Pizza perfected in the historic streets of Naples is coming to Ayrshire this week.
A new pizzeria dedicated to the Italian staple will open in Kilmarnock tomorrow with the owners of the venue aiming to bring authentic slices to the town.
A joint venture between experienced hospitality manager Simonas Griauzde, 33, and professional chef Carmine Barretta, 26, the pair are eager to bring something different to the table with their Titchfield Street takeaway that they've called 'A Slice Pizzeria'.
Carmine grew up making pizza on the streets of Naples — the spiritual home of authentic pizza — with Simonas saying it was likely his business partner learned to make dough before he kicked a football.
Simonas, from Stewarton, said: "Carmine and his grandma used to sell pizzas on the streets of Naples. He's Naples born and bred. He probably knew how to roll a pizza ball before he knew how to kick a football or anything else.
"The technique and recipe he uses has been passed over from generation to generation.
"I've met loads of pizza chefs in my life but I've never seen anyone do what he does; from recipe knowledge to the quality of product.
"Carmine is very well known in this world. If he walks into any pizzeria, any Italian working will know him."
The business partners met while working in a restaurant and their mutual passions for pizza led them to setting up on their own.
Simonas has spent years as a front of house general manager working in venues in Arran and Glasgow while Carmine has been a pizza chef in American and Australia before eventually moving to Scotland.
The venture has a huge focus on quality ingredients with tomatoes, fior di latte (mozarella-like cheese), flour and meats all being flown in from Italy. Their dough takes 48 hours to make with Simonas describing the process as being more akin to science rather than cooking.
"We're using a supplier in Glasgow and they get ingredients directly from Italy," Simonas added.
"So all of the pepperoni and salami that we use isn't available in any shop; we're only using the highest quality ingredients.
"We're not using any freezers, everything will be fresh. So if we run out of something then we run out — I'll have to order more next time."
Boasting a stone-bake pizza oven, Simonas says they've decided to open in Kilmarnock after noticing a gap in the market.
The extent of his research saw Simonas take a job as an Uber Eats driver during lockdown to see what the market was like in the area.
"I said to Carmine that there was nothing like this in Kilmarnock and the produce we'll be using is the highest quality available," Simonas said.
"During lockdown I took a job as an Uber Eats driver just to get a feel for the area and I saw great potential. I saw a lot of people ordering pizzas too."
The takeaway has plans to sell pizza by the slice from a newly-created window at the front of the venue.
And in addition to 12 inch pizzas — and seven inches for kids — they'll sell salads and focaccias.
A Slice Pizzeria should be on Just Eat later this week with Uber Eats to follow shortly.
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