The best pizza in the world isn't in Italy - it's in London, according to the World 50 Top Pizza Awards
Most people incorrectly assume that the best pizza in the world can be found in Italy.
However, it seems the best slice of pizza is actually in the UK and was awarded the best in Europe at the World 50 Top Pizza Awards.
Napoli on the Road is a pizzeria in Chiswick, London, owned by Michele Pascarella, who recently won the award.
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Michele Pascarella, world's greatest pizza chef. Instagram
This highly coveted honour is considered the Michelin Award for pizzerias, and entries are accepted worldwide for the annual event.
The Top 50 awards are selected through an anonymous restaurant visit by pizza critics, who ensure fair competition.
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Pascarella was also named the world's best pizza chef at the awards in 2023, having had decades of experience.
The chef has been making pizza since he was 11, having grown up in Caserta, Italy, near Naples.
Pascarella began his business by travelling to London and selling wood fire pizzas from his three-wheeler Ape Piaggio.
The chef is known for modernising the humble pizza. Instagram
Napoli on the Road opened in West London in 2019, surviving the pandemic and growing an ultra-successful brand.
According to Pascarella, the secret to award-winning pizza is passion. He tells Femail that he strives to improve his craft every day.
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He also shared the most common mistake pizza chefs make: "Overloading [pizza] with too many toppings."
Pascarella says this makes it difficult to enjoy the base. The chef also says eating pizza with a knife and fork was wrong.
Michele Pascarella, world's greatest pizza chef's pizza Instagram
Other mistakes the chef says people make include "not pairing it with [a] suitable beverage – missing out on a complete dining experience, and adding chilli oil everywhere".
Upon winning the award, Pascarella commented: "We are thrilled to have been awarded Best Pizzeria in Europe at the 50 Top Pizza Awards 2024."
"This win is a testament to my amazing team, who have embraced my vision of bringing a slice of Naples to London with a contemporary twist."
"We're also proud to bring this prestigious award to London and contribute to its rich gastronomic tapestry."
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