Dines Out: Fatto? Who me?

I am as crocky as a very crocky thing at the moment. I hurt my back and now my left leg hurts. I told a friend and she suggested that I tried a vegan diet. Can you imagine, Andrew Kay becomes a vegan, not very likely is it!

Funnily enough it all happened at the same time as I received an invitation to return to Fatto a Mano in Hove to try their new gluten free pizza bases and vegan mozzarella. It seemed like a sign so off I went with Mr S. We both liked it last time so I had few doubts that it would be pretty good.

Of course the whole vegan thing leaves me a bit cold, sorry, I respect your choices vegans but it’s not for me. Gluten is not a problem I have but I do have coeliac friends and know just how hard it is for them.

Anyway I started with olives and a negroni, they make a good cocktail and they are sensibly priced, and their olives are big, fat and bright green, it was a good start. Mr S is a chip fan and wanted to have the herby fries but I decided to go mad and have the Affettato misto, all good but particularly the finocchiona and the prosciutto.

So on to the pizzas and their new gluten free base. I asked what they are using and discovered that it was a mix of rice and potato flours. I chose a topping of spicy sausage. Mr S chose a vegetarian topping with smoked ricotta and some of the vegan mozzarella, he is in that sense braver than me. I did try the ricotta though and I loved it, creamy smokiness, a delight.

Four big ticks from me

My topping was spicy, perhaps a few too many fresh red chilies for my delicate palate, but the rest was scrummy, really good.

Next to the bases. Well in appearance there was little to identify and change, they looked like pizzas so that is a good start. They had also risen at the edge like a pizza so that is two big ticks, and the crust was crisp making it three out of a possible four so far.

Finally taste, did it taste like a pizza? Well to be honest I thought it tasted better than a standard crust. I loved the slight touch of potato flavour, it reminded me of my mum’s potato cakes, a recipe I use to this day. So that is four big ticks from me and four from Mr S as well.

I seldom finish a pizza normally either but this one I demolished so I am awarding an extra tick simply for that.

We also drank a gluten free beverage which is soon to be on the menu, it is called Celia, who knows why? But it is very nice.

To finish we both chose ice-cream, very Italian, Mr S went with convention and had a scoop of chocolate, pistachio and vanilla but I threw caution to the wind and had chocolate, vanilla and lemon sorbet: it was a delicious combination, one I will certainly have again.

65-67 Church Road, Hove, BN3 2BD
01273 325400
fattoamanopizza.com