I’m not going to lie; vegan and pizza aren’t two words that I’d necessarily considered before The White Rabbit Pizza Co. appeared in my inbox. Not that I’m a fan of a meat feast, but the thought of pizza without cheese, or garlic bread without butter… I wasn’t convinced. I am however glad I said yes to trying their tasty treats, because they pretty are darn delicious (despite the lack of cheese).
Founders Nick and Matteo met working at Oxford’s The White Rabbit pub, where Nick tended bar and Matteo - off the back of working in his family’s pizzeria in Italy - elevated the pub’s menu to become the best pizza restaurant in Oxfordshire. After noticing an increase in requests for free-from and vegan pizzas, the idea for The White Rabbit Pizza Co. was born.
They create a range of gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan pizzas, available in major supermarkets including Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and CoOp. With a Friday night feast in mind, we tried the new Vegan Arrabbiata, “for the plant-based heat seekers”. Spicy chicken-free strips packed a real punch of flavour, while the wood-fired wheat base (their first pizza like this) was chewy and sourdough-esque; I didn’t even notice that the vegan ‘mozzarisella cheese’ was vegan. So far soo good.
For the sides, the gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan Farmhouse Focaccine is a dangerously moreish bread with cheddar-style cheese alternative and Modena balsamic vinegar caramelised onions. The Garlicky Focaccine with its vegan spread and parsley was a great vegan alternative to garlic bread. What a filling feast. I can’t say I’ll be converted to plant-based pizzas longterm (my lifelong love affair with ham and pineapple can’t be ignored), but The White Rabbit Pizza Co. was a delicious discovery and one I’ve already recommended to several friends who follow a plant-based diet and they’ve been pretty impressed.
