Witham couple win big industry award for their pizzeria two years in a row

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Sergio Teacu, 32, and partner Lucia Pronesti, 30, live in Silver End, and have won an award for their restaurant Taste of Italy, in Dukes Walk, Chelmsford.

Sergio and Lucia went to the Royal Lancaster Hotel, in London, for the annual PAPA Industry Awards, and were crowned the Independent Pizza Restaurant Award winner on November 9, for the second year running.

After refurbishing and opening the restaurant in September, 2020, the business has continually gone from strength to strength, despite opening right in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

Braintree and Witham Times: Winners - Sergio and Lucia at the PAPA Industry Awards on November 9Winners – Sergio and Lucia at the PAPA Industry Awards on November 9 (Image: Sergio Teacu)

The couple pride themselves on providing an authentic Italian pizzeria experience

Sergio said: “We make authentic Italian Neapolitan pizzas, arancini and starters.

“We import all our flours, cured meats, olives, olive oils, and wines from Italy weekly.

“The fresh vegetables are locally sourced, we make our dough with 48 hours’ worth of prep time for our dough, resulting in a high and easy digestible product.

“We don’t make or sell any ketchup, mayo or garlic mayo with our pizzas as we want customers to enjoy our food like people would do in Italy.

Braintree and Witham Times: Then and now - You can see the difference between refurbishing the restaurant in 2020 and the couple with their son in 2023Then and now – You can see the difference between refurbishing the restaurant in 2020 and the couple with their son in 2023 (Image: Sergio Teacu)

“We don’t use any frozen ingredients on our pizzas and everything is prepared fresh daily.”

Meanwhile, customers who like pineapple on their pizzas will be disappointed.

Taste of Italy does have it on the menu – for £149 as a humorous way of deterring customers from asking for it.

The business currently employs 11 members of staff full time.

PAPA is an abbreviation for the .   

The PAPA – Pizza, Pasta, and Italian Food Association Industry – awards boast 14 categories and the yearly event celebrates the best of UK restaurants. 

Categories range from business innovation to independent pizza restaurant, and more.

Braintree and Witham Times: Win - Sergio, Lucia, and members of the Taste of Italy teamWin – Sergio, Lucia, and members of the Taste of Italy team (Image: Sergio Teacu)

Taste of Italy is open Tuesday to Thursday, from 4pm to 9.30pm, Friday to Saturday, from 12noon to 10.30pm, and Sunday, 12noon to 9.30pm. 

The business offers a restaurant service, collection option, and delivery service.

To find out more about Taste of Italy, visit tasteofitalypizzeria.co.uk.



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