Kitchens firm gets pizza the action

A CUT above . . . (from left) Andrew Manciocchi and Dino Manciocchi, both from Orchard Ovens By Valoriani; Viola Valoriani, from Valoriani in Italy, and Linda Lewis, managing director of Linda Lewis Kitchens

A ROYTON business has played a major part in the opening of the UK’s first dedicated pizza equipment demonstration kitchen for professional caterers.

Linda Lewis Kitchens has worked on the project with Preston-based Orchard Ovens By Valoriani.

The new showroom, in Preston’s Old Brewery Trading Estate, was opened with a “toppings out” ceremony using stretched dough in place of ribbon.

Andrew Manciocchi, from Orchard and Linda Lewis, from Linda Lewis Kitchens designed the new facility, which allows restaurateurs to test wood-fired, gas and electric pizza ovens before buying.

Linda Lewis said: “We have invested heavily in this demonstration kitchen and believe it to be a completely unique facility within the UK catering market. We believe we have created a marriage made in heaven and that’s certainly the feedback we had from our launch day.”

While the demonstration kitchen’s main focus is on the commercial market, it also showcases domestic ovens. Pictures on the walls show pop star Madonna’s pizza oven and that of actress Gwyneth Paltrow.

Some of the trade guests came from Asian restaurants, who learned how the dough-making equipment can also be used for chapati and naan breads.

Linda Lewis Kitchens, whose clients include Manchester’s Rosso restaurant, Carluccio’s, Pizza Express, Frankie and Benny’s and DeVere hotels, is based at the Ironworks in Royton.

Linda Lewis was named Business Woman of the Year in the 2013 Oldham Business Awards.