CONGRATS to two North West Italian restaurants for scooping national awards. Altrincham-based Tre Ciccio’s Luigi Marino won National Pizza Chef of the Year at Casual Dining magazine’s National Pizza Awards 2018, while A’Vucciria in Rawtenstall was named England’s Best Italian Restaurant at The Italian Awards, held at The Principal Hotel.
At the topped dough showdown at London’s Islington Metalworks Luigi saw off 14 rivales with his signature pizza ‘Sud’, featuring Calabrian Nduja, Burrata and San Marzano tomatoes.
It’s another significant step for Tre Ciccio (above), which only opened in Moss Lane in February. Inspired by the Campania, it means ‘three chubby friends’ in reference to chef director Francesco Scafuri and his two co-owners, who have recently announced they are opening a second branch in Bramhall in November with Ramsbottom to follow early next year.
Named after the famous market in Palermo (it translates as ‘hubbub’), A’Vucciria’s small plate inspiration comes from the owners’ Sicilian heritage. ToM prefers the rival Ballarò market but we are not going to start a vendetta over it. The menu evokes the vibrant food culture of the island.
Tre Ciccio, 4a Moss Ln, Altrincham WA14 1BA. 0161 414 0196. https://www.treciccio.co.uk and Tre Ciccio, 26 Bramhall Lane South, Bramhall, Stockport SK7 1AF, 0161 439 8080. www.treciccio.co.uk
A’Vucciria, 17 Bank St, Rawtenstall, Rossendale BB4 6QS. 01706 941407. http://www.avucciria.co.uk
