Mamma Mia!

As the rich smell of pizza wafts from the kitchen to the tables in the restaurant, more than a few noses sniff the air in anticipation. A waiter enters, balancing the monstrosity as gracefully as is humanly possible. One thing's for sure, serving a metre-long gourmet pizza is no easy task!

Chef Antonio De Dominicis is proud of his unique culinary creation.

"Beginning each pizza-by-the-metre is a culinary mission to be accomplished. It is always a tall order!" says the Italian sous chef at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Diera, Dubai. Here, the chef heads the kitchen at La Moda, the Italian restaurant that is the host of his signature dish.

"Working creatively with food I am constantly searching for new concepts and creations. My aim is to present that which is out of the ordinary. I enjoy discovering, mixing and matching ingredients and constantly strive to create something unique. Of course you need inspiration, and there are great chefs out there for whom I have a tremendous amount of respect and admiration. A lot can be learnt from these greats, but I like to add my own touch to everything!

"The pizza-by-the-metre concept is unique here in Dubai, but this is a very traditional meal for Southern Italians. We have these enormous pizzas for our casual gatherings at home. I wanted to apply this concept here because I believe that Dubai is open to all food concepts and people here have a flexible attitude to culinary cultures. Moreover, it is a great way to indulge in interactive dining in that family and friends can engage in sharing.

"It is an inexpensive meal that feeds many. It offers a range of different flavours to sample. As people are cutting down on their dining out budgets, we provide a fast food feel but in an elegant setting. It's fun for everyone and it's also comfortable on the wallet!"

Chef De Dominicis follows in the footsteps of his brother, whom he has looked up to since childhood. "I used to watch him in the kitchen and admire his passion for cooking. Following his lead, I enrolled in a culinary school in Italy and built on the knowledge I had already gained from him.

"I always enjoyed the interaction my family and I would have at the table and in the kitchen. I see a reflection of that bond when guests come out to dinner and share a meal together."

The entire process is a journey for each guest from placing the order to taking the first bite. On quieter days, Chef Antonio welcomes the younger guests into the kitchen to see how the pizza is rolled out and placed in the oven.

"It is an art. Placing the pizza in the oven and taking it out is a challenge. One careless move and a magnificent meal turns into a mess. The presentation is exciting, but it is also time-consuming. I enjoy the final result but only half as much as my guests do!" he says.

Chef De Dominicis is currently taking the concept to the next level by designing a DIY pizza kit. "This is a take away box that will give people the opportunity to share such an interactive meal experience at home."