Last week, I was invited to a pizza making class in Chiswick… I have to be honest, I was a bit sceptical. I thought that it would be again the kind of class runs by an anything-but-italian chef willing to fill in his

restaurant on Monday and Tuesday when it is quieter… Sorry for having those prejudices but that’s what we are use to now. Food world is expanding so much that everybody has a sudden special gift and organize cooking class, write cookery book…

Let’s not forget that, chef is a proper job, something that you learn over the years. And you know my fascination for chefs, so please people, let’s let them do their job as they do it wonderfully and let’s not talk about people who are pretending.

At ‘Franco Manca’ they don’t pretend, they are…

They are passionate about what they do…Pizza. Yes, it is just pizza, I know, but when was the last time you had a great pizza?…

On that Monday, we were 3 girls to attend (one came from Bath especially for the class!)

The manager, a happy guy originally from Italy, welcomed us with a glass of wine, home- made bread and olive oil.

The chef is from the Naples’ region, knows what is talking about and can make an amazing sourdough pizza in exactly 10 seconds (cooking time is 4 seconds). In this lively atmosphere, he talked about his country and his sourdough that he raises with love in his kitchen.

Sourdough is a type of dough produced by a long fermentation of dough using naturally occurring yeasts and lactobacilli. In comparison with breads made quickly with cultivated yeast, it usually has a mildly sour taste because of the lactic acid produced by the lactobacilli.

The preparation of sourdough begins with a starter made from a mixture of flour and water. As it ferments, sometimes for several days, the starter is refreshed with flour and water, then mixed into the bread dough, which is kneaded and allowed to rise slowly before baking.

Cured meat, cheese and tomatoes are from local producers, the menu is short, respects the seasons and I really like that.

I really enjoyed myself and the feeling I had is that people who work at Franco Manca enjoy being there too. And no, it is not something obvious.

The cherry on the cake is the price. Pizza are from £4.50 to £6.95. Regarding the class they accept group of 3 and 12 either for £20 per person, relishing of your pizza and glass of wine included with a bonus : you can take away some dough for you to practise at home.

Franco Manca : 144 Chiswick High Road, London W4 1PU, www.francomanca.co.uk .They also have restaurants in Brixton and Westfield and no, as the manager stood up for, it is not a chain !