Phil and I were invited to try the new autumn/winter menu at our local Pizza Express and since we spend most of our time together eating out, we were more than happy to try their latest offerings.
To start, I chose the Risotto Mio which consisted of chestnut & closed cup mushrooms in a creamy white wine risotto with parsley, garlic oil and pine kernels, finished with Gran Milano cheese, fresh parsley and truffle oil. Although I enjoyed the dish, I felt that it needed something extra to jazz up it up as it was slightly bland. Perhaps I should have asked more garlic oil!
We both drank a large glass of Pepperosso each, a striking Calabrian red, blending Merlot and Magliocco grapes, with hints of cherry, blackcurrant and raspberry. Delicious!
Phil went for the calamari rings served with Çaesar dressing, lemon and fresh parsley, which I was actually quite jealous of! I usually find calamari to be rubbery in texture but these were perfectly soft and tender while the coating was light and crispy. A lovely starter!
Next, I opted for the Pennette Bolognese, which appealed to me because it was a nice alternative to traditional spaghetti Bolognese. A rich beef, porcini mushroom, tomato and garlic Bolognese sauce with pennette pasta, finished with Gran Milano cheese and fresh parsley.
Phil ate the Autunno pizza, which was Patricia Moroney’s winning pizza to the Create Your New Favourite competition. This pizza is inspired by the colours of autumn, combining smoky chorizo with roasted butternut squash, goat’s cheese, spinach, garlic oil, chilli flakes, tomato and mozzarella, finished with chilli oil and fresh parsley. It was tasty but a bit spicy for my liking. However, Phil loved it!
To finish, we ordered the Bombolini and the sharing trio. Completely greedy, we know! The Bombolini are miniature doughnut balls with a jam centre, which are baked in the oven and served with gelato. They’re perfect for the winter months and would please adults and kids alike!
The sharing trio were three sweet treats to share: a gluten-free Chocolate Brownie with fresh strawberry, Lemon Posset Crunch and two scoops of Primo Gelato in the flavour of your choice. We went for salted caramel and chocolate. Yum!
I’d highly recommend the autumn/winter menu if you want classic Italian favourites with a modern twist.
* Please note that this meal was complementary but my views were honest and unbiased.