Pizza of the year found in the capital

A London-based independent has whipped up the winning recipe at the 2022 National Pizza Awards.

Bad Boy Pizza Society, which operates from three locations across the capital, wowed industry judges at the UK-wide event with its signature Pepperoni Alla Vodka pizza, a recipe that features a Sicilian base, home-made vodka sauce, pepperoni, Stracciatella and fresh basil (above).

The vodka sauce is made by cooking down onions, fresh and dried chillies, oregano and butter before deglazing with vodka to add an extra kick. The vodka is left to slowly evaporate before cooking down again with tomatoes and then adding double cream and parmesan.

Henry Hill cooking up the winning Pepperoni Alla Vodka

The pizza, cooked by Bad Boy Pizza Society chef Henry Hill, saw off competition from 13 other recipes found from across the country. The full list of finalists can be found below.

“Our Sicilian base uses a high hydration yeast that we take so much pride in – it’s taken months and months to get there,” says Hill of the winning dish. “It had a bulk of pepperoni topping and then we just slapped down some Stracciatella and our vodka sauce, which has been handmade and crafted over the last few months.

“We recently went to New York on a research trip and didn’t massively love the vodka sauce out there so honed our own thing – made it a bit spicier, with a smokier flavour. We’re really happy with this one – clearly the judges were as well.”

The live cook-off took place in London

The National Pizza Awards also crowned a Pizza Chef of the Year, which went to Crust Bros’ Davide Parato, who impressed judges in the technical round, where contestants were challenged with creating their best pizza from a range of sponsor products.

The Vegan Pizza of the Year was won by chef Francesco Morlando of Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza.

A Bloggers’ Choice Award, judged by hospitality influencers, was presented to Zia Lucia for its Arianna Rivisitata creation, which featured the brand’s signature vegetable charcoal dough.

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Hosted by food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden, the National Pizza Awards 2022 was sponsored by Arla Pro, Birra Moretti, Britvic Sensational Drinks, Fleet Street Communications, J2O Spritz, Jestic, Mutti, Purezza, Speciality Breads, Tabasco and Tugo.

The 2022 National Pizza Awards finalists

Bad Boy Pizza Society, London 
Pepperoni Alla Vodka

Bath Pizza Co, Bath 
Tiger Margherita 

Crazy Pedro’s, Manchester 
Fried Chicken & Waffle 

Crust Bros, London
Big Tonno!

Flat Earth Pizzas, London
Cauli Cheese Zero to 100

Gusto Italian, National 
Nduja, Mascarpone and Honey 

MozzaFella, Baildon
The Peanist

Playhouse, Northampton 
Pitsford Bee Sting 

Pizzaface, Brighton 
’Nduja Wanna 

Rudy’s Pizza, Manchester 
Francesco Pizza 

Village Pizza Kitchen, Hassocks 
Game Changer 

Zia Lucia, London 
Arianna Rivisitata 

Zizzi, National 
Big Zuu’s Zillionaire Rustica 

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