A new Leaside restaurant is set to change your view of pizza. Known for its fast service and affordable pies, Zzavia Pizzeria also offers authentic Italian pastas, salads and sandwiches.
Executive chef du cuisine Abu has a diverse professional background of more than two decades working globally in England, the United States and Europe. Coming from high-end restaurants including Gusto 501, Terroni and those under Oliver & Bonacini, chef Abu has experience with a vast selection of delicate cuisine, and yet his heart lies in pizza.
Offering something unique in the city, Zzavia — whose name combines “pizza” with the Italian word for road, “via”— serves up pizza al taglio romana. Brought from Naples, the style starts with dough left to ferment for five days, which, according to the chef, reduces carbohydrates and fat while increasing the protein.
“That’s the secret of the pizza, and it generates a lot of early bubbles inside the dough,” chef Abu says. “It’s a very healthy product while still being chewy and crunchy.”
With this method, the pizza comes out light and airy, though still has the substance to keep you full for the afternoon.
“Once you have these flavours and try the pizza al taglio romana with five-days fermented dough,” promises chef Abu, “you’ll go home, share your thoughts and experience with your friends and you reimagine it again and come back.”
Zzavia also serves up Napoletana pizza, which is praised for its rapidness. Baked at 950°F, the pizzas are cooked for just 45 seconds. The result is a fluffier, though still crunchy, pie. The quick make, combined with the price point (each personal pizza is between $15 and $23) have already made the pizzas popular within the neighbourhood. The white sauce crudo e mascarpone and funghi truffiolle are also proving to be fan favourites.
If you’re not into pizza, try Zzavia’s orecchiette — an Apulian dish made with white wine, fennel sausage, rapini and pecorino romano but
no cream.
Between the accessible price point and quick to-serve personal pies, it seems Zzavia is already well on its way to the goal of having Leaside reimagining pizza.
Zzavia Pizzeria is located at 1597 Bayview Avenue.