This is in continuation to our pizza journey which
started with WPJ- World Pizza Journey,HKV; the next pit stop was at NYC PIE,
Gurgaon; and then at Ambience Mall, Gurgaon; where a new Pizza outlet has
opened " Pizza Express " . Pizza Express’s eighth restaurant in India
six across Mumbai / Thane and one each in Delhi/ Gurgaon.
We were fortunate to have met and have a detailed discussion with Mr.
Sanjay Nandrajog (CEO) and Mr. Ramit Bharti Mittal (Head of Strategy & Bus.
Dev) at Gourmet Investments Pvt Ltd (a Bharti Family Office Company) which has
brought this brand to India. Pizza Express is, today, one of the world’s
leading casual dining and consumer brands. Established in 1965, in London, UK,
it now operates over 500 Restaurants in 14 different countries.
Pizza express has been obsessed with pizza ever since
its founder Peter Boizot opened first Pizza express restaurant on Wardour Street
in 1965. Peter was a big foodie and took pride in pioneering beautiful pizzas
on the high street and working with the best to do this. Pizza Express was one of the restaurants to adopt open
kitchens and was also a pioneer in taking restaurants into interesting building
from old churches to Banks to Dairies.
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Interiors |
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Corporate Chef - Mr. UDAY PATIL |
The menu at Pizza express is kept concise and delicious.
Started with their signature Dough balls (Rs.165) served with freshly made
pesto, garlic butter and sun-dried tomato dip…. Awesome ….. The Pollo
Affumicato (Rs.385) salad,full of smoked
chicken, pomegranate , walnuts and lollo rosso leaves in chilli oil, The thin
crust Calabrese (Rs.750) from the Calabria in Italy, an Italian spicy sausage
with rocket pesto and oregano and red chillies is a very nice and hearty pizza
and the Giardiniera Classic (Rs.510) pizza with button mushrooms on a tomato &
pesto base are some of the most relished delicacies.
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Dough Balls, Goats Cheese Salad, Meat balls |
The Goat’s Cheese
salad with watermelon was very nice with a unique addition to it which was
onions, some may love it and some may not. The use of rocket leaves in most
salads and pizzas is a refreshing change and makes the whole experience very
crunchy and gives a peppery feel to it. We also loved the Ramiro Al Farno (Rs.285),
red bell peppers stuffed with cheese and mushrooms. The Dolcetti (mini versions
of dessert) served with a hot cup of coffee takes care of the calorie conscious
dessert lovers. Also Baked Vanilla cheesecake and mini version of Dough Balls
with Nutella are surely worth a try for all dessert lovers…..
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Open Kitchen and Cans of Passata Sauce |
Apart from the secret dough recipe, the tomato passata
sauce used for the pizza is sourced especially from a tomato farming Greci
farms near Parma, Italy…..and I tell you, this makes a big difference to the
taste of pizzas and the pastas…… The Coroporate Chef Mr. Uday Patil is a
thorough professional with full knowledge of Italian recipes and terms and bla
bla bla………He has a very good team of chefs turning the best of ingredients into
the best of creations……..
They also have a combo menu or as they call it “Piccolo
Menu” for Rs.450/- ++ in which one can have a 3 course meal which includes
their signature dough balls, a pizza / pasta and a dessert with a soft drink.
The yummy creations are carved by the skilled Pizzaiolos
- Pizza chefs dressed in Black and white stripes. These Pizzaiolos add to the
virtual treat of seeing the pizza tossed and stretched ensuring the perfect
dough.
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Pizzaiolos in Action |
This place had a unique design philosophy inspired by
local surroundings adapting Gurgaon's rich industrial heritage with a fusion of
corporate culture……
Parents should take their kids to this place … It is a
real fun place where kids enjoy making their own pizzas from dough to toppings to
actual baking…..in the heart of restaurant in the open kitchens…The Restaurant Satff is very courteous and the service is very good........
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Pizza making by children |
So Ladies and Gentleman … if you wanna stop for having
authentic Italian pizza made from authentic passata sauce imported from Italy ,
the Pit stop’s is : PIZZA EXPRESS at Ambience Mall , Gurgaon .
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TWCI with Chef ( Uday Patil) Senior Management (Mr. Nandrajog & Mr. Ramit Bharti Mittal) |
Wishing them All the Best for all their future
endeavours……….
PIZZA EXPRESS
T-317, 3rd Floor, Ambience Mall,
Gurgaon.
Written By : Vickrham Vicky & Ambika Sukumar
Pics By : Vickrham Vicky