I like pizza, a lot, so when a posh London pizza parlour offered to deliver me their new extra spicy one to try out, I chose to forget the fact that I’m not good with spicy and simply said yes, yes, yes.
Striving to be innovators in the UK pizza world, Mayfair Pizza Co. love a novelty pizza. Not content with your regular mozzarella and cheese, they’ve done everything from Bloody Mary Pizzas, to sweet Nutella pizzas, and now for the latest, what they’re dubbing ‘The Hottest Pizza In London’.
Executive Chef, Michael Lecouter is the brainpower behind all these crazy creations, and he’s really testing pizza-lovers with this one. Sure to blow your head off, on top of the thin and crispy base is an arsenal of fiery toppings: first up is fresh tomato and The Rib Man’s Christ on a Bike spicy sauce; then Nduja Italian sausage and spicy pork rib are thrown on; before a liberal scattering of dried chilli flakes, jalapeno powder and fresh scotch bonnets are added to amp up the heat. The creamy Burrata does very little to cool it all down, and the pizza is finished with peppery rocket and a drizzle of For The Love Of God hot sauce. Now doesn’t that all sound ridiculous?
Regardless, I went for it. And spicy doesn’t cut it. The first bite made my eyes water, the second made my nose run, and by the end of the first slice, I was pretty I’d lost the top of my tongue. No, I’m not great with spice but gimme a vindaloo anyway. YIkes, I wasn’t sure I’d taste again.
Even my attempts to pick at harmless chunks of the Burrata were forged, as they were laden in the general spice that was too much for my poor mouth. Three glasses of milk later and I was ready to attempt slice two; with the help of swigs and mouth swirling between bites I managed to see the back of slices two and three before — for the sake of my insides — I called time on this guy, heading straight for the freezer in search of something cooling and comforting.
Whilst I delved into a soothing tub of Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Core, I watched my boyfriend painfully make his way through slice after slice of his own pizza. Not willing to be beaten by this, some feet-stamping and table-thumping later, he finished it, proudly presenting an empty pizza box, along with a sweaty, red faced complexion.
So there’s proof that it can be done (without causing a stomach ulcer), but do you reckon you can handle it? Mayfair Pizza Co. will be serving its Hottest Pizza through to the end of April so there’s still plenty of time to go and test your spice-stamina. No, there isn’t a prize for finishing it besides your own personal gratification, but eat more than 3 slices and you’ve got our upmost respect.
Give it a go, we dare you.
Mayfair Pizza Co., 4, Lancashire Court, New Bond Street, London W1S 1EY; 020 7629 2889.