Who would have thought that simple flat bread would have revolutionized the foodie world? Pizza did. . It started with humble focaccia from Naples that evolved into the pizza we know. Pizza has managed to conquer the culinary world; whether it the junk food version, or the gourmet delicacy. Tempo popped into a few pizzerias…
Where: Pizza Hut
What: Chicken Super Supreme Pizza
Build: Pan pizza topped with grilled chicken, chicken pepperoni, mushrooms, green peppers, onions and black olives.
Comment: Pizza Hut normally rules the roost among college students. But what tastes good when you’re young and hungry may be less exciting when your palate has recovered the onslaught of years of junk food. Still, the chicken super supreme reigns supreme – we found the bread yeasty but the toppings delivered redemption. Maybe it’s nostalgia, or the power of distorted olfactory association, but the smell of Pizza Hut pizzas still makes it fun to jump right in and devour the pies.
Recommendation: It’s always fun to check out the new additions on the menu.
Rating: 3 stars
Where: Olivella’s at Marks & Spencer
What: Maharaja Pizza
Build: Thin crust Pizza topped with Tandoori chicken, red onions, spiced mango chutney, cucumber mint raita and mozzarella.
Comment: An Indo-Italian collaboration that works. One bite into this pizza, and the fusion of flavours take you to tandoori heaven. The contrast of cucumber raita and chicken leaves a tingly feel in your mouth, and a taste that will have you coming back for more.
Recommendation: Located at a small corner in Marks & Spencer, an unexpectedly cosy place to meet friends.
Rating: 4 stars
Where: Figaro’s Pizza
What: Seafood Supreme Pizza
Build: Thin crust pizza topped with shrimp, calamari, crabsticks, onion, green peppers, red peppers, yellow peppers and garlic sauce topped with mozzarella.
Comment: Sometimes it’s as basic as savouring real mozzarella cheese – since we’re so used to processed cheese. This is a hearty pizza with generous amounts of seafood, a rich garlic sauce, and cheese oozing out of every bite! You can’t go wrong with that.
Recommendation: Make sure you try the thin crust pizzas.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Carluccio’s at Eastern Mangroves.
I stepped into Carluccio’s restaurant with my family, right after it opened its first restaurant in the capital. We tried their pizza margherita, their meat lasagne and their foccacia bread. The pizza was as close to perfection as anything I’d tasted in the UAE; perfect crust, a balanced tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella and fresh basil. The foccacia bread was more like pizza than the foccacia I was used to; this one was quite moist – baked with both cheese and tomato sauce. It was good to hear from waitstaff that Carluccio’s is opening two more restaurants in the capital, as they definitely raise the bar for Italian!
Sana
