SO our own homegrown Rudy’s Pizza is lording it as one of the world’s Top 10 pizza places. Still there’s always room for another topped dough option in town.
The latest arrival (from London but with impeccable credentials) is Franco Manca, who’ve confirmed their Manchester debut will be at 12-16 Mosley Street in the former Lloyd’’s bank branch next to Primark. Some time this summer.
Franco Manca means ‘Franco missing’ in Italian. The brand, lauded by The Observer as offering the “best pizzas in Britain”, was created a decade ago after the takeover of a Brixton Market pizza stall called Franco’s. It now boasts 34 branches across London (Aldwych pictured above) and they’ve even found time to publish a Franco Manca cookbook , subtitled ‘Artisan Pizza To Make Perfectly at Home’.
Co-owners Giuseppe Mascoli, a Neapolitan expat, and Bridget Hugo pride themselves both on the quality of their slow-rising sourdough made on site and their ingredients, which range from Umbrian wild boar salami to free range pork sausages from Yorkshire.
They even make their own mozzarella and import Italian tomatoes to create some of the most affordable pizzas around – tomato, basil and oregano for just a fiver? And their creditable ‘No Logo’ beer starts at £3.85.
This year, in collaboration with Ferrarelle sparkling water Franco Manca are inviting some of Italy’s too chefs to create specials. Their latest ‘guest pizza’ was curated by Antonino Esposito and features rare breed fennel sausage, mozzarella, Gragnano tomatoes and lentils.
Franco Manca, 12-16 Mosley Street, Manchester, M2 3AQ