Most people that know me know that pizza is 100% my weak spot, especially when paired with wine and friends. So it will come as no surprise that as soon as I was invited down to Franco Manca in the new West Quay development in Southampton, I absolutely jumped at the chance.
I had already heard fantastic things about this restaurant and was stunned at the incredible hospitality and family feeling of the restaurant. We were greeted with an Aperol Spritz and shown to our long table where one of the founders Giuseppe Mascoli came to greet us. I felt so welcome and it's as if I had gone to Italy and arrived in the European way of 'everyone is family'. The starters included homemade chilli garlic bread, mozzarella and cream cheese balls and a selection of hams as well as my favourite, olives.
I was then chosen to make a pizza and give it a go myself. We were told that it only takes the pizza 55 seconds to cook in a 500 degree wood fired oven. The sourdough was quite tricky to manipulate and pull across the marble so I gave it my best shot but it still came out strangely square..... I put lots of toppings on it and tried to make it look fancy but in reality it was my first go at making a pizza and I think did pretty well!
I think Giuseppe was very proud of me! I even managed to get it out of the oven by myself. We then sat down to eat my pizza and a selection of other ones that were brought to the table for use to try. We also had a wine lesson from the connoisseur that selects all of the wines for Franco Manca from all around the world. We were told about the lighter and fuller options and there was even a fizzy red wine too.
I had the absolute best night ever and just because pizza is my favourite food (and these ones start at literally less that £5 which is insane) I think I'll be spending a lot of time in this restaurant. I even have their number for 'incase of pizza emergency'! Tonight may be the night I try to make a pizza from scratch using the awesome signed book Giuseppe gave me that he wrote. The goody bag was also extremely amazing, with one of their exclusive wines, the famous chilli oil from the restaurant, a jar of artichokes which i'll be interested to try and some fancy cheese that i'll probably cover my pizza with!
Thank you so much to Franco Manca and everyone at the event and restaurant for the ultimate pizza and wine night, I honestly felt like I had gone on a mini holiday to Italy. And because I loved it so much, I am actually going back next week for a meeting! What better way to do business than over pizza and wine?
Find the Franco Manca Website here: http://www.francomanca.co.uk
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/francomancapizz/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FrancoMancaPizz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Franco-Manca-Southampton-598461447012382/?fref=ts
This post was in collaboration with Franco Manca, thank you for letting us try your amazing food and wine!
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