Image: Napoli on the Road’s chef Michele Pascarella
“I want people to feel the heart of Italy and my journey through every recipe.”
Michele Pascarella, the award-winning pizza chef and founder of the acclaimed restaurant on Devonshire Road in Chiswick, is set to release his first cookbook.
Pascarella’s debut cookbook celebrates his deep-rooted passion for Neapolitan cuisine and the craftsmanship behind Napoli on the Road’s success. The pizzeria has earned a series of accolades, including being named the 2024 Best Pizzeria in Europe (outside Italy) and earning the title of Best Pizza Maker of the Year in 2023.
Featuring 65 recipes organised by season, the book celebrates Michele’s Neapolitan-style pizzas and dough while also including antipasti, fritti, salads and sides. Alongside the recipes, Michele shares stories from his early life growing up in Southern Italy. Pascarella said:
“It’s not just about creating the perfect dough or finding the finest ingredients, I’ve always believed that pizza is a way to connect people and bring them together. This book is my love letter to Naples. I want people to feel the heart of Italy and my journey through every recipe.”
Napoli on the Road: Classic & Seasonal Recipes for Neapolitan-Style Pizza Plus Antipasti, Desserts & Drink will be released on 11 March.
Image: Pizza dishes served at Napoli on the Road
Listed recipes include populars choices such as ‘Cheesewick’, ‘Ricordi d’Infanzi’ and ‘White Capricciosa’
Originally from Maddaloni, near Naples, Pascarella’s career began with a three-wheeled Ape Piaggio truck outfitted with a wood-fired oven, serving pizzas at markets across London. Eight years later, he is the founder of two Napoli on the Road restaurants (the other one is in Richmond).
Recipes included in the book include Ricordi d’Infanzia, translating to ‘childhood memories,’ which features slow-cooked Neapolitan-style beef ragu, a 24-month-aged Parmigiano Reggiano fondue sauce, fresh basil leaves and finished with extra virgin olive oil.
There’s also the ‘Cheesewick’ made with buffalo ricotta, stracciatella, crispy Parmigiano Reggiano chips, blue Stilton and homemade Piennolo cherry tomato jam.
Another highlight is the White Capricciosa, a classic white pizza topped with fior di latte, high-quality cotto ham and Taggiasche olives, Napoli salami, grilled artichokes, shiitake mushrooms, taggiasche olives and finished with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.