Pizza chain Zia Lucia opens its ninth restaurant in West Hampstead next month - replacing much-loved neighbourhood eaterie Ham.
Despite winning a prestigious Michelin Bib Gourmand, the West End Lane restaurant closed on April 31 due to 'soaring costs'.
The new pizzeria will be rolling out an environmentally-friendly dough made from finely milled roasted crickets.
It says that not only are insects high in protein, fibre and minerals, but they need little water, energy or land to grow.
Founded by friends Gianluca D'Angelo and Claudio Vescovo, and named after Gianluca's aunt, Zia Lucia already has restaurants in Hammersmith, Wandsworth, Islington, Stoke Newington and Wembley Box Park, with the new West Hampstead venue opening in mid June.
They say the cricket flour dough lends a light, nutty flavour to the pizza, but diners will also be able to order Pizza Lucia's signature 48-hour slow fermented doughs, including white flour, wholemeal, vegetable charcoal, and without gluten.
D'Angelo and Vescovo - who are Islington locals and also own fresh pasta restaurant Berto Pasta in Holloway Road - are excited to launch the new dough in West Hampstead, a neighbourhood that has always been top their list to open a restaurant.
They have waited for more than five years to find the perfect site and the 40-cover venue will include outdoor seating and a dedicated bar serving Zia Lucia’s own beer, Cabriole, as well as summery aperitifs, such as Negroni, Hugo and Campari Spritz.
The menu includes their well loved pizzas such as the ‘Andria Pirlo’ with mozzarella, gorgonzola, apple, truffle oil, and olive pathe; the ‘Chill(i) Out’, with tomato, mozzarella, spianata spicy salami and fresh chillies; or the classic ‘Centurione’ with tomato, mozzarella, Prosciutto Cotto and Parmigiano.
Italian starters, include authentic burrata from Puglia, as well as salads and homemade desserts.
Gianluca and Claudio said: "We are excited to be taking the brand even further with an innovative new dough that is paving the way for the future, and where better than West Hampstead, an area close to our hearts, where we personally spend lots of our free time? It is the ideal location for our brand and our ethos as it perfectly matches the relaxed neighbourhood feel that we want to convey."
Zia Lucia opens mid June at 238 West End Lane NW6 with 50 percent off all pizzas in the first week. https://zialucia.com/
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