Snapshots from the UK: Pizza Express's Leggera Pizzas
Some things are supposed to have a hole in the center. Like a bagel. Or a donut.
But what about a pizza?
I am not one of those eaters who shun chain restaurants for the sake of being an indie foodie. I follow my gut, and my gut often takes me to Pizza Express, a ubiquitous British chain of pizza restaurants (with the usual menu supplements of salads and pastas) that serves thin-crusted, gourmet-topped personal pizzas. In fact, I eat pizza from Pizza Express so often while I'm in the UK at school that I began to feel a bit guilty about it. You've heard of the freshman fifteen; I was worried it might snowball into the grad school fifty.
So, when I saw that Pizza Express had cut out the inner half of their pizzas and replaced them with a salad, I was pretty pleased. There are plenty of eaters who would demand, "What have you done with the rest of my pizza!" But for me, the little nest of baby spinach and arugula at the heart of my pie was a welcome garden surprise.
There are three Leggera pizzas on the menu, each at only 500 calories (if you're counting). The outside ring is still crisp, and crusty, and has a substantial amount of real cheese, and fresh tomatoes, and sauce. But the inside, the usually soggy bit that you have to eat because it's good pizza but isn't as good as the rest, has been replaced with a bright, honest salad that's frankly welcome and refreshing (and, shh, healthy!). I order the Margherita Leggera religiously. I now think of pizza like bagels and donuts, or wedding rings and tires: something that only works with a hole in the middle.
What do you think? Would you prefer half a pizza with a salad in the middle?
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16 Comments:
Pizza Express is a fantastic chain (and there's one in London which is actually a fantastic jazz club as well). Jay Rayner, the Guardian's food critic, rates it as one the five places he visits the most. The pizza is generally really good, and they tend to pick interesting buildings to open in.
I like the idea of pizza with salad, but I'd still rather have the pizza. It's a four-cheese with mushrooms for me...
NotAmerican at 11:34AM on 07/31/09
When we were students living in London we used to eat there all the time! I would totally try this pizza!
Amandarama at 11:41AM on 07/31/09
I can't eat all that much pizza at one time, so yes, I'd really like pizza with a salad in the middle. Nice contrast.
duncan1205 at 12:20PM on 07/31/09
I eat at pizza express a lot too, especially since they are always doing offers. But actually i feel that cutting a hole in the middle of a pizza is slightly insulting. Its like they are saying, "hey fatty, we are taking out the middle of your pizza and putting in a salad" lol. Still, whats cool is that can get the nutritional info for everything on the menu there. For just a little bit more calories, i rather have a regular pizza. Nobody needs to cut a hole in my pizza for me, thank you very much ;)
heavenlyhousewife at 12:29PM on 07/31/09
So with you, Kerry. I'm 100% okay with the half-pizza idea. I spent a few months in Cambridge and more time in London, and in both cases I definitely felt the effects of my Pizza Express habit...
Carey Jones at 12:32PM on 07/31/09
I tried one of the Leggera pizzas when I visited London in May and loved it! I think it's a wonderful idea, like getting two menu items in one. I blogged about it here.
maasikas at 1:10PM on 07/31/09
I have fond memories of Pizza Express, when I lived in the UK. It doesn't fit in the normal description of a 'chain', especially in comparison with gaudy US chains.
That begs a start of another Topic - what are the best US chains that break away from the norm...I digress...
Before I go, I'd call out Peet's Coffee in California, as another stand out - great artisan pastries, decent strong coffee and no wifi in sight!
Pintchow at 2:00PM on 07/31/09
That sounds delicious! I can imagine that that might even go over well in the US.
apizzagirl at 2:57PM on 07/31/09
no thanks, a slice and a side salad works fine for me if that's what i'm in the mood for. this seems like a solution in need of a problem.
sloppy at 5:02PM on 07/31/09
Tip: if you're mobile's on Orange, you can get two-for-one cinema tickets as well as two-for-one pizzas (plus free garlic bread) at Pizza Express on Wednesday. We try and go a few times a month...'Kids, you're staying with Uncle Rory! How much fun will that be?'
NotAmerican at 7:44PM on 07/31/09
mmm...i could do this for dinner tonight...
p.s. Kerry where in the UK are you now, as in, can I stalk my favorite French food writer?
veggieout at 7:33AM on 08/01/09
I'm fine with greens piled on top of the pizza, but please don't cut a hole in my pizza!
meHUNGRY at 7:47AM on 08/01/09
I'm so excited everyone loves Pizza Express like I do! I actually do wish that either they or this idea would come to the States. Which, veggie, is what I'm doing this week. But I'm sure I'll be back in the UK soon.
Kerry Saretsky at 3:41PM on 08/01/09
Don't want a hole in my pizza at all! WTF for???? I wouldn't mind the greens on top though but a hole? I'd rather have a "whole" pizza with a salad on the side!
jlewfoodie at 6:33PM on 08/01/09
Had my first Leggera Pizza (Gustosa) on Saturday and it was better than a regular pizza with side salad. The salad was rocket (arugula), baby spinach and cherry plum tomatoes which worked better than the regular side salad of iceberg lettuce, cucumber and regular tomatoes. As for the hole, I thought it worked as the crust was crisper than a regular pizza and I suspect they end up as baked mini breads on the Antipasto Platter which were good.
braciole at 10:27PM on 08/03/09
i love pizza express and always eat there when I'm in London. They're excellent, and I am somewhat of a pizza snob. Can't wait to go back!
italiagirl84 at 9:26AM on 08/05/09