🍕 Behind the Scenes: How We Make Our Authentic Margherita Pizza

At Brotherton’s Brasserie in Woodstock, producing a perfect Margherita pizza isn’t just cooking it’s a ritual. From kneading dough by hand to the final flourish of fresh basil, each step is a celebration of Italian craftsmanship, local provenance, and palate‑pleasing simplicity. Let’s take you behind the scenes, where tradition meets passion, flavour meets finesse, and pizza becomes art.

🍞 Starting with the Dough: The Heart of Authentic Pizza

Hand‑Rolled Every Day

Our dough is handcrafted fresh daily. The process begins with top‑quality flour, water, salt and yeast the pure essentials. These ingredients are gently combined and then allowed to rest, giving the dough time to develop flavour and texture.

Why it matters: Hand‑rolling ensures a light, airy crust that’s crisp on the outside yet soft at its core.

Local Love

We source flour from trusted British millers, aiming for heritage wheat where possible. While we honour Neapolitan tradition, supporting local producers is vital to our identity.

Result: A base that’s light on its feet but grounded in Oxfordshire terroir.

🍅 Sauce: Simplicity Meets Flavour

Italian Roots with Local Produce

Our Margherita features a simple tomato sauce, made using San Marzano‑style tomatoes sweet, acidic and vibrant.

Local twist: These are blended with thoroughly ripe UK‑grown tomatoes in season.

Minimalist Seasoning

The sauce is seasoned with just salt, a drizzle of olive oil, and a whisper of garlic or basil if it’s particularly fresh.

Why: To showcase pure tomato flavour bright, clean, and unmistakably Italian.

🧀 Cheese: Fresh, Creamy, Classic

Mozzarella in Its Purest Form

Each pizza is topped with fresh mozzarella, sliced into pillowy rounds.

Texture + taste: Melts to a creamy layer, offering a subtle milky sweetness that complements the tangy sauce.

Premium Parmesan Sprinkle

Once baked, we finish each Margherita with a sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan.

Flavor boost: Adds umami depth and a slightly nutty note that elevates the entire pie.

🔥 The Oven: Our Crispy Secret

Artisan Heat

We fire up our artisan oven daily, reaching high temperatures that give our pizzas that signature blistered crust.

How it works: The intense heat cooks the pizza in just minutes melting cheese, charring crust, sealing moisture.

Crisp on Cue

Our team knows when a pizza is “just ready” slightly charred at the edges, gooey cheese in the centre but never overdone.

Precision: Timing and touch are everything.

🌿 Finishing Touch: Fresh Basil & Olive Oil

Hand‑Placed Basil

Right after the oven, each Margherita is adorned with fresh basil leaves.

Aroma + allure: The warmth of the pizza releases the basil’s peppery scent pure sensory joy.

Final Drizzle

A light pouring of extra‑virgin olive oil goes on just before service.

Why: Adds luxurious gloss and earthy balance to each bite.

📦 Takeaway & Delivery: Keeping Quality Intact

Packaging with Care

For takeaway or delivery, pizzas are boxed in ventilated containers to preserve crispness and avoid sogginess.

Simple Re‑Heat Tips

We share reheating suggestions just 5 minutes in a hot oven to rejuvenate texture and taste at home.

Check out: Pizza Delivery Woodstock

👥 The Human Touch: Meet Our Chefs

Under Chef Giovanni

Each pizza is crafted by Giovanni who trained in Italy, elevating classic technique with artisan finesse. His kitchen team follows a respectful routine: knead, stretch, top, bake, finish.

Kitchen Camaraderie

Every hand that touches the pizza from dough to basil is part of a shared passion. The result is consistency, care and community flavour.

🌱 Local Sourcing & Sustainability

Community‑First Approach

Ingredients like tomatoes, basil and flour are chosen with care local where possible, imported thoughtfully when needed.

Wastage Responsibility

We use day-old dough for pizza by the slice samples and repurpose uneaten basil in pesto sauces, thereby reducing food waste in our kitchen.

🍽️ Serving: What to Expect

In‑House Dining

Expect a beautifully presented Margherita: blistered crust, molten cheese, aromatic basil, and olive oil sheen.

Takeaway Experience

Even off‑site, your pizza arrives ready to rejuvenate either to enjoy immediately or reheat at home with ease.

🌟 Why Our Margherita Stands Out

Feature	Benefit
Handmade dough	Light, airy, artisanal texture
Fresh, simple sauce	Highlights natural tomato flavour
Quality cheeses	Creamy mozzarella + umami Parmesan
High‑heat oven	Crisp crust, quick bake, charred edges
Careful finishing	Aroma, presentation, taste synergy

Combined, this makes a pizza that’s humble yet elevated comforting but crafted.

📣 Ready to try our iconic Margherita?

Visit our hotel Brotherton’s Brasserie, 1 High Street, Woodstock, OX20 1TE or dial 01993 811114 to order for takeaway or delivery. Taste the passion, share in the craft one slice at a time.