As people know I’m a massive fan of Hell Pizza, even Sunday Times employees have accused me that I’m on their payroll but I’m not. However I am on the payroll of WhoseView.ie who had me help them organise a blogger/Twitterer/rantAndRaver event where we came, saw and pizzaed.
We were there to not be very sciencey but to sample pizzas from 6 different pizzerias and see which ones we liked and disliked the most. It was a blind taste test, nobody knew until after which pizza was from where and to my surprise and slight shock, Hell didn’t finish too well in the list.
It was my first time sampling Bianconi’s and I liked them a lot. They also apparently came out the cheapest. I heard from a few people that they do really good pizza and they’ve won some world pizza awards too but taste is subjective. Some of those on the night loved some pizza that others hated and vice-versa. So, have to head to Bianconi’s. Also the Steps of Rome? was mentioned. Where else is good in Dublin. Was our small focus group of foodies way off, near to reality, bang on? Sorry Hell 🙁
Bianconi’s are good; very good in fact. I lived in a shared house for a number of years (ah, youth!) and they were more expensive (and for a smaller pizza) than the chain pizza’s, but worth it at twice the price (even now.)
Taste is subjective, so it’s not too surprising that they was a variance of opinions. I’ve had a lot of Bianconi pizza over the years and have yet to find anyone who hasn’t liked them though.
A slight edge on them now though I think, is Base wood fired pizza in Terenure. They do some seriously good pizza and have some interesting pizzas. I like them a lot. Haven’t been around too long but they do good work, so give them a try.
I haven’t tried Hell yet, but I’ll give them a go on your recommendation.
Edit: Meant to say “shared house in Ranelagh”. Post makes slightly more sense that way.
I keep a flyer from Bianconi’s on my fridge and now I guess it’s the time to call them 🙂 .
And I just promised to stay away from pizza 🙁 .
The carne amore by Bianconi (also in Galway and Sligo!) is the world’s greatest and greediest pizza. You pick up a single slice and a bucket load of spicy garlic flavoured pork pieces slide off the base using their own lard and grease as lubricant. After eating it you need at least five or six beers to counter balance the high or else you will have a moderate tripping sensation for about 12 hours or so.
I have often gone to bed on a carne amore and had violent nightmares about my own demise at the hands of vengeful swine. How can you put a price on that?
I had reheated pizza from Bianconi’s on Sunday. delic’s man
Pizza Stop, which is on one of the side streets up from the Westbury do the best pizzas I have ever had in Ireland, truly gorgeous. I highly recommend them. I used to like Steps of Rome, but have heard varying reports from people.
And there was a place in Galway years ago, was it beside Roisin Dubhs? (Can’t remember sorry) which had pizzas to die for.
I am nearly almost disappointed with pizzas here, but pizza stop has never failed me 🙂
Bianconi (in Sligo) make great pizzas with a superb selection. I have to second Pizza Stop as my favorite though- simple but fantastic with the classy red/white tablecloths and nice House wine.
Mulinos in Raheny make a really nice Pizza Caprese, while Sand Bar in Clontarf used to make a great Focacia Pizza with Parma Ham but recently it’s been disappointing as it’s become very salty and the bread is much doughier than in the past.
I’m making myself hungry now……
As Italian living and working in Dublin, I can recommend “Ciao Bella Roma” in Parliament Street, temple bar. This is the place where all Italians living in Dublin go when they want a pizza similar to the one you find in Italy. Steps of Rome is also very good. Never been at Bianconi’s, so I can’t say.
Also the two places I mentioned above they have an original Italian Pizza menu – i.e. pinapple or pepperoni on the top of a pizza IS NOT ITALIAN 🙂
Who gives a toss if pizza is authentic Italian or not? Paulo Toolo is always going on about real Italian food as well. I think the last review of his I read said “if the spaghetti is not hung for 5 hours between the toes of an 80 year old Tuscan prostitute then it is not Italian.”
If the only pizza available in Ireland was an Italian pizza (i.e. half a tomato, a slice of cheese, and some basil) then I think it would be only a matter of about 4 seconds before someone would think “Umm good idea, but let’s try some pineapple and ham or maybe some pepperoni on it”.
Nationalism is dumb and always wrong. I bet pizza was actually invented in Greece. Just like French fries are from Belgium, Irish stew is from England, and Hitler was from Austria. Actually I just looked up wikipedia and pizza was invented in Greece! Probably came in to Italy through the back door.
Now would be a good time to go anonymous. However Mulley would probably out me as being who I really am – Siobhan (http://www.mulley.net/2009/06/17/hell-pizza-is-yum/comment-page-1/#comment-917430)
Shurrup Nancy
Papa Gino’s in Limerick FTW.
Tasty, fresh, yum.
I keep meaning to give Bianconi’s a go.
I can recommend Base Wood Fired Pizza in Terenure (http://www.basewfp.com/). Take out only.
Well worth a try if you’re in that neck of the woods.
HELLo Damien,
I know you are a Fan of HELL, which is fantastic, however there was one issue with the tests.
HELL do not do a half/half pizza, so I’m not sure if the test was accurate or fair. Perhaps if the person ordering went for 2 snack pizzas instead, you might have had a different result.
Drop into the store or maybe get a delivery again, and try our “Lust” pizza, for meat lovers, or a Mayhem 🙂
HELL has been Providing Oral Pleasure since ’96…
haven’t been over here in a bit…
really cool idea.
like it a lot. 😉
nice story & something a little different 😉