The winner of the Mamma’s pizza competition has named his pizza in honour of becoming a granddad for the first time.
David Waugh’s red onion marmalade, goat’s cheese and basil pizza ‘Gusto del Papa’ (meaning Pappa’s Taste) topped suggestions from the other two finalists Jayne Leigh and Simon Larner, and will be featured on the Mamma’s menu this summer.
David, from Eothwell, South Lanarkshire, will enjoy free pizza for a year and a table for four at the Mamma’s 25th anniversary party tomorrow night (Tuesday 1 February).
The three entrants cooked their pizzas at Mamma’s kitchen in an exciting pizza cook-off, before a panel of expert judges, on Saturday. David was inspired by how the flavours of goat’s cheese and onion complement each other, and the judges felt that his combination of flavours worked best together.
Jayne-Leigh’s pizza was the All American – featuring cactus, artichoke, fried egg, prosciutto and garlic – and Simon’s BER pizza was topped with black pudding, poached egg and rocket.
Mamma’s Pizza and Panzerotti invited diners past and present to create the most innovative pizza topping in celebration of the popular restaurant’s 25 successful years in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket.
Mamma’s owners Paul and Caitriona Duncan were delighted with the number and quality of entries received.
Paul Duncan says: “We were so impressed with some of the suggestions that it was very difficult for us to narrow it down to just one winner but we are happy with our final choice and really excited about having the three winning entrants with us to celebrate our 25th anniversary tomorrow night.”
Originally opened in 1985 by two Canadian born actors Angus MacInnes and Phil Craig, Mamma’s was taken over by the current owners Paul and Caitriona Duncan in 2003.
Angus MacInnes is best known for playing the Gold Leader in the fourth Star Wars movie, as well as starring in BBC Scotland’s weekly drama River City, and was one of the pizza competition judges, alongside Roben Hera from Foodies magazine.
