Latest news with #AldoZilli
Scottish Sun
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
TV chef Aldo Zilli tries pepperoni pizzas – his bargain deep pan winner is packed with toppings & great to tear & share
Scroll down to find out which pizzas got the best ratings out of 5 LET'S DOUGH! TV chef Aldo Zilli tries pepperoni pizzas – his bargain deep pan winner is packed with toppings & great to tear & share WOMEN'S Euro 2025 is under way and our Lionesses are ready to roar once again. But what to snack on when watching? Seven million pizzas are expected to fly off the shelves during the tournament so if you are planning to tuck into a slice or two while watching, which low-cost dough is the worthy champion? Advertisement To find out, we asked Italian celebrity chef – and Lioness supporter – Aldo Zilli to try a selection of pepperoni pizzas all costing less than a fiver. Tesco 'The American' Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza 277g, 12% pepperoni, £3.50 8 The cheese on this pizza has a very strange texture LOOKS more like a pancake. It is so thin, like it has been run over or perhaps like someone has sat on it. That is not my only issue with this skinny slice. Advertisement The cheese is another negative, it has a very strange texture – it looks gooey and sticky. Not very appetising. The whole thing appears clammy and a bit sweaty. The ingredients state that it is a proper mozzarella, but it must not be a good example of the cheese as something isn't right. It's not all bad though. The pepperoni is impressive with a nice sheen and good smoked pork flavour with a decent amount of it too. Overall a nice meaty topping but a terrible base and cheese. Advertisement RATING: 3/5 Domino's unveils state-of-the-art bike designed to cope with potholes and keep pizza fresh Sainsbury's Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza 270g, 11% pepperoni, £3.75 8 This pizza has none of the puffy textures you expect from a proper Italian-style slice Credit: Louis Wood SOMETHING about the dough is odd. It's not overly thick but very dense and bready. Advertisement I can actually peel back layers within the base, so it's more like a piece of white sliced even though it's meant to be stone baked. There is none of the nice puffy, charred textures you expect from a proper Italian style slice. The tomato puree is fine and the mozzarella is OK for the price but it is burned around the edges because it is spread unevenly and the whole thing looks greasy. They've been mean with the pepperoni so it's not great for sharing as you won't get a fair share of toppings. Will soak up a beer or two taste-wise, it's not the best. Advertisement RATING: 3/5 Asda Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza 317g, 13% pepperoni, £2.58 8 This good-quality pizza from Asda has enough topping to be satisfying IMPRESSIVE. It is hard to get that proper stonebaked taste in a dough cooked at home, but Asda have given it a decent go. Advertisement It looks about as authentic as you'll get for a supermarket attempt and it tastes close too. There's enough topping to be satisfying and everything is good quality. Nice bubbling from a decent mozzarella cheese that has been placed with care so it doesn't spill over the edges. It looks and smells like a proper stonebaked pizza with charred patches and unlevelling in the crusts and has an enticing aroma. Advertisement It is slightly soft and a bit dry but you don't notice too much as the pepperoni is nice and oily. Great value. RATING: 4/5 Morrisons Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza 285g, 10% pepperoni, £3.50 8 It looks like someone has forgotten to put the toppings on this bare pizza from Morrisons Advertisement IF you want a pizza to share with friends, you will definitely need more than one of these. It's so bare and mean. Where on Earth are the toppings? It looks like someone has forgotten to put them on the dough. In total there are nine pieces of pepperoni, which is stingy, and the tomato puree doesn't taste very nice. It is bitter when it should provide a lovely juicy sweetness. The cheese is OK and the dough is average but, overall, this isn't a great example of something that should be so simple and easy to do well. Advertisement You'd be better off buying a plain base and adding your own toppings to it. RATING: 2/5 Chef Select Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza, Lidl 313g, 15% smoked pepperoni, £2.49 8 The meat on this pizza from Lidl looks and tastes far too processed Advertisement A LIGHT, crisp, spongy and evenly cooked dough can be delicious and this has a very good base. A bit thicker in patches than some of the others but I don't mind that as it has the right taste and feel when you eat it with the toppings, and it won't leave you feeling stuffed. The meat on top however is another story. It looks far too processed and tastes that way too. The pepperoni has dried out and gone very crunchy around the edges which doesn't taste nice. Advertisement The layer of tomato puree also should be sweeter. The base is good and so is the price, sadly the toppings are letting this pizza down. RATING: 3/5 Carlos Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza, Aldi 313g, 15% pepperoni, £2.49 8 This pizza from Aldi is more like a giant cheese on toast Credit: Louis Wood Advertisement A BIT hit and miss. There are generous amounts of meat and cheese topping but the pepperoni has burned around the edges. The dough isn't unpleasant but texturally it's more like a flatbread with toppings. So, really what you are eating, is like a giant cheese on toast. It's large so there will be lots to share around which is good when watching footie but, appearance-wise, it doesn't make my mouth water. Great price though and you do get plenty. Advertisement It tastes OK so it will do the job of scoffing in front of the telly especially if you need to buy a few. RATING: 3/5 Stonebaked Double Pepperoni Pizza, Co-op 327g, 12% pepperoni & mini-pepperoni, £2.49 8 Co-op's stonebaked pizza is excellent for the price Advertisement INTERESTING pizza with a mix of mini and normal sized pepperoni slices on top. It appears generous, plus gives it a more meaty flavour which I approve of. Overall this is an excellent pizza for the price. It might not be as cheap as some but it was the largest stonebaked style and you get a lot more slices and so much pork which I think makes it good value. It has well made dough which is thin, crispy and done in the Italian style so it is nice, soft and fluffy with airy pockets. Not easy to achieve with a supermarket slice. They've also used very good cheese. A quality pizza made with Italian style ingredients. I'd happily eat this. Advertisement RATING: 4/5 Trattoria Alfredo Deep Pan Double Pepperoni Pizza, Lidl 377g, 11% pepperoni & mini-pepperoni, £1.35 8 Lidl's Deep Pan pizza is perfect for watching the footie with mates Credit: Louis Wood EVEN though I'm Italian, I don't mind a proper deep pan base. A deep pan will always fill you up and if you want a more substantial slice this will certainly do the job. Advertisement It tastes far better than it looks, even though I was surprised how good it is once cooked from frozen. They've used good mozzarella, amazing at this price, and been very generous as there's two types of pepperoni. This is perfect for watching footie with mates – great to tear and share and delivers exactly what you want with some drinks, soft or boozy. Pillowy and tasty with oozy cheese and lots of pork. It's a bargain too. A winner. This is the one I'd be heating up before I cheer on the Lionesses. Advertisement RATING: 5/5
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
TV chef Aldo Zilli tries pepperoni pizzas – his bargain deep pan winner is packed with toppings & great to tear & share
WOMEN'S Euro 2025 is under way and our Lionesses are ready to roar once again. But what to snack on when watching? Seven million pizzas are expected to fly off the shelves during the tournament so if you are planning to tuck into a slice or two while watching, which low-cost dough is the worthy champion? To find out, we asked Italian celebrity chef – and Lioness supporter – Aldo Zilli to try a selection of pepperoni pizzas all costing less than a fiver. Tesco 'The American' Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza 277g, 12% pepperoni, £3.50 8 LOOKS more like a pancake. It is so thin, like it has been run over or perhaps like someone has sat on it. That is not my only issue with this skinny slice. The cheese is another negative, it has a very strange texture – it looks gooey and sticky. Not very appetising. The whole thing appears clammy and a bit sweaty. The ingredients state that it is a proper mozzarella, but it must not be a good example of the cheese as something isn't right. It's not all bad though. The pepperoni is impressive with a nice sheen and good smoked pork flavour with a decent amount of it too. Overall a nice meaty topping but a terrible base and cheese. RATING: 3/5 Domino's unveils state-of-the-art bike designed to cope with potholes and keep pizza fresh Sainsbury's Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza 270g, 11% pepperoni, £3.75 8 SOMETHING about the dough is odd. It's not overly thick but very dense and bready. I can actually peel back layers within the base, so it's more like a piece of white sliced even though it's meant to be stone baked. There is none of the nice puffy, charred textures you expect from a proper Italian style slice. The tomato puree is fine and the mozzarella is OK for the price but it is burned around the edges because it is spread unevenly and the whole thing looks greasy. They've been mean with the pepperoni so it's not great for sharing as you won't get a fair share of toppings. Will soak up a beer or two taste-wise, it's not the best. Asda Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza 317g, 13% pepperoni, £2.58 8 IMPRESSIVE. It is hard to get that proper stonebaked taste in a dough cooked at home, but Asda have given it a decent go. It looks about as authentic as you'll get for a supermarket attempt and it tastes close too. There's enough topping to be satisfying and everything is good quality. Nice bubbling from a decent mozzarella cheese that has been placed with care so it doesn't spill over the edges. It looks and smells like a proper stonebaked pizza with charred patches and unlevelling in the crusts and has an enticing aroma. It is slightly soft and a bit dry but you don't notice too much as the pepperoni is nice and oily. Great value. Morrisons Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza 285g, 10% pepperoni, £3.50 8 IF you want a pizza to share with friends, you will definitely need more than one of these. It's so bare and mean. Where on Earth are the toppings? It looks like someone has forgotten to put them on the dough. In total there are nine pieces of pepperoni, which is stingy, and the tomato puree doesn't taste very nice. It is bitter when it should provide a lovely juicy sweetness. The cheese is OK and the dough is average but, overall, this isn't a great example of something that should be so simple and easy to do well. You'd be better off buying a plain base and adding your own toppings to it. Chef Select Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza, Lidl 313g, 15% smoked pepperoni, £2.49 8 A LIGHT, crisp, spongy and evenly cooked dough can be delicious and this has a very good base. A bit thicker in patches than some of the others but I don't mind that as it has the right taste and feel when you eat it with the toppings, and it won't leave you feeling stuffed. The meat on top however is another story. It looks far too processed and tastes that way too. The pepperoni has dried out and gone very crunchy around the edges which doesn't taste nice. The layer of tomato puree also should be sweeter. The base is good and so is the price, sadly the toppings are letting this pizza down. Carlos Stonebaked Pepperoni Pizza, Aldi 313g, 15% pepperoni, £2.49 8 A BIT hit and miss. There are generous amounts of meat and cheese topping but the pepperoni has burned around the edges. The dough isn't unpleasant but texturally it's more like a flatbread with toppings. So, really what you are eating, is like a giant cheese on toast. It's large so there will be lots to share around which is good when watching footie but, appearance-wise, it doesn't make my mouth water. Great price though and you do get plenty. It tastes OK so it will do the job of scoffing in front of the telly especially if you need to buy a few. Stonebaked Double Pepperoni Pizza, Co-op 327g, 12% pepperoni & mini-pepperoni, £2.49 8 INTERESTING pizza with a mix of mini and normal sized pepperoni slices on top. It appears generous, plus gives it a more meaty flavour which I approve of. Overall this is an excellent pizza for the price. It might not be as cheap as some but it was the largest stonebaked style and you get a lot more slices and so much pork which I think makes it good value. It has well made dough which is thin, crispy and done in the Italian style so it is nice, soft and fluffy with airy pockets. Not easy to achieve with a supermarket slice. They've also used very good cheese. A quality pizza made with Italian style ingredients. I'd happily eat this. Trattoria Alfredo Deep Pan Double Pepperoni Pizza, Lidl 377g, 11% pepperoni & mini-pepperoni, £1.35 8 EVEN though I'm Italian, I don't mind a proper deep pan base. A deep pan will always fill you up and if you want a more substantial slice this will certainly do the job. It tastes far better than it looks, even though I was surprised how good it is once cooked from frozen. They've used good mozzarella, amazing at this price, and been very generous as there's two types of pepperoni. This is perfect for watching footie with mates – great to tear and share and delivers exactly what you want with some drinks, soft or boozy.
Daily Mail
02-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Aldo Zilli reveals e-bike rider knocked over his mother-in-law, 83, on pedestrian crossing and broke her leg as he calls for Lime bike crackdown
Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli has revealed that his elderly mother-in-law was mown down at a pedestrian crossing by an e-bike rider who had jumped a red light. Maureen Welch, 83, was hospitalised for five weeks with a broken leg after the horror crash in Lewisham, south-east London. She said she was crossing the road on her way to the gym when a Lime bike rider suddenly came from 'between the buses' and knocked her down, before riding off. Her son in law, Italian restaurant owner Mr Zilli, has now called for a crackdown on e-bike riders that break the rules. He told the BBC: 'It has definitely changed her life. She was a very active elderly lady. She was on her way to the gym to do swimming. 'Now it has all changed. It has affected me, my life, my children, holidays. We can't take her this year to Italy. 'This is not just Maureen we are talking about here. It is a whole situation with these bikes.' He added: 'It is happening every day. People are losing lives, they are losing limbs. 'People's lives are changing. Maureen, she now needs care, she had to alter her house, it's not fair.' As a result of her injuries, Ms Welch now walks with a stick and has had to have wall rails fitted in her home. She also is having to use a commode in her living room until she can get a downstairs toilet. Mr Zilli said: 'The problem is the longer you have these bikes for, the more you pay so they are trying to get to their location as fast as possible. 'They go on the pavement and they jump red lights - that is the issue. We need more control on the roads. 'As drivers we are not able to jump red lights and go on the pavements as we would have our licences taken away so why are these bikes allowed to do what they are doing. The celebrity chef also raised concerns about the danger of e-bikes outside of his restaurant in London. 'London is saturated with all these bikes. The pavement outside my restaurant is mayhem,' Mr Zilli said. 'We can't sit people outside because of these bikes. They swerve in and out. Yesterday one of them tried to snatch my phone.' A spokesperson for Lime said they were 'deeply shocked and saddened' about the crash involving Ms Welch. They added: 'The majority of Lime riders use our service responsibly and incidents like this are rare, however individual rider behaviour is not always within our control.' 'Lime takes incidents of this nature very seriously and has well-established systems to help us work closely with the police. 'In this case, the incident was not reported via our dedicated law enforcement reporting portal, which exists to help us share customer data with the police in a way that's compliant with UK law. 'We will continue to work alongside law enforcement bodies in London to ensure these types of incidents are dealt with quickly and appropriately.' Introduced as a green and cost-efficient way to get about town, Lime bikes have become a popular mode of transport especially for young Londoners. There now are thought to be more than 30,000 of the bikes in the capital alone. However, there is little regulation for e-bikes unless they go faster than 15.5mph, at which point they technically become mopeds. Critics say the law is ridiculous and out of date, with the rollout of 20mph zones providing fresh justification for cyclists to be legally forced to abide by the speed limit. There have been a number of high profile deaths involving the mode of transport, including last year 15-year-old Saul Cookson died when his e-bike collided with an ambulance in Salford. Weeks earlier, teenagers Kyrees Sullivan, 16, and Harvey Evans, 15, were killed in Cardiff when the electric bicycle they were riding together crashed. The devices have also been used in London in numerous acts of anti-social and sometimes criminal behaviour. Shocking dashcam footage from 2023 showed one brazen thief using an e-bike as a getaway vehicle after swerving up onto the pavement to steal a woman's phone metres from The Ritz Hotel. The helpless victim was left crumpled in a heap on the pavement while the criminal sped off, swerving between moving vehicles to get away. Aside from concerns over the safety of the public when used by careless riders, there have also been warnings over the risk of fires caused by the batteries that power them, particularly when using conversion kits that turn normal bicycles into e-bikes. In February last year, Ian Potter, assistant coroner for Inner North London, issued a warning over the lack of regulation on e-bike conversions and the potential risk of fires, which are caused by a build up of heat when charging. It came after a pensioner, Bobby Lee, 74, died in a house fire caused by an overcharged battery. Coroner, Mr Potter, warned that batteries sold in e-bike conversion kits are often 'significantly inferior quality and construction' in comparison to the ones installed on purpose built electrical bikes. He said: 'There is currently no British or European standard specific to e-bike conversion kits and/or chargers and consequently: 'It is relatively easy for people to buy, particularly from online marketplaces, e-bike conversion kits and/or lithium-ion batteries that are not of sufficient quality or otherwise not of an appropriate standard to charge safely. 'There is an increased risk of people mixing and matching lithium-ion batteries with chargers that carry a different voltage rating. 'It is clear to me though that there is a substantial existing, ongoing and future risk of further deaths while it continues to be the case that there are no, or insufficient, controls and/or standards governing the sale in the UK of lithium-ion batteries and chargers for electric powered personal vehicles and e-bike conversion kits.'
BBC News
23-06-2025
- BBC News
Chef Aldo Zilli's mother-in-law says e-bike crash ruined her life
When 83-year-old Maureen Welch set off for her weekly aqua aerobics class in October, she had no idea that her life was about to drastically she stepped into the road at a pedestrian crossing in Lewisham, south-east London, a cyclist on a Lime bike failed to stop at the red light and hit her with full force, before riding away."All of a sudden this bike came in between the buses and went straight into me and knocked me over," she spent five weeks in hospital with a broken leg. Still recovering, she now walks with a stick. There's a commode in her living room until she can get a downstairs toilet, and wall rails have had to be fitted to help her move about."It's ruined my life," she says. Maureen's son-in-law, Italian celebrity chef Aldo Zilli, was among the first called, along with her daughter Nikki."It was absolute devastation," says Aldo."We are very close as a family. Maureen is a big part of our life, she helps with the business, we take her to Italy every year. "We have had to adapt to a new life. I had to refuse work, Nichola my wife had to refuse work. It's been life-changing for the whole family.""The fact that she was safe to cross the road and this happened, is unacceptable," Nichola says. 'No rules and regulations' The Zilli family is now calling for tighter regulation of e-bikes."Me and my husband are both very keen cyclists," says Nichola."But there are no rules and regulations in place for these electric bikes. They can speed, jump red lights, use their mobile phones, swerve onto pavements. "No-one is really taking responsibility for rules and regulations to be put into place."Her husband agrees."I see it every day, people chucking them all over the pavement outside my restaurant in Kingsway," he says. "It's atrocious. I'm upset and I want to take it further to be honest. I want go and meet the mayor of London and speak to him about it." But responsibility for managing dockless e-bikes in London such as Lime does not rest with the mayor of London, or any devolved mayor in England. Some local councils have limited powers to manage designated no-parking zones and work with operators through voluntary agreements, but they can not regulate schemes; that falls to the Department of Transport.A spokesperson for the mayor of London said: "The mayor and Transport for London continue to lobby government about the dangers of unregulated e-bikes."The government has announced plans to provide cities with the powers to manage dockless e-bikes, and improved safety should be at the centre of better regulation in the future." 'Tiny minority' The government is looking at ways of updating the decades-old cycling legislation, with new offences of causing death or serious injury by dangerous cycling to be debated soon in the forthcoming Crime and Policing Bill. Mandatory sentences of five years for serious injury and life in prison for causing death are being proposed for those found guilty.A Department for Transport spokesperson told the BBC: "Dangerous cycling is completely unacceptable, and the safety of our roads is a key priority for this government."That's why the government is proposing new offences and penalties for dangerous cycling, updating legislation that is over 160 years old, to ensure that the tiny minority who recklessly disregard others face the full force of the law." Personal injury solicitor Ronnie Hutcheon has written about the rise in the number of e-bike incidents in believes the law has fallen behind the technology."When the original legislation was being drafted, e-bikes weren't invented," he said."What we have now is a debate about what constitutes a motorised vehicle in accordance with laws and in accordance with Motor Insurance Bureau scheme."He has his own ideas about how this sort of collision might be prevented in the future."Maybe one way might be for the riders to undergo some sort of highway code training and proficiency test. "But you can have all the tests in the world but if someone is inclined to fail to stop at a pedestrian crossing, then there is not a lot anyone can do." Spike in injuries The rise in the number of e-bike accidents is something trauma surgeons across London are also witnessing. Jaison Patel, a trauma and orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal London Hospital, said he saw a lot of patients injured from the powered bikes. "There's definitely been a spike, we see quite frequently that people have e-bike injuries," he Patel added injuries were more severe when compared with conventional bikes. "We're seeing things like broken collar bones, arm fractures, wrist fractures as people are falling awkwardly on their sides. We're also seeing head injuries - that's a life-changing injury for sure."He added the majority of patients were users of e-bikes, rather than pedestrians. Despite the trauma they cause, e-bikes were "good for London" Mr Patel added, but said they needed better regulations to make them safer. He also said more needed to be done to maintain the bikes as he has had patients whose brakes had failed while others have used bikes where the wheels had not been Patel added that the British Orthopaedic association had begun collecting data from hospitals to monitor injuries from e-bikes, with a view to the data being used to inform regulations around e-bike use. 'Rare' incidents Maureen and the Zilli family have found getting in touch with the right department at Lime to be a frustrating experience. Despite repeated attempts to contact Lime for information, the Metropolitan Police has also been unable to establish who was riding the bike at the time. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said officers were called to the incident in Molesworth Road at 11:15 BST on 2 said the pedestrian suffered "life-changing injuries" but "after extensive inquiries there was insufficient evidence to progress the case, and the investigation was filed".A Lime spokesperson told the BBC that they were "deeply shocked and saddened" and that their thoughts were with the individual involved and her loved ones."The majority of Lime riders use our service responsibly and incidents like this are rare, however individual rider behaviour is not always within our control."The spokesperson added: "Lime takes incidents of this nature very seriously and has well-established systems to help us work closely with the police. "In this case, the incident was not reported via our dedicated law enforcement reporting portal, which exists to help us share customer data with the police in a way that's compliant with UK law. "We will continue to work alongside law enforcement bodies in London to ensure these types of incidents are dealt with quickly and appropriately." For Maureen, now 84, it will be a long road back to said she used to be a social butterfly, regularly out meeting friends and going to fitness classes, but now she is mainly confined to moving around slowly in the downstairs of her home."It's made me slow down. I used to go out on the buses and trains but I can't do that now."I'm just trying to get my confidence back."
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Yahoo
The five best fish and chip shops in County Durham, according to Tripadvisor
From quaint villages to the heart of Durham City, local chippies are not only satisfying cravings but making national headlines—earning glowing praise from TripAdvisor reviewers and celebrity chefs alike. At the forefront is Bell's Fish & Chips, a traditional gem nestled in Durham's Market Place. With more than 1,400 five-star TripAdvisor reviews, the restaurant has become a beacon for locals and tourists alike. Its signature haddock—fried in beef dripping to a golden crisp—has drawn comparisons to the country's very best. Bell's recently scooped the title of Takeaway of the Year at the prestigious 2025 National Fish and Chip Awards. 'Batter was light and crunchy, and the fish thick and white… Everything about that lunch was as it should be,' one satisfied reviewer declared. Celebrity chef Aldo Zilli, who judged the national competition, described Bell's as offering 'good traditional service, perfect portions, and a very welcoming feel.' In Carrville, Battered & Fried is proving that great food doesn't need frills—or a hefty price tag. Garnering local awards, the shop has built a reputation for high-quality fish at budget-friendly prices, according to reviewers. One TripAdvisor user noted that a portion of cod and chips cost just £5.60—offering not only generous servings but a consistently crisp, satisfying crunch. Despite a more modest overall rating, Battered & Fried has won over customers with its quick service and local charm. 'They serve proper chips—fluffy inside, golden outside—and the cod is flaky and fresh,' wrote another reviewer. Away from the bustle of Durham City, The Travellers Rest in Witton Gilbert offers a slightly different experience. A country pub with a focus on British classics, its fish and chips have become a staple for families and day-trippers looking to combine hearty food with a quiet pint. Though lacking the volume of reviews seen elsewhere, early visitors highlight the freshness of the fish and the relaxing pub setting as part of its unique draw. Read more: Blaze-hit Darlington building in a 'sorry state' set to go under the hammer Police issue update on Newton Aycliffe rooftop standoff as protestors bailed High street restaurant could be transformed into new pub as booze plan lodged In the scenic upper reaches of Teesdale, the Middleton in Teesdale Fish and Chip Shop continues to attract acclaim for its wholesome, countryside cooking. Though hidden from mainstream media coverage, the shop has developed a cult following on TripAdvisor, with visitors praising its traditional approach and picturesque location, perfect for a post-hike reward. And for those craving a reliable option across County Durham, Humbles Fish & Chips in Seaham offers dependable quality. While not as headline-grabbing as Bell's or Battered & Fried, Humbles is often cited as a strong community favourite, serving crisp, flavourful dishes in multiple locations.
