03 Juli 2013

Pizza Express - A Chef's Table Evening

last Week, I was an email dropped in my inbox from Pizza Express. Pizza Express or former known as Pizza Marzano really famous for it thin, crispy and fresh pizza. Placed in Lippo Mall Kemang Jakarta, me and several blogger mates got some valuable knowledge about Pizza making.

I only know eating those pizza without knowing the secret behind those gorgeous pizza. Who knows that their chef took minimum 12 weeks to learn the art of pizza making. So, I'm so excited when i received invitation from Pizza Express, aannddd... I can reveal their secret hohoho...



Here's a reason why they change the name from Pizza Marzano to Pizza Express

Pizza Marzano is a franchised business of Pizza Express although the brands are the same. The name change is a real opportunity for Pizza Marzano to align itself with the Global Pizza Express brand – benefiting from our global presence and brand recognition, and therefore sharing in the success of PizzaExpress worldwide.

Well, eventhough they have a new name, new interior - black & white stripes and a new concept, 1 thing that never change. That Pizza Express is still consisting to serve fresh ingredients for their Pizza and Pasta. They never pre-prepared. Always made fresh from the moment you order.

Some details in every Pizza Express store that must exist
Pizza Express is of of the UK's favorite brands, established in 1965 in London by Peter Boizot, and now operate across the world with 470 restaurants worldwide. In Indonesia, currently there are 5 Pizza Marzano (Grand Indonesia, Mal Kelapa Gading, Supermal Karawaci, Kemang, Pondok Indah Mall 2) and 5 Pizza Express (Bintaro 9 Walk, Senayan City, Kota Kasablanka, Lippo Mall Kemang, Citywalk) and they will transform all of their Pizza Marzano restaurants to Pizza Express soon.

The event called A CHEF TABLE'S EVENING opened by the lovey Ms Dini Arizully, Pizza Express Marketing Manager. A lil' speech regarding this event. Then continue with that night star, none other than Chef Endang - Pizza Express Pizzaiolos - Chef Pizza.

Chef Endang
While listening a lil speech from Chef Endang and Ms Dini, we snacking their yummy starter...


Garlic Bread with Mozzarella - IDR 30.000
A soft cheezy garlic bread was serve. A melting mozarella spread all over the dough. Yummy.....

Dough Balls - IDR 23.000

Our secret recipe dough is hand-stretched to give the perfect texture. Try our famous Dough Balls to taste for yourself – mini balls of dough, baked and served with garlic butter to dip.
Pizza Express signature starter. Dough Balls a bit chewy but so tasty, and the garlic butter sauce so creamy and add more richness to the balls.

Making a beautiful  is ain't easy. There are several steps. And all must be well prepared with the same standard. Although the chef all must have a high speed job process, but they still pay attention with the details. Seeing Chef  Endang demonstrate Pizza making, already make my eyes drooling... I'm amazed...

Chef Endang demonstrate Pizza making
The Dough - must be 6hours, 9hours and 12hours (perfect dough) to be set
And... voila... several Pizza Express New Menu that just launched in May 2013  spread at the table. Make mouthwatering, make me drooling and make want to grab it all. Come to Mama...

STARTER

Baked Mushrooms with Pesto and Mozzarella - IDR 49.000
Closed Cup Mushroom, Pesto, Mozarella.
You have to eat it while it's  hot. Pesto mixed with mozarella taste so great. Served with dough balls.

Bruschetta Arrabiata Con Pollo - IDR 49.000
Garlic bread, chicken arrabiata sauce, mixed peppers, watercress, grana padano.
This is good for spicy lover. The chicken also really tender and seasoned well. Don't be so confused with the name. Let me describe it for you. 

Arrabbiata sauce, or sugo all'arrabbiata in Italian, is a spicy sauce for pasta made from garlic, tomatoes, and red chili peppers cooked in olive oil. "Arrabbiata" literally means "angry" in Italian, and the name of the sauce is due to the heat of the chili peppers
Grana Padano (IPA: [ˈɡraːna paˈdaːno]) is one of the most popular cheeses of Italy. Grana Padano is one of the world's first hard cheeses, created nearly 900 years ago by the Cistercian monks of Chiaravalle Abbey, founded in 1135 near Milan, who used ripened cheese as a way of preserving surplus milk.

Bruschetta Originale “PizzaExpress” IDR 29.000
Red Onions, Tomatoes, Garlic, Pesto.
The topping not as generous the Arrabiata one, but the pesto really good. It suit for Vegetarians.

PIZZA

SPECIALTY PIZZA - Gamba Piccante - IDR 95.000 
King Prawns, arrabiata Sauce, Watercress, Jalapeno peppers, Mixed peppers, Chilli Oil, Parsley, Wedge Of Lemon, Grana Padano - on a square base.
Alert for spicy lover. The jalapeno and arrabiata taste really kick. Not too overpower. Watercress add more freshness in this Pizza. And if you usually have a round Pizza, This pizza have square shape. Unique.

ROMANA PIZZA -  Rustichella - IDR 90.000
Crispy Beef Bacon, Roasted Tomatoes, Watercress, Grana Padano, Caesar Dressing.
Caesar Dressing mixed with tomato pasta can be this good. Beef bacon add more crispness in this this pizza.

LEGGERA PIZZA
The new Leggera is a ring of our thinner, crispier Romana dough, topped with the recipes you love, but for under 500 calories each. The hole in the middle is filled with watercress salad, shaved grana padano, finished with our light house dressing, which is balsamic syrup.
 
Step Of Making Leggera  Pizza
 
Pomodoro Pesto Leggera - IDR 85.000
Light mozzarella, marinated santos tomatoes, fresh basil, pesto, garlic oil.
The shape actually really unique. The fresh basil covered the round hole in the middle. If you in a diet, choose this kind of Pizza. The calories not more than 500 yeaaii... So ladies, don't have feeling guilty eating Pizza. Taste so fresh. Like eating salad and pizza in the same time.

American Hot Leggera - IDR 85.000
Pepperoni, Light Mozzarella, Tomatoes, Jalapeno Peppers.
I really like the spicy combination. And the balsamic syrup adding the richness of the flavor. Yummy...

Classic Pizza - Giardiniera - IDR 75.000
 Artichokes, Mushrooms, Red Peppers, Santos Tomatoes, Courgette, Olives, Garlic Oil, Tomato & Pesto.
A really generous topping that Pizza Express added. The courgette and Olives taste really pop out. So, it make not feel too cheezy.

CALZONE
Inspired by the Neapolitan delicacy, our calzone have steaming hot fillings and a folded crisp dough, which is baked with olive oil and grated grana padano, served with salsa verde.

Step Of Making Calzone

Calzone Pollo Pesto - IDR 99.000
Chicken ham, roasted mushrooms, roasted red onion, fresh spinach, gruyere cream sauce, pesto.  
I always love this fatty pizza. Really blew me away. The dough so crispy but so soft. 

PASTA

Spaghetti Alla Genovese Con Pollo - IDR 70.000
Spicy Chicken, Potato, Green Beans, Creamy Pesto Sauce.
The spaghetti cooked aldente. With tende spicy chicken, make this spaghetti taste great.

Penne Arrabiata with Sausage - IDR 72.000

Arrabiata sauce, sausage, beef sausage, spring onion, mascarpone. 
In the real receipe, from the origin country, this penne usually use n’duja sausage. But Pizza Express Indonesia using beef for this Penne. It make me worries at 1st to be honest hehehe... Arrabiata mixed with mascarpone is heaven.

'Nduja is a spicy spreadable sausage made with pork. It is typically made with parts of the pig such as the shoulder, belly and jowl, as well as tripe, roasted peppers and a mixture of spices. It is a Calabrian variation of salami, loosely based on the French andouille introduced in the 13th century by the Angevins.

Beside  some menus spread above, actually there are several items that we haven't try. I definitely will try'em when I visit Pizza Express again

INTRO

Queen Olives Marinated - IDR 22.000
Mixed pitted olives
*picture courtesy of Pizza Express

PIZZA

Romana Pizza Asparagi - IDR 95.000
Asparagus, Leeks, Pesto, Baby Mozarella, Tomatoes, Garlic Oil.
*picture courtesy of Pizza Express.

PASTA

Ravioli Ricotta e Spinach – IDR 72.000
Ricotta, spinach and cream, grana padano, garlic oil
*picture courtesy of Pizza Express
DESSERT

DOLCETTI
Mini puddings that come with coffee. Ideal when you can’t manage a whole dessert but still want something sweet.
Banoffee Pie – IDR 42.000
Lemon Meringue Torta – IDR 42.000
*picture courtesy of Pizza Express
Banoffee Pie
Bananas, cream, caramel sauce, crumbly biscuit, with vanilla ice cream.

Lemon Meringue Torta 
Lemon pastry tart with meringue.


Fresh Juice
Melon, Strawberry, Orange, Watermelon
*picture courtesy of Pizza Express

After  my tummy full, but the event not end yet. There are still dough flair and making the fabulous pizza of our own. Woohh... This is what I've been waiting for. 

Pizzaiolos doing dough flair
Then after quick restaurant tour, a very freshening drinks came out. Lychee Iced Tea & Strawberry Mint Iced Tea taste not too sweet, so fruity with a fruits inside of it. Like it.

Lychee Iced Tea IDR 28.000 & Strawberry Mint Iced Tea  IDR 28.000
I'm so excited making my own pizza, no matter eventhough flour all over my sweater hahaha... I added some of my hubby's favorite topping like pepperoni, mushroom and olive generously hehehe...

Me making Pizza - Thanks @yennyw for the pic
Look at the different from Pizza above
But theeenn... when I want to show off to my hubby... The Pizza is not MINE!!! Dunno how can it be happen. Well, my hubby said... it's okay, I often taste your tasty food, but the one who got your pizza can only taste once woohooo... okaayy... *aakk... blushing like Chef Endang's tomato sauce

Overall, not just my tummy that happy... but myself extremely happy. Got a valuable knowledge about Pizza, had a change to taste all fabulous menus and meeting some great peoples from Pizza Express. Thanks for inviting me...

PizzaExpress
Lippo Mall Kemang
Kemang Village, 1st Fl Unit 07
Jl. Pangeran Antasari No. 36 P
Kemang, Jakarta
Telp: (021) 2952 8429
FB Fan Page: PizzaExpress
twitter: @PizzaExpressIDN



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