Last Wednesday I went to lunch at one of my favorite food spots in London: Story Deli off of Brick Lane near the Old Truman Brewery. Today’s pie may have been the best pizza I’ve ever had. Ever.
I ordered it on impulse, thinking the ingredient combination was too interesting to pass up: tomato sauce, roasted fennel, carmelized red onion, hot red chili, rosemary, raisins, olives, roasted garlic, marscapone, parmesan. Fresh spinach and red pepper were served on the side. Also, I asked them to “go easy” on the mozzarella, so they left it off entirely and gave it me some fresh mozzarella on the side.
Now have a look at this pizza. For all those ingredients I listed, the pizza sure doesn’t look overdone. This is the beauty of Story Deli: it’s the only pizza place I know that doesn’t go over the top. Everything is moderated perfectly so that all of the flavors come through without leaving you too stuffed to enjoy it. Thus, more proof that pizza can be healthy.
The particular pizza was like magic in my mouth. The sweet raisins with the salty olives and rich roasted garlic and fennel. The was crust was, as usual, thin, crispy and superb. Plenty of extra virgin olive oil (and yet, not too much). The marscapone didn’t seem to add much, and yet, it didn’t detract either. I aspire to make pizza this good.
It’s a shame I only had my camera phone.
Diary for Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Breakfast
Swim
Swam 30 laps of freestyle, mixing in 100-meter “sprints” inbetween 100-meter recovery laps. If that makes any sense. My arms were like jello afterwards.
Cycle to and from the City
The ride to lunch was about 6 miles round trip. I made record time on the way in – about 15 minutes door-to-door! (I was running late to meet my lunch mates and BOOKED it.) It really worked up an appetite and lunch did not disappoint.
Lunch
Pizza at Story Deli
Snack
Grapefruit
Would you believe I was actually still hungry after cycling home from lunch? A grapefruit hit the spot.
Dinner
Chana Masaledar with Basmati Rice and Cabbage Salad
The chana is yet another winner from The Essential Madhur Jaffrey. Click here for the recipe!
That pizza looks DIVINE. I totally believe in healthy pizza. 🙂
And, your muesli picture is lovely.
Andrea, thank you! On both accounts! I need to start collecting “healthy pizzas from around the world” recipes and photos or something. I think it’s a phenomenon.