Is this the origin of London-style pizza? | Tom Vincent's Vincenzo's Pizzeria

Summary

Tom Vincent, owner of Vincenzo's Pizza, shares his passion for pizza-making, from building his own coal oven to creating a unique London-style pizza. He discusses his artistic endeavors, community involvement, and the challenges of mastering dough. Tom also shares insights on managing a bustling pizzeria, offering a glimpse into the art of crafting the perfect pizza.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Tom Vincent is the owner and operator of Vincenzo's Pizza in Bushy, where he is involved in every aspect from creating pizzas to designing branding and training staff.
• 🖌️ Tom has a passion for art, evident in the paintings on the walls of his shop, some of which he created himself, including the frame.
• 🏠 The shop's interior, including the walls and ceiling, was personally renovated by Tom, who even mixed his own plaster using an old recipe.
• 🎬 Tom was asked to make pizzas for a scene in the film 'A Quiet Place', which involved pizzas being blown up, and he has a souvenir from the film set.
• 🍕 He built his own pizza oven in his garden, which was the first thing he made pizzas on, and it is a Coal Oven that he constructed himself.
• 🌐 The shop is community-oriented, sponsoring the local football team and giving back to the community.
• 🍽️ Tom's motivation for opening the shop was his obsession with building an oven and making pizza, which he practiced during lockdown by making pizzas for friends, family, and NHS staff.
• 📈 Tom's pizza style has evolved into what he calls 'London style' pizza, inspired by the adaptation of traditional methods to local conditions and ingredients.
• 👨‍🍳 The dough at Vincenzo's is carefully managed, with a long proofing period and attention to detail in shaping and baking to achieve the perfect pizza.
• 📋 The menu is simple, focusing on a few types of pizza that Tom wants to eat himself, believing that if he makes pizza he likes, and others enjoy it, then he's successful.
• 📈 The shop has been busy from the start, with a constant hustle and bustle, and a menu that is always evolving with sought-after off-menu items.

Q & A

Who is Tom Vincent?

Tom Vincent is the owner and operator of Vincenzo's Pizza located in Bushy.

What is unique about the interior of Vincenzo's Pizza?

The interior of Vincenzo's Pizza is unique because Tom Vincent himself painted the walls and created the branding, including an artwork he made and the frame for it.

What did Tom Vincent do before starting Vincenzo's Pizza?

Before starting Vincenzo's Pizza, Tom Vincent got into painting and even used an old recipe to create the walls and ceilings of the shop.

How did Tom Vincent get involved with the film 'A Quiet Place'?

Tom Vincent was asked by a film studio down the road to make pizzas for a scene in 'A Quiet Place' where pizzas would get blown up.

What is the significance of the souvenir Tom Vincent received from the film set?

The souvenir from the film set is significant as it represents Tom Vincent's involvement in the movie industry through his pizza-making skills.

What is special about the oven Tom Vincent built in his garden?

The oven Tom Vincent built in his garden is special because it was the first thing he made pizza on, and it represents his passion for building things and making pizza.

How did the lockdown affect Tom Vincent's plans for Vincenzo's Pizza?

The lockdown made Tom Vincent more determined to open a shop. He practiced making pizzas in his garden and gave them out to NHS staff and friends and family.

What is Tom Vincent's approach to making pizza?

Tom Vincent's approach to making pizza is to use whatever ingredients and tools are available to create a style that works, which he calls 'London style' pizza.

What is the process for making the dough at Vincenzo's Pizza?

The dough at Vincenzo's Pizza is made by a long bulk fermentation process, where it proofs for about 24 hours, then sits in the fridge for another 20 hours, and is pulled out 4 hours before service.

How does Tom Vincent handle the dough when it's not behaving as expected?

When the dough is not behaving as expected, Tom Vincent suggests giving it a 'timeout' to allow the gluten to relax before returning to it.

What is the significance of the local football team sponsorship by Vincenzo's Pizza?

The sponsorship of the local football team by Vincenzo's Pizza signifies the shop's commitment to giving back to the community.