Purezza: Plant-based Pizza Perfection

Purezza, Vegan Restaurant, Brighton_2547

Packing out a venue on a Friday night in London is no easy feat for a restaurant newbie but to the UK’s first vegan pizzeria this is standard. The London branch is the second in the chain, originating in Brighton. The menu is entirely vegan and features a range of soon to be legendary wholegrain sourdough pizzas.

As an Italian restaurant it would be criminal to stop at the pizza, Purezza also caters to the pasta and antipasti lovers. The impressively expansive menu also includes a number of gluten-free, soy free and nut free menu items. My first thought when reviewing the menu online was how I’d be able to achieve my beloved pizza high without meat, but the clever team behind Purezza have created vegan alternatives for a number of ingredients including meat replacements. Offering sausages and mincemeat created with plant proteins. They also deliver on the cheese with a range of artisan options including a house blend brown rice mozzarella which comes as standard for their pizzas. Some mouthwatering Pizzas from the menu include Parmigiana Party with smoked mozzarella, fried aubergine parmigiana, sliced tofu sausages, topped with basil and, Portobello Road featuring Oven roasted Portobello and chestnut mushrooms marinated with parsley, juicy sun-dried tomatoes and wild rocket topped with silken ricotta.

If you’re not a pizza fan, you can also get stuck into lush pasta dishes such as gluten-free, vegan Lasagne. Co-founder Stefania Evangelisti wants to push the boundaries of what vegan food options are possible “We are at the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what we can create with plants, and we look forward to having London join us on the journey to see where things can develop next.

Sitting on 43 Parkway in the timelessly trendy area of Camden, Purezza has a queue out the door. Thankfully I had a booking and was thrilled to be greeted with a cheesy grin and seated instantly. Friendly staff explained the menu and talked through the various bases, traditional wheat-based, ultra healthy hemp and gut-friendly gluten-free. As I scanned over the selection of dishes available, I was thrilled with the variety. Your average plant-based experience can often turn out to be somewhat lacklustre but there is absolutely nothing average about Purezza.

I opted for the Mac n’ Cheese and a gluten-free based Pizza from the Special’s board featuring vegan sausages, and cheese alongside spinach. We also got a garlic bread for the table. The first thing I enjoyed was the fact that everything was traditional Italian Style, authentic presentation and methods used throughout.

After taking a bite into my dish I was blown away by how doughy the base was. It’s rare to find a gluten-free pizza where the base is virtually unrecognisable from its wheat-based counterpart. The Mac n’ Cheese was herby and creamy the perfect texture and smelled amazing too. When all was said and done, I didn’t feel as though I’d eaten a plant-based meal, but rather that I’d had the pleasure of enjoying what was simply a really scrumptious dinner. The plant-based benefits where just a happy addition.

I’d strongly recommend a trip to Camden’s finest pizzeria for a lovely dinner with friends or a fun first date. Book yourself a table and have a light lunch that day, you’re going to need the room!

www.purezza.co.uk

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