As if in Santorini, a storefront with only a small door and decoration that is mainly a Mediterranean blue. Neat and elegant, 800 Degree Pizza has a couple for its owners. After welcoming the guests, they go quietly to work.
At time of writing (a new menu is on the way), 800 Degree Pizza offers nine types of thin-base pizzas; Margherita, salami, truffle meatball, to name just three, as well as fresh juice and soft drinks. Every pizza is made from authentic Italian ingredients that are a rare find in China.
As chefs the world over focus on artisan cooking, the culinary skills behind the Neapolitan pizza therein have greater value and distinction. Each is handmade; watch the owner expertly preheat the stone oven, knead and work the pizza dough by hand, add Mozzarella cheese top with Parmesan and drizzle with olive oil.
They say, “The secret’s in the sauce”. At 800 Degree Pizza, their rich tomato base is made from San Marzano Tomatoes that mave marinated for 6 hours. As the name implies, pizzas are cooked at 800 degrees.
Stone oven baked pizza is another taste altogether. It’s also very fast. Taking just 60-90 seconds to bake, the whole process from ordering to serving takes only 5 minutes. 12 inch is the standard, with prices ranging from ¥38 to ¥78; cost-effective to say the least.
The Truffle Meatball pizza comprises a firm meatball that is fresh, tender and tantalisingly aromatic, while the pizza itself is soft and elastic. No seasoning necessary; the light truffle aroma is all that’s needed.
In his former life, the male half of the management was an executive in a foreign enterprise; his wife a food lover who had always wanted to run her own authentic Italian pizza restaurant. He resigned.
It has only been a little more than 3 months since the two started their business together. Already there are regular customers who come once or twice a week; some German, some Italian. Take out also available. Open every day from 11:00 to 14:00 and 17:00 to 21:00.
800 Degree Pizza is located in Yadong Plaza, 12 Xianyin Bei Lu (behind Skyways) 仙隐北路12号 亚东广场 (云中食品店后面). Tel 13851875040.
