Wood-fired Perfection at
The Pig & The Olive

  The story behind its intriguing name will give you all the flavour of
this excellent wood-fired pizza restaurant - ¡§Every childhood photo of my wife Rosanna features her and a baby pig in a Sicilian olive grove¡¨ explains Manager Terry Eliades.
  Situated at Kelso¡¦s Trinity Heights Shopping Centre, The Pig and the Olive has, in only 12 months, achieved a following that sees regular diners travel
from very far afield. The secret is the flavour ¡V authentic Sicilian, Italian and Greek.
  Terry assures me it can¡¦t really be lumped into the broad description of
¡¥Mediterranean¡¦. Rather, every region across these cuisine-proud nations has its own particular approach to food.
  In the Pig & The Olive¡¦s case, it¡¦s
the stunning rural zone of Mancusa in Sicily (mixed with Terry¡¦s own Greek heritage) that underscores this very unique pizza, pasta and barbeque dining experience.
  ¡§I didn¡¦t really know if Bathurst
was ready for our particular flavour 
combination¡¨ Terry confesses, while preparing a fresh Funghi (mushroom)
pizza for me.
  ¡§Every pizza is rolled, topped and cooked in front of our diners
using only the freshest ingredients¡¨ he explains, and I get to see every part of the mouth-watering process from my table.
  The atmosphere is intimate, but even on a hot day the wood-fired pizza oven doesn¡¦t overheat this air-conditioned restaurant.
  Constructed using Vesuvian clay (which Terry outlines has the highest volume of aluminium, giving it excellent cooking capabilities without infusing the pizza  with any extra earthy flavours), this style of oven has been used for millennia in the preparation of bread, and for the last few centuries for cooking pizza
to perfection.
  Terry and Rosanna were surprised by guests at their opening who
travelled an exceptional distance to sample their food. ¡§Our Sicilian Family
turned up!¡¨ Terry recalls. ¡§There were old uncles right here telling us about
this ingredient or that¡¨ he adds.
  My pizza is quickly ready, completed in the glow of the coals deep
inside the oven to a wonderfully soft yet crisp texture, topped with
fresh mushrooms, rocket and bocconcini cheese.
  Since service is about to start, I ask Terry to help me finish it off, and there can be no greater recommendation than a restaurateur who has made thousands of pizzas and still thoroughly enjoys the unique flavour of his own fare. ƒæ

The Pig & The Olive, Trinity Heights Shopping Centre Kelso, 6331 0150.