The world’s best pizza maker is actually in London – and he says we’re eating the dish all wrong
WHILE it might be fair to assume that Italy would be home to the best pizza chef in the world, you’d be wrong.
That’s because the planet’s greatest slice can actually be found in the UK.
Earlier this month, Napoli on the Road, a pizzeria in Chiswick, London was named the best in Europe at the World 50 Top Pizza Awards.
The pizzeria is owned by Michele Pascarella – a top-notch pizza chef living in London.
Dubbed the Michelin Awards of pizzerias, the annual event recognises the best pizzerias and pizza chefs across the globe.
The selection process for the Top 50 awards is “very mysterious” and includes anonymous restaurant visits by pizza critics.
Not only is Napoli on the Road Europe’s best pizzeria, but Michele was also named the world’s best pizza chef at the awards in 2023.
Born in Caserta near Naples, Michele started making pizzas when he was just 11 years old.
After moving to the UK aged 19, he set up Napoli on the Road, which as its name suggests, started out life as a food truck selling slices at food markets and festivals.
Since then he has settled in his spot in Chiswick, where his talents have now earned him global recognition.
With several awards now under his belt, it’s safe to say that Michele knows exactly how Brits should be eating pizza too, and as it turns out some of us might be doing that wrong.
He told the Daily Mail: “‘I think there are few mistakes about eating pizza, for example, overloading with too many toppings, making it difficult to enjoy the base, using a knife and fork instead of eating it with their hands, not pairing it with suitable beverage – missing out on a complete dining experience, and adding chilli oil everywhere.”
The Napoli on the Road website claims Michele was the first pizza chef to serve “contemporary high crust” pizza in the UK, labelling him a “pioneer”.
It reads: “Michele Pascarella started his business by wandering around with his Ape Piaggio making woodfire pizzas all over London.
“Recognised as the first pizzaiolo to bring contemporary high crust pizza to the UK, Chef Michele is now considered a ‘pioneer of contemporary pizza’.”
The good news for people wanting to try Michele’s pizza is that Napoli on the Road opened its second branch last year in Richmond.
Their menu offers classic pizza options from £11.95 as well as some of Michele’s signatures, which cost a little bit more.
However, the menu changes every three months, with Michele focused on “using exclusively seasonal ingredients” in his food.
There are plenty of other award-winning pizzerias knocking around the UK too, including Taste of Italy.
Last year, Taste of Italy was crowned the Best Independent Pizza Restaurant in the UK at the Pasta and Pizza Association Industry Awards.
Set in Chelmsford, this isn’t the first time Taste of Italy has nabbed the accolade either – it also won the title in 2022 too.
The family-run restaurant first opened in 2020, and it is owned by husband and wife duo Sergio Teacu and Lucia Pronesti.
Their best-selling pizzas include the Margherita, the Pepperoni, and the Nduja and Burrata, with prices starting from £14.99 for a 13-inch pizza.
How to order and eat a pizza like an Italian
Travel Writer Giuli Graziano, who was born and raised in Rome, reveals the mistakes Brit holidaymakers fall foul of when dining out in Italy.
She said: “If you want to buy and eat pizza like a pro, read on to find out where to go and what to always avoid.
Where to go
As a general rule of thumb, you should always avoid big chain restaurants and tourist traps because they usually sell mass-produced pizza, which doesn’t hold the same quality as the original Italian pizza-making culture.
Instead, you should head to a local trattoria or pizzeria, where they make their pizzas fresh to order with premium ingredients.
What to order
While a pepperoni pizza is one of the most popular options in the UK, it doesn’t actually exist in Italy. And to make matters worse, “peperoni” actually means peppers in Italian.
To avoid disappointment, you should order a “Diavola” if you’re after the Italian version. If you like really spicy salami, a “Nduja pizza” is also a great option.
What about drinks and dips?
Don’t ask for dipping sauces because they’re not a thing in Italy and you’ll be met with confused looks
As far as drink go, you should only pair your pizza with water, a chilled drink, a beer or an Aperol Spritz.”
And you can enjoy great pizza in London even while eating out on a tight budget.
Meanwhile, these are the three big mistakes Brits make when cooking Italian food.
