Ever completed what feels like the entire Rudy’s menu twice over and had to resist the urge ask if you could design your own perfect pizza?
No, seriously: we’re asking the question because it’s something we’ve genuinely thought of before.
Don’t get us wrong, Rudy’s Neapolitan Pizza remains one of the GOATs and they do update their menus from time to time, unfortunately we’re greedy little sods that always want more choice when it comes to food.
Thankfully, the ever-growing Rudy’s empire is giving us and, more importantly, you the chance to do just that by bringing back their Pizza Specials competition back for 2025. In case it wasn’t abundantly clear what that means already, watch this:
Yes, you can leave your mark on the pizza world in one of the biggest ways imaginable by taking part in this once in a lifetime opportunity: the chance to get your pizza creation on the official Rudy’s menu for all to enjoy.
To be in with a chance of winning, budding pizza aficionados can roll up their sleeves and submit their pizza creation by 9 March, when entries will be judged on creativity, adherence to Neapolitan style, seasonality, taste and marketability.
The top two finalists will then be invited to Rudy’s Academy on Portland Street in Manchester on Wednesday, 2 April, where they’ll learn the secrets behind Rudy’s extremely consistent and renowned food before battling it out in front of expert judges.
Even better still, teaming up with at home pizza oven specialists Ooni and woodfired brand Napoli On The Road this year, not only will the public get to try you pizza but you’ll also be walking home with an Ooni Karu 2 Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven as well as a ‘La Famiglia’ (the family) card.
In case you wondering exactly what that entails, how does two free pizzas every week for a whole Rudy year sound? Dreamy? Yep, thought so, now stop screaming.
Image: Supplied
For instance, you could get their latest exclusive special, the White Capricciosa – available in all until locations until 3 March – TWICE every week for 52 delicious whole weeks.
Sorrentina Fior Di Latte, Artichokes, Wild Mushrooms, Emilia-Romagna Prosciutto, Black Olive Crumb, and Truffle Oil. We think a part of us may have just actually died and gone to pizza heaven…
Rudy’s is always doing special and inventive promtions like this, be it swapping Christmas toys for pizza during the festive season, giving away a black card; leap year giveaways and even fashion collabs; they’re about much more than just their authentic, floppy Neapolitan slices these days.
But, you know, the pizza is still really bloody good and your creation could be among them.
The process is simple: list the ingredients of your pizza in as much detail as you can, give it an attention-grabbing name (of course), explain your reasons behind the recipe and even upload a photo if you like, then just keep your fingers crossed.
Once again, the competition to design your own Rudy’s pizza ends on Sunday, 9 March, so don’t wait around to be the Manchester’s next great pizzaiolo.
Submit your Rudy’s pizza creations HERE and buona fortuna – we’re rooting for you!
Featured image - The Manc Group
Eats
A bakery serving giant NYC-style cookies and fluffy cinnamon buns has just opened in Leeds
If you've got a seriously sweet tooth, then you're going to love this new opening.
It seems like there's been a flurry of new bakeries popping up in and around Leeds recently, and we're certainly not complaining.
Introducing Crumbb, a beautiful new bakery that has just opened its doors on Hyde Park Road just moments outside of the city centre.
Owner Naila started the businesses as a wholesaler six years ago, stocking up local businesses from far and wide with sweet treats.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Since then, Crumbbs opened its first location in Bradford just a few months ago that has been nothing short of a resounding success. So much so, that Crumbbs 2.0 was born right here in Leeds a few days ago.
Right, let's talk you through what's on offer.
For the sweet toothed out there, there's a whole myriad of treats for you to enjoy. We're talking giant NYC-style cookies, fluffy cinnamon buns topped with gooey icing, brownies slices, cookie muffins, rocky road, flapjack, the list is truly endless.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
You can even get warm cookie trays and hot brownies to enjoy in house that can be topped with ice cream or thick custard.
And it doesn't stop there, Crumbbs also whip up freshly baked savoury focaccia slices as well as cheese twists, pizza slices and savoury rolls filled with creamy mozzarella and herbs.
They've also got a fabulous drink selection on offer including matcha, coffee and hot chocolates.
Located in Headingley, we've got a feeling this spot is going to be a huge hit with students and locals alike looking to get their sweet treat fix. But they'll have to beat us to it first.
The hidden Leeds bakery serving giant cheese twists, pickle sausage rolls and chocolate focaccia
Clementine Hall
This spot in the city is baking up some weird and wonderful creations.
But you'll have to act fast if you want to get your hands on them, as it's only open one day a week for all your doughy desires.
Introducing Fold, a focaccia-focused bakery by the talented team behind The Cheesy Living Co.
Rewind to this time last year and with three restaurants flourishing across Leeds, the team needed a space to bake all their bread and sweet treats in-house to supply to sites.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And this is where Fold came in, located underneath the arches of Brussels Street on the outskirts of the city centre - it may take a while to find this spot but once you have, it'll be worth it.
And they're making some of the most inventive bakes that we've seen.
Of course there'll always be a focaccia on offer, with flavours ranging from crispy chilli oil, sesame and spring onion to kimchi, cheese and pistachio.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
And it's not just savoury focaccia, you'll even find gooey chocolate and banana focaccia as well as Biscoff waffle focaccia....yep, seriously.
Elsewhere they specialise in gigantic footlong cheese twists with more crispy bits than soft, as well as chorizo and cheese stuffed sausage rolls and a range of freshly baked bagels for you to go home and smear in your cream cheese of choice.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
Some seriously spectacular specials have been the gochujang cookies and the 'pickle roll', basically like a sausage roll but with...pickles.
It seems there's really no boundaries for where these bakes will go, and you can guarantee that every visit will be different than the rest.
Only open on Saturdays from 10am - 1pm, Fold are changing the baking game. Pop in and say hello, you won't be disappointed.
Danny Jones -
12th February 2025 
