90 Seconds Wood Fired Pizza

July 5, 2016 by Rich - Foodie Reviewer

90 Seconds Wood Fired Pizza - Southend

90 seconds, 1.5 minutes, say it how you like, It's not really along time is it? I guess it depends on what you're doing really? I once read a quote; 'anyone who thinks 1 minute isn't a long time has never endured interval training'. I'd agree with that. What's interval training? It's where you run as fast as your legs will take you for around 1 minute, then rest for 1.5 minutes. Sounds easy, but repeat that 7 or 8 times, and that 1 minute seems like 30. Apparently it's good for fat burning or something, I've tried it and it's far too much like hard work for me! But what exactly can be done in 90 seconds? In the world of food, quite a lot. I’m sure any chef would agree, overcooking a well aged steak or a delicate piece of fish, for as little as 90 seconds would ruin it. I remember a young Marco Pierre White saying, ‘when cooking fish, as little as 5 seconds too long in the pan will spoil it.’ So every second counts in the kitchen, let alone 90!

Where am I going with all this talk about 90 seconds I hear you cry? Well, we’ve got a brand new pizza joint opened up in Southend. It’s a tiny place, near Frankie & Bennies on Southchurch Road. They’ve named themselves 90 Second Wood Fired Pizza. Sounds intriguing? Its simple, they knock up traditional Neapolitan pizzas in 90 seconds. I love pizza, but it’s got to be real pizza. Forget Pizza Hut! Anywhere that serves up Pizza’s with names such as Cajun Chicken Sizzler or Texan BBQ are un-necessarily messing around with an Italian classic. And don’t get me started on pineapple. Why oh why did someone first have the idea of putting fruit on a pizza? I love pineapple, but on a pizza? No way! Oh and I despair with, what feels like, the daily bombardment of takeaway menu’s through my letterbox! All trying to tempt me with supposedly inventive pizza creations, buy one get one free and claims they serve the largest pizza in Essex! I once even saw a Doner Kebab pizza! I don’t mind a Doner Kebab; it’s a guilty pleasure of mine, but on a pizza? Please, Please I Just want true, thin crust, Italian pizza, not bastardised creations. On the menu at 90 seconds, they do explain a little about the traditions of Neapolitan pizza. I’m guessing that’s aimed at those who may visit expecting to pick up a 20” stuffed crust Chicken Sizzler! In simple terms a real Neapolitan pizza should be 12” in diameter, with a thin crust, fluffy and a little charred around the edges.

90 seconds is a really small venue, but that’s fine by me. Just a counter along the edge of the shop, and a wood fired pizza oven at the back; what more do they need? The menu is simple and to the point. 6 different pizza options, ranging from a classic Margherita finished with extra virgin olive oil and basil, all the way to a Napoli topped with salami, capers and olives. They even cater for the vegans amongst us with a Marinara. Basically the same as the Margherita but without the cheese. First impressions where good, the pizza’s all sounded great. Lou and I ordered the Chorizo pizza. Yeah, ok I know, I made a big deal about traditional Neapolitan pizza’s, so why the hell is Spanish chorizo on the menu? Who cares! I love chorizo, its got to be one of my all time favourite foods. I’ve said it so many times in previous reviews, add chorizo to any dish, and it’s a winner. So, I don’t give a damn, we’re having chorizo whether you like it or not! Along with the chorizo, the pizza is topped with Italian mozzarella, red chillis and oregano. We also added a handful of mushrooms. Lou can never have a pizza without mushrooms for some odd reason? No booze in here unfortunately, so just a coffee, but the coffee is pretty good, so no worries there. But a glass of Chianti would’ve been nice!

True to their word, our pizza was ready in 90 seconds! How do they do that? It’s all about the thin base, and the oven temperature; it’s bloody hot! 90 seconds is more of a takeaway really. But we couldn’t wait to get stuck in to this thin and crispy pizza, I was starving. They recommend the pizza is best enjoyed piping hot from the oven. I couldn’t agree more. So, perched at the counter, we tucked in. One word, Superb! A feather light base, rich tomato sauce, spicy chorizo and stringy mozzarella. The charred crust was a crispy delight. I’m not normally a crust kind of a guy, but I loved the crust on this first rate pizza. Dare I say it; this is very close to pizza perfection. We’d ordered one to share, but I reckon one each next time, I wanted the whole thing to myself!

Fast food is coming on leaps and bounds. Say fast food, and immediately you think of ghastly, unhealthy, processed, beige and uninteresting burgers from giants such as McDonald’s or Burger King. But over recent years, fast food has been in the middle of a revolution. The focus being on healthy, real ingredients. Yeah ok, Pizza isn’t low on the calorie front, but a traditional Italian pizza, using real ingredients has surely got to be better for you than a deep pan, stuffed crust, stodgy pizza from the ‘hut’? So next time you’re in Southend and need a bite to eat in a hurry, nip in to 90 Seconds Wood Fired Pizza for a taste of a true Italian classic.

To read of @foodierich's previous reviews please visit the link https://www.leigh-on-sea.com/tag/listing/blog/restaurant-review