Pizza probably isn’t the first food you think of when you’re getting into the Christmas spirit.
Indeed, there wasn’t a slice of turkey in sight as we sat down to try out the new Franco Manca festive menu - but would it make us miss our gravy and roast potatoes? We tried two of the four new pizzas, including one with salmon and mascarpone and the other with porcini mushrooms and egg yolk.
Smoked salmon can be a popular Christmas alternative starter or main, which is the route Franco Manca are trying to go down. The salmon makes the pizza look and feel more luxurious, and they certainly didn’t skimp on the fish - our pizza was packed with toppings.
The fishy flavour itself was very strong, especially when mixed with the salty capers. For some people it may be too salty, but it certainly is indulgent, which really is what Christmas is all about. We also enjoyed the mix of smoked salmon and lemon, combined with chives to add a pinch of herbs. The only complaint we had was the mascarpone base. It was deliciously creamy but we could have done with a thicker layer of it.
The next pizza we tried was the porcini mushrooms and egg yolk. I must admit I’m not a massive fan of mushrooms normally, but the porcini gave an almost meaty texture which was really enjoyable. The egg yolk was a standout part of the pizza for us - it felt very rich and added an extra layer of taste to the mozzarella cheese.
The main flavour you get is the truffle oil, which was really strong but is then broken up by the chunky pieces of mushroom. The egg yolk and truffle oil combined elevate this pizza to make it feel far posher than your regular mushroom pizza.
I'd say the jury is still out in terms of whether they feel very festive - but who said you need to stick to turkey this Christmas, anyway? The flavour was powerful with both pizzas and we'd be excited to order them again.
For starters, we tried the mortadella bologna and burrata, which was both soft and crunchy, thanks to the addition of peppery rocket salad and pistachio nuts. We also tested the vegan plant-based meatballs, with a tomato sauce and spicy Greek peppers. I find some vegan meatballs can be a bit dry, but these really packed a flavour and we enjoyed the surprise hit of the hot peppers.
To finish the meal off, we tucked into chocolate and blood orange ice cream. This was a vegan ice cream and the texture was creamy and smooth, while the chocolate had just the right balance of sweet but not too bitter. The blood orange taste came through nicely as well but I wouldn't have complained if it was just a tiny bit stronger.
You can see the Franco Manca Christmas menu, which is available until December 24, in full below. Customers can order two courses for £18.50 or three courses for £22.50.
Franco Manca Christmas menu
STARTERS
- Mortadella Bologna I.G.P. and burrata, with roasted baby plum tomatoes, wild rocket, pistachio & black pepper
- Cheese fonduta with Taleggio D.O.P., Colston Bassett Stilton & Franco’s grana, served with sourdough bread
- Plant-based meatballs al forno with organic tomato, spicy Greek peppers & Violife vegan cheese
MAINS
- Smoked salmon, mascarpone, mozzarella, Bottarga, capers from Salina, chives & lemon
- Pulled lamb, organic tomato, mozzarella, spicy marinated cavolo nero & Franco’s grana
- Porcini mushrooms, mozzarella, Franco’s grana, egg yolk, black pepper & truffle oil
- Spicy plant-based mince, broccoli cream base, Violife vegan cheese, green beans, beetroot & fresh chillies
DESSERTS
- Homemade tiramisù
- Tartufo classico – chocolate and zabaglione ice cream, topped with cocoa & chopped hazelnuts
- Chocolate & blood orange ice cream