Fatto a Mano partners with Franco Pepe

A pizza chain with venues in London, Brighton and Hove is collaborating with master pizzaiolo Franco Pepe, introducing his signature "world's best pizza" to the UK to raise funds for Italian charity La Scugnizzeria. 

Fatto a Mano is partnering with the Napolese chef, known as one of the stars of Netflix's Chef's Table: Pizza series, to bring his revered Margherita Sbagliata recipe to its five-strong restaurant estate. 

Pepe earned the title of 'World's Best Pizza Chef' for three consecutive years at the Best Chef Awards in 2021, 2022 and 2023. Translated as 'Mistaken Margherita', Pepe's pizza was named best in the world from 2016 to 2018. A shared dedication to Neapolitan provenance and culture is at the heart of the collaboration. 

Pepe's pizza special

Priced at £16 and available throughout May, the special will feature Fatto's signature dough – made with Italian 00 flour and proven for 24 hours for a light pillowy texture – topped with Pepe's unconventional take on a classic Margherita.

The special will see the dough layered with buffalo and fior di latte mozzarella. It is then baked for no longer than 90 seconds before Pepe's riccio ('curly') tomato passata is added. Made from an ancient variety grown exclusively for Pepe in his home city of Caiazzo, the passata is added uncooked to preserve its natural flavour and piped in geometric lines alongside dots of basil oil. 

For every pizza sold, £1.50 will be donated to La Scugnizzeria – a charity centre in Scampia, Italy, that provides local children with the opportunity to learn essential skills, from theatre and photography workshops to the art of pizza-making.

Image: Xavier Buendia Photography

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