The best pizza in the world isn’t in Italy – it’s actually in the UK
IT might be fair to assume that Italy would be home to the best pizza chef in the world.
However, the planet’s greatest slice can actually be found in the UK, made by chef Michele Pascarella.
Michele is the founder of the restaurant Napoli on the Road in Chiswick, West London, and he was named Global Pizza Maker of the Year 2023 at the World 50 Top Pizza Awards.
The chef started making pizzas when he was just 11 years old and told the Chiswick Calendar that the Top 50 Awards is “like the Michelin guide for pizza.”
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.
The selection process for the Top 50 awards is “very mysterious” and includes anonymous restaurant visits by pizza critics.
Asked how to create the perfect slice, Michele said that passion and love was more important than recipes.
He told Time Out : “It’s not just about crafting the perfect dough or finding the finest ingredients.
“It’s about the artistry and passion that goes into every slice.”
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 this summer, in Richmond, meaning there’s now twice as many chances.
Their menu offers classic pizza options from £10.95 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 season ingredients” in his food.
For pizza fans who aren’t keen on enjoying their slice in a city, there’s a unique place also in the UK where you can eat them on the beach.
Caffi Traeth Aberdaron, or the Aberdaron Beach Cafe, in Gwynedd, Wales keeps visitors to the scenic cove well-fed and nicely refreshed, with pizzas and a selection of beers on hand.
Some customers even say they’re the best pizzas they’ve ever eaten.
One wrote on TripAdvisor: “The best pizza we’ve ever tasted! Perfect after a morning on the beach with the dog! Visited several times on our holiday and it’s only our 3rd day!”
Another said: “Pizzas are fab, paninis and pasties really good. Ideal location for beach days”
Meanwhile, this could be the best McDonald’s restaurant in the world.
And you can enjoy great pizza in London even while eating out on a tight budget.