East Belfast pizza shop scores a perfect ten from UK's biggest food reviewer
Flout! Pizza, based in Portview Trade Centre, welcomed the Tik Tok-famous reviewer and his 600,000 followers this past weekend who confidently announced the shop as a titan for Belfast.
Along with getting a perfect 10/10 score, Food Review Club said the New York-style cheese pizza he tried rivalled Lucali’s, a Brooklyn joint considered by many as the best pizza in the world.
Flout! might be open for just over a year, but owner Peter Thompson appears to have the secret sauce, and the magic dough.
He named the shop in a nod to his disregard for conventional pizza and credits this brazenness for his success.
Peter said: “I honestly didn’t know what Food Review Club would think, knowing the power of social media, it was all a bit nerve wracking.
“Our pizza is distinctive because everything has been born and raised in East Belfast - the dough, the place, the ethos. And that is quite unique. You see pizza typically has rules, but I think rules are boring, and they promote a homogenous product. I don't want to make imported, cookie-cutter style pizza.
“Yes, I'll take inspiration from my favourite pizza shops in the US, after all it has some of the best pizza in the world, but ultimately, I want my pizza to be unique to Belfast. There’s no reason why the best pizza in the world can't be made in Belfast! We have access to amazing produce from suppliers right across the island, and access to amazing equipment, and a customer base that appreciates quality.”
Flout! focuses on high quality ingredients and craftsmanship. Peter makes his own doughs - the piece de resistance for Food Review Club, who described his pizza dough as “spectacular” and “iconic” for its light and crispy texture.
Peter continued: “I believe pizza is the God of all foods, it's the most elemental cooking possible but the end result is one of life’s most pleasurable eating experiences. I mill my flour in the shop, and use that to create my organic, sourdough starter. That becomes our dough, which is enhanced with flours and grains sourced, grown and milled in the UK and Ireland. I often combine the dough with local produce to offer a product that has my thumbprint, and that Flout! distinction, all over it.
“I heavily hydrate my dough and it’s lower in protein so it’s harder to manipulate into a traditional pizza shape, but the end result is a non-negotiable for me. Same as the heavy char which has become some what of a badge of honour for us.”
Flout! is only open 12 hours a week, a limited window which adds to customer appetite and demand. Peter, who had a 15-year, high-flying career in advertising, says he pursued his passion for pizza when he realised that we should live with no regrets.
He explains: “I'd previously bought a wood-fired pizza oven on Gumtree, and had fallen deeply for pizza. I actually always wanted to pursue my passion as a living but felt like I couldn't move away from the security of monthly salary. And I also didn't want to do the backyard pizzaiolo thing where people use 'hobby' ovens. I wanted to take it very seriously if I ever started up. My wife became ill in 2019, and then as the pandemic took hold, I was made redundant. The two things happening together completely switched my focus, particularly as we had a young family to prioritise. I was no longer interested in pursuing a corporate career.
“I had a hobby Instagram account called 'Pete's Hut' that over time had gotten decent attention, so with the time available to put some more focus on it, I quickly realised that I might have something. To test the water, I started selling focaccia through Mike's Fancy Cheese and that got a little bit of traction, to the point that I built up a customer base and soon approached Portview to open the shop here. Soon enough, I had bit the bullet and ordered my dream oven – a custom-made Swedish piece of kit – the first in the country. And the rest, as they say, is history!”
Flout! is open at Portview Trade Centre from 12:00pm to 2:00pm Wednesday to Saturday and 5:00pm to 7:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Menus change on a regular basis, check their socials more updates @flout.pizza
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