2 weeks.

Steph - try Mulberry Street on Westbourne Grove for NY style pizza.

Ginglesnuff said...

@Steph - I think the closest I've come to an NY-style pizza slice is Homeslice. It tastes healthier and fresher than a typical NY slice of pie, but the proportions are right!