Italian

As we weaved our way amongst the face painted party goers on Church Road on Halloween evening, we wondered whether Brighton’s latest Italian restaurant, Semola, would provide us with a culinary trick or treat.

How many speciality pizzerias are there in Brighton? I haven’t the time to count them all but off the top of my head, there’s definitely at least 10. A new addition to this crowded space is Pizza Pop just off of London Road. I say new, but it actually opened back in May this year.

For a long time, Brighton had a pretty dire reputation for Italian restaurants, with many to choose from but few worth returning to. You’d also be hard pushed to find one that delivered anything close to what you’d experience in Italy. Luckily for us, a few goodies have popped up recently.

Italy is one of the few countries I’ve visited more than once. Four times in fact, with a trip to Tuscany last year most recently. The reason I return? Always for the food… Thankfully I can now get a little slice of Italy right in the heart of Brighton’s North Laine for those breaks between trips, at Cin Cin.

There’s something about the Italian way of life that appeals to me. Firstly and most obviously, the food is quite simply delicious. Secondly, the people are passionate and lively. Thirdly it’s completely family oriented. These three observations perfectly sum up Neapolitan pizzeria, Fatto A Mano.

Like many others, I’ve been waiting in anticipation for the arrival of the pizza chain Franco Manca to Brighton. Not having visited any of the London restaurants myself, its reputation of creating simple, authentic soughdough pizza preceded itself. Originally born in Brixton Market in 2008, founded by Giuseppe Mascoli, it’s since been bought by restaurant entrepreneur David Page for a tidy sum of £27.5 million.

The days of a food truck just being a burger van in a roadside lay-by are long gone and Brighton now boasts many offering quality food. One that has really built a reputation for itself is, ‘The Real Italian Pizza Company’.

The only two cookbooks I have ever purchased have both been adorned with the cheeky face of the one time ‘Naked Chef’, Jamie Oliver. His simplistic approach to creating good hearty food has always appealed and therefore, I was delighted to accept when my friend and food blogger, Foodie Eshé, invited me to join her for a meal at his Brighton venue.

I’ve had a lot of recommendations for Pizza 500, the little Italian joint on Preston Road in Brighton, so I thought it about time I popped along to review it. If you don’t know where it is, it’s right on the outskirts of Brighton, beneath the illuminated arches of the viaduct on the edge of Preston Park.

Newly opened in August 2015. Eatalio offers Italian-style Street Food on Queens Road Brighton, plus a local business discount.