Here at appetite, we don’t go long between pizzas, particularly in the summer, when a proper margherita and a bottle of chianti under the Northumbrian sun fits the bill perfectly. This is where we go for ours…
Cal’s Own, Newcastle
One of only two restaurants in the UK to be admitted to the world’s most exclusive pizzeria ruling body – the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (the True Neopolitan Pizza Association) – and included in the Good Food Guide, if you want the real thing, this is it. Chef Calvin Kitchin devotes his life to his pizzas, which he crafts with best San Marzano tomatoes grown in the foothills of Mt. Vesuvius, buffalo mozzarella from Campania, southern Italy, and dough fermented with Calvin’s own sougrdough starter and proved for
72 hours. Each pizza is cooked at 500C in a hand-built wood-fired oven from the world’s greatest pizza oven maker, Stefano Ferrara in Napoli. The margherita is to die for. Just go… Holly Avenue West, Jesmond, Newcastle NE2 2AR, tel 0191 281 5522, www.calsown.co.uk
The Old Boathouse, Amble
It’s made its reputation for its fish and seafood landed on the harbour yards from the kitchen door, but Martin Charlton’s Old Boathouse also serves up fantastic pizza, homemade from the wood-fired oven and topped with seafood or simply with buffalo mozzarella and tomatoes. Leazes St, Amble, Morpeth, NE65 0AA , tel 01665 711 232, www.boathousefoodgroup.co.uk
Scream for Pizza, touring
Go see the girls in Goldie the van, which tours street food markets and is available for hire for events for what they describe as Neopolitan pizza with a twist. Vicky and Alex trained as pizziaolos at the celebrated La Notizia pizzeria in Naples and top their wood-fire dough with some surprising combos. Right up there with the best in the UK. www.screamforpizza.com, tel 07944 715 714 www.screamforpizza.com
The Wood Oven, Wylam
Serving pizzas made from 24-hour double fermented slow dough and baked in a hot Italian oven fired with hardwood, The Wood Oven is small, simply furnished and a genuine hidden foodie gem serving a great margherita and more, including the surprising courgette and preserved lemon. Wormald House, Main Road, Wylam, NE41 8DN, tel 01661 852 552
For vegans too…
The Herb Garden, Newcastle
Renowned for its selection of proper pizzas and calzones, The Herb Garden, in an old railway arch near Central Station, also serves up a number of excellent vegan alternatives. And there’s a life-size model horse at the door. What further reason would you want? Westgate Rd, Newcastle, NE1 1SA, tel 0191 222 0491, www.theherbgardenuk.com
One to watch…
Fire & Dough, Hexham
This Neopolitan wood-fired pizza van is new and making its mark at markets and events throughout the region, in addition to regular evening pitches in Tyne Valley villages. Seek it out… Facebook @FireandDoughUK
