Two Wearside restaurants named among best in the country for pizza
Azzurri Italian Kitchen in Washington and Mamma Mia Italiano, Fence Houses, were both named as runners up in the UK National Italian Pizza Championships category in the prestigious awards and were only pipped to the winner’s post by Mondello’s Restaurant Rossendale in Lancashire.
Finalists were invited to an awards ceremony at The Principal Hotel in Manchester to celebrate the cream of the country’s Italian restaurants.
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Hide AdAround 36,000 public votes were cast this year in a bid to find who offered the best Italian cuisine in England.
The Pizza Championships category featured a cook off on the morning of the awards, in which chefs had to present a signature pizza to the judging panel, including Italian TV chef Gianfranco Iervolino.
Gerry Falivene from Mamma Mia Italiano in Front Street, which also came runner up in the Best Pasta category at the awards, said: “There were thousands of restaurants from across the country who entered the awards, so to reach the final is amazing. I’m from the south of Italy and I learnt to cook from my mum’s family so my food is very traditional Italian food and proper pizza.
“I feel really proud to have dishes in the awards and it’s only inspired me to push myself further.”
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Hide AdAzzurri’s honour in the awards comes in only their first year after business partners Terence Catcheside and Antonio Mozzillo set up the restaurant in The Victoria Inn in Oxclose Road in April.
Terence said: “We were over the moon to get this accolade in our first year of business. Our customers have been really delighted for us too, they were following our progress in the competition on social media.
“I’d like to say a special thanks for all the support from customers, friends and family, especially my wife Samantha.”
Warren Paul, founder of The Italian Awards, said: “We have been blown away by the support in England this year, what a special evening. The English
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Hide AdItalian community have worked so hard and deserve the recognition, with over 36,000 votes cast and lots of pizza, pasta and gelato tried and tasted by our independent judges. We would like to thank our fantastic supporters and sponsors for making the event happen annually.”
English Italian Awards 2018 winners and runners up
•England’s Best Aperitivo
Winner: LIVIN’italy Leeds
•England’s Best Wine Selection
Winner: LIVIN’italy Leeds
•England’s Best Authentic Italian Menu
Winner: Route5 Southend on Sea
•England’s Best Family Owned Restaurant
Runner up: Mario’s Skegness
Winner: Cucina di Vincenzo Liverpool
•England’s Best Gelateria
Winner: Paolo and Donato’s Italian Deli Liverpool
•England’s Best Café
Winner: Bellissimo Burnley
•England’s Italian Favourite Business
Runner up: Rossi’s Italian Restaurant Sheffield
Winner: El Murrino Bournemouth
•England’s Best Restaurant Group
Winner: Al Forno Darlington
•England’s Best Team
Runner up: Nonna’s Italian Restaurant Sheffield
Runner up: Mario’s Skegness
Winner: Sorella Sorella Newcastle upon Tyne
•England’s Best Pizzeria
Runner up: Crust Liverpool
Runner up: El Murrino Bournemouth
Winner: Stable Hearth Darlington
•England’s Best Pasta
Runner up: Mamma Mia Italiano
Runner up: Cucina di Vincenzo Liverpool
Winner: Casa Tua Cromer Street London
•England’s Best Newcomer
Runner up: Lido di Meo Whitley Bay
Runner up: MonteLeone Chesterfield
Winner: Fritto Italian Street Food Liverpool
•England’s Best Italian Restaurant
Runner up: The Italian Club Fish Liverpool
Winner: A’Vucciria Rossendale
•England’s Cuoco of the Year
Runner up: Balllaró Restaurant Burnley
Runner up: Mondello’s Restaurant Rossendale
Winner: Amalia Italian Restaurant Liverpool – Chef Antonio Lixi
•UK National Italian Pizza Championships – English Final
Runner up: Azzurri Italian Kitchen Washington
Runner up: Mamma Mia Italiano Houghton le Spring
Winner: Mondello’s Restaurant Rossendale