Bel UK hosts third Pizza Chef of the Year heat

As a proud sponsor of the Pizza Chef of the Year competition Bel Foodservice UK hosted the third heat in the search for the Pizza Designer of the Year 2011. Pizza ovens and flying pizza bases transformed Bel’s kitchen, making it easy to think you were in Italy instead of Sevenoaks.

Camilla Deane, foodservice controller, Bel Foodservice UK was one of the judges: “Pizza is one of the UK’s most popular foods and research has shown that artisan pizzas, regionally led and produced in open kitchens, will increase in popularity[1]. Pizza chefs can offer this by thinking outside the box and being unafraid to experiment. As we’ve seen at the heats, playing with different flavours, textures and combinations can create some incredible dishes - it makes our job as judges very difficult!”

Recipes such as Garlic prawn and spicy pepper with Boursin and Green Thai chicken were crafted by the South East’s most talented pizza chefs and enjoyed by all.

Adéle Bird, channel marketing manager, Bel Foodservice UK said: “We’re excited to be sponsoring this competition and for people to see how versatile Boursin is as an ingredient. I was lucky enough to try some of the pizzas and they really did taste just as good as they looked, if not better. Cheese is key for pizza designers and we believe that chefs should be able to use the best products possible to impress their customers.”  

Heats in Bolton and Glasgow have already taken place and the fourth and final heat will be held in Bristol on Monday 24 October. The final will be held ahead of the Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food awards evening on Thursday 24 November, when the Pizza Designer of the Year 2011 will be crowned.

Winners

Boursin Garlic & Herb Cheese Category:

Pasquale Spaziano from Pizzeria Rustica

Smoked salmon, crayfish and Boursin pizza

Dell’Ami Kalamata Greek Olive Category:

Neil McCulloch from Solway Foods

Kalamata olive and red pepper pesto pizza

Birra Morretti Beer Category:

Robert Tucker & Cesare Marinaro from Pizzeria Venezia

“Hat Man” pizza

Whitworth’s Pizza Flour Category:

Robert Tucker & Cesare Marinaro from Pizzeria Venezia

Calabria pizza

[1] Allegra Strategies Eating Out in the UK 2011 Report