Italian husband-and-wife team Paolo Pragliola and Chiarina Marchesi have launched a new mobile pizza trailer business in Suffolk. And, as the university sweethearts explain, sustainability is at the core of everything they do
For the last six weeks or so, husband and wife Paolo Pragliola and Chiarina Marchesi have been out and about in a converted vintage horsebox every weekend serving up authentic, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas, and they’ve sold out every evening. The brainchild of Stowmarket-based Paolo, 37 and Chiarina, 35, Reggia Pizza offers a simple range of traditional wood-fired pizzas using hand-stretched dough, and only ethically and locally sourced produce. Operating from the horsebox, it runs weekly at a variety of locations across mid and west Suffolk.
Paolo and Chiarina have been together since our university days and live in the heart of Suffolk with our two young daughters. Paolo, originally from Caserta in the Campania region of southern Italy, and Chiarina, with family in neighbouring Lazio, both spent their childhoods and early adulthood living in both the southern regions as well as Tuscany.
Drawing on their heritage, the couple wanted to bring a genuine pizza experience to Suffolk, whilst supporting local businesses within the area.
And sustainability is at the core of everything they do. As a family, growing vegetables, composting and minimising food waste – both in their output and where they buy their food from – is important (and something which they try to educate their children on).
By sourcing ingredients locally while paying special attention to seasonal availability from local farmers who engage in sustainable practices, using sustainably sourced oven wood, fully compostable packaging, and fully recyclable beverage options, ethical ethos are at the heart of their operations.
On the menu, customers will find familiar classics such as La Margherita (San Marzano tomatoes, fior di latte mozzarella, pecorino cheese and basil) and La Marinara (suitable for vegans featuring San Marzano tomatoes, oregano and olive oil), as well as La Stagionale (changing with the seasons), topped with locally grown produce in the months they’re best enjoyed.
The staples for all of the pizzas include Molino Dallagiovanna flour, Sant’Anastasia fior di latte mozzarella and Sarnese Nocerino San Marzano tomatoes.
Since launching in late March, the couple have been welcomed with open arms by locals and fellow small business owners. In additional to its weekly village pitches, there are already several events lined up throughout the second half of 2021 which span from the Stowmarket Beer Festival (July 2-4) to the Primadonna Festival (July 30 to August 1) – both taking place at the Museum of East Anglian Life, as well as a collaboration recently started with Hadleigh Cricket club.
The couple explain: ‘We first had the idea for the business around a year ago when the onset of the first lockdown started to put everything into perspective. We wanted to put our love for cooking, as well as our longstanding sustainability ethos into a business that would also benefit our local community.
‘From growing vegetables in our back garden, to baking our own bread, cooking as well as the pairing of flavourful authentic Italian ingredients has always been our passion. Our handmade pizzas are cooked at 450 degrees, which is what gives the bases their distinctive charring and light texture. We keep our toppings simple, honouring the classics, and take pride in using a combination of high-quality, traditional Italian, as well as locally sourced ingredients.’
And they add: ‘The warm reception that we have received from our customers over the last six weeks, has been overwhelming! We’ve very much looking forward to continuing cooking up a storm into the summer and beyond.’
Reggia Pizza will be serving-up takeaway Neapolitan wood-fired pizzas in various locations across mid and west Suffolk, on a weekly basis. The mobile pizzeria will also be available for pop-ups and private catering. Visit www.reggiapizza.co.uk for dates and times, and find them on Facebook and Instagram
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