No matter how you slice it, pizza figures largely in the new range of frozen food products inspired by Italian-British celebrity chef and television personality Gino D’Acampo that have now debuted at Iceland supermarket locations across Britain. Five recipes are currently on offer for £3 each, namely: Pizza Prosciutto, My Nonno’s Margherita, Pizza Sardinia, Pizza Amalfi and Super Spicy Pizza.
Other Italian culinary treats in the 20-item frozen range include flatbreads, a ready meal featuring clams with garlic tomato and white wine, lasange, cannelloni, aubergine parmigiana, meatballs, sauces and desserts. All ingredients are sourced from Italy and the finished products are made there as well.
D’Acampo is a proud proponent of high-quality frozen products.
“I never understand the perception people have that frozen food is cheap food,” the chef told Good Housekeeping magazine in a recent interview. “I make great Italian dishes at home and freeze them for later. With the help of my partners in Italy that’s exactly what we have done here, just on a bigger scale.”
A panel assembled by the Good Housekeeping Institute recently passed positive judgment on his pizza, giving the 421-gram My Nonna’s Pizza Margherita especially high marks. Its verdict proclaimed:
“The sourdough base is sumptuously thin and crisp but substantial. We loved the premium taste of the sauce, from the punch of basil to the richness of the tomatoes themselves. Topped with the buttery mozzarella and sweet semi dried cherry tomatoes for a deep flavor.”
The 458-gram Margherita, regarded as one of D’Acampo personal favorites, was also praised. The judges remarked:
“This time the irresistible base is topped with a Nduja sausage, spicy salami and strips of sundried tomatoes. Balanced in its heat, the spiciness of the pizza compliments the milky cheese and meatiness.”
All of D’Acampo’s dishes are devoid of artificial ingredients, fake flavors and artificial colorings.
This rollout follows an “advance guard” of seven Pala and Sour Dough pizza products sourced from Italy that were introduced recently at Iceland stores. A stone oven Pala trio, made in Visso, features rocket pesto and grilled vegetables; ham, mushroom and mascarpone cheese; and salami picante with sweet peppers.
Four Sourdough Pizzas, sourced from the Dolomites mountain region, range from Goats Cheese & Pesto to Margherita, Spinach & Nduja and Salami.
“We have responded to customer demand and produced what we believe to be exceptional and exciting additions to our existing award winning pizza ranges,” said Nigel Broadhurst, joint managing director of Iceland Foods.