Gainsborough: Florentino’s is in the running for national awards

Independent Pizza & Pasta Takeaway Award and Pizza Chef of the Year Award of 2015 PAPA Awards. Run by the Pizza, Pasta and Italian Food Association, Florentino’s is one of 10 pizza takeaway across the country to be shortlisted.

The judging took place over months by the PAPA Mystery Shoppers.

Judging is conducted covertly and the report for Florentino’s said: “There is a strong focus on standards, particularly in terms of product, service and ambiance.

“The quality of service is exceptional at Florentino’s and the pizzas they serve is outstanding.

“It has to be said that our mystery shopper was very impressed by what he/she saw at Florentino’s.”

Mansour Arjemandfar, owner of Florentino’s said: “We are delighted to be shortlisted for this prestigious award, we were up against hundreds of takeaways from across the country and to be down to a shortlist of ten is amazing.

“Our small team here works really hard to make sure we serve great food.

“It would make me very proud to put my town Gainsborough on the map again.”

Having won the Northern Region Heat of the Pizza Chef Competition held in Bolton last month, Mansour has been invited to attend the finals held in London on November 12.

Mansour will be competing with winners of other regions.

From the shortlist, an undisclosed number will receive a Gold Award and one will receive a Platinum Award – each will be announced at the Awards, which take place at the Lancaster London Hotel on Thursday, November 12.

Florentino’s was presented with the Gold award at last year’s cermony by celebrity Italian chef, Aldo Zilli, who will be presenting the awards again this year.

After last year’s award for Florentino’s, Aldo Zilli, said: “Italian food from Pasta to Pizza and everything in between is about simple ingredients of the highest quality treated with love.

“Italian chefs are passionate about their food and the industry as a whole is about authenticity and great produce.”