Gozney’s Pizza Volume 1 is more than just a cookbook; it’s a comprehensive guide to mastering outdoor, wood-fired cooking.
I remember the very first time I had a pizza. It was part of the school lunch. I think it was only available once or twice a week. I could tell it was “pizza day” just by the waft of the aroma that pervaded the school corridors at lunch time. The aroma of melted cheese and tomatoes was enough to get mouths salivating. I remember those salad days with fondness.
Since its rudimentary origins dating back to neolithic times, the global love for pizza has evolved and has stood the test of time.
Discover new pizza possibilities with Gozney’s Pizza Volume 1, the debut cookbook from the renowned Gozney pizza oven brand. Showcasing Gozney’s passion for pizza, this book offers a collection of mouth-watering recipes that will inspire home cooks of all skill levels to expand their culinary horizons and push the limits of what’s possible with an outdoor oven.
Structure and Content
Published in 2024 by HarperCollins Publishers, the 256-page hardcover book offers a comprehensive and visually stunning exploration of outdoor cooking. While its primary focus is pizza, the book also highlights the full versatility of a pizza oven by including a variety of other outdoor cooking recipes. It features over 75 unique pizza recipes alongside 20 additional innovative recipes for al fresco dining using Gozney’s outdoor ovens.
With beautiful photographs to accompany the recipes, readers are given a visual clue to how the dish will/ should look. Helpful How-to guides also prompt readers on how to attain gastronomic kudos with dinner guests.
Believe me, when you have “digested” the contents of this book, you will be officially crowned the Pizza King, Queen (or Dude) amongst dinner guests.
Not only do I feel this is the ultimate Pizza Encyclopedia, I also can’t believe that it is called Volume 1! The suggestion that there will be a Volume 2 leaves me questioning what else could it possibly include?
There are no less than five New York-style pizzas, four Detroit-style pizzas, three Roman-style pizzas and an entire section on Sauces, Dips and Toppings.
I also have to say that the range of al fresco, non-pizza recipes will ensure the book appeals to most tastes. Recipes cover savoury meats and seafood to tantalising tapas. The recipes are presented with beautiful, captivating photography that not only inspires but also aids the cooking process. The book’s clean, modern design and clear instructions make it an accessible resource for anyone wanting to cook with fire!
A Focus on Dough and Expertise
The level of passion Tom Gozney has for pizza is clearly evident in his 96-Hour Pizza Dough recipe found in the Dough section of the book. Oh yes, there is an entire section on pizza dough alone. Using tried and tested methods, this section of the book gives the reader the entire lowdown on the highs and lows of dough production. I love pizza as much as the next person, but, like most people, I had no idea that dough knowledge was an intrinsic aspect of pizza making.
My family almost always complain about shop-bought pizzas having a resinous and stodgy texture. It’s clear to see by the sheer variety of pizza dough options in the book that there is more to dough than meets the eye or indeed tickles the taste buds!
The dough section provides detailed instructions on how to create eight different styles of dough, covering everything from Neapolitan to Roman-style. The guidance is thorough yet approachable, breaking down essential aspects like fermentation, hydration, and flour types. It caters to both long-fermented doughs for richer flavours and quicker doughs for those who want a faster preparation. The detailed techniques for kneading, proofing, and shaping dough are a valuable resource for anyone wanting to refine their pizza-making skills.
Authored by Gozney founder Tom Gozney, the book also includes contributions from a host of award-winning chefs who share their expertise and individual recipes. This blend of Gozney’s own kitchen knowledge with world-class professional insight provides a rich and diverse collection of recipes, from classic pizzas to more innovative flavour combinations.
More Than Just Pizza
While the book’s title suggests a focus on pizza, its scope is much broader. I have previously reviewed a Gozney Pizza ovens which can be read here:
A browse of the Gozney website will give you an insight into their ethos, which is to help people expand their world through live-fire cooking, and the additional recipes reflect this. The 20 outdoor recipes prove that a pizza oven can be a versatile tool for roasting, baking, and even searing. Recipes for meats, seafood, and other dishes are included, demonstrating how to harness your pizza oven’s unique high-temperature environment and heat retention for more than just a quick pizza. This section is particularly useful for those who want to get the most out of their Gozney oven and explore new culinary horizons.
The book is an inspiring read for anyone passionate about food and cooking. It’s a testament to the idea that cooking with fire can be a transformative experience, creating delicious memories to share with friends and family. Whether you’re a proud owner of a Gozney oven or simply a food lover, Gozney Pizza Volume 1 is a valuable addition to any kitchen or outdoor cooking setup. It’s not just a collection of recipes; it’s a guide to a new way of cooking, full of passion, expertise, and a love for great food.
Room for more?…
Gozney Pizza Volume 1 will definitely appeal to foodies who love to entertain and satiate the primordial human urge to cook outdoors. However, in my opinion, it appears to have overlooked the growing demographic of vegetarian and vegan consumers. I feel, with a little thought, this book could have been produced to cover options for this growing market by highlighting Veg/Vegan-friendly recipes or indeed going a step further to consider those with common food intolerances too.
There is no question though, that the book is beautifully produced. It has a tactile hardback cover which is smooth with much of the text being debossed, which possibly and subtly hints at impressions left in a ball of pizza dough (but maybe that’s just my imagination getting away with me!) The book has a good balance of recipes, How-to sections, photography and (in my opinion) the all-important use of white space. Too many books cram so much onto the pages, which I find aesthetically displeasing. The carefully chosen fonts and their respective font weights also strike a good balance. Much like the perfect pizza, no element is too overbearing. The content is beautifully presented through words and pictures.
Given its intended use while cooking, I’d perhaps suggest a more durable, wipeable paper stock for the cover and interior pages of Volume 2. As a graphic designer, I know this would help the book withstand spills and grubby fingers, keeping it looking great for years to come.
Where to buy and cost
Gozney Pizza Volume 1 is available for only £25 directly from Gozney.
It is also available from other leading book retailers.
Chetan is a London-based designer by profession. He is passionate about the role design plays in everyday life whether it’s graphic, digital, fashion, product or environmental design. Motivated by aesthetic design, function and the User Experience of emerging and new technologies, products and platforms, he is ever keen to learn, discover and innovate.
Although he doesn’t consider himself a nerd or a geek, he is a big movie fan and lists Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Harry Potter, The Shawshank Redemption and… Brewsters Millions among his favourites! Chetan is also an aspiring author and is currently working on his first novel.
