Tracking down the best pizza in the big smoke
Slightly off-topic, but who doesn't like pizza? When Louise and I made a flying visit to London at the weekend, there was one place we knew we had to make a stop at. We'd read the reviews, we'd drooled over the photos, now it was time to get stuck in!
We found Picky Wops in an unassuming strip of shops on a busy Fulham street, the usual mix of bookies, takeaways, convenience stores and more bookies. As we wandered in we realised we hadn't been the only ones to have had the same bright idea, as the place was packed. We grabbed the last couple of seats at the counter and began to check out the menu.
The first thing that strikes you about Picky Wops isn't the amazing aroma of pizza, or the cool decor - it's the welcoming, friendly, knowledgeable staff running the show. Andrea and Cristiano, plus the rest of the team, went the extra mile to make us feel welcome and walk us through the menu. And this is where Picky Wops gets interesting.
What makes this place special is the bases. They offer six different styles of base, some of which give the traditional pizza a complete makeover. Choices include turmeric, hemp and spirulina, and each has a subtle yet distinctive taste. After this come the toppings, all freshly prepared to order, and cooked in the blazing furnace behind the counter. Louise went for the Protein Punch, featuring doner kebab and pesto, while I tried the Hot Dickens with salami and jalapenos.
Picky Wops lives up to its billing. For me, it's in the top three pizzas I've had in London, and I have worked my way through a few. Sadly they don't yet deliver to Hay on Wye, but it's surely only a matter of time! Until then, it's a new must-visit destination for us any time we're in London.
PS did I mention that all the pizzas are 100% vegan? That's actually the least interesting thing about the place though. With pizza this good, you won't miss out on anything!