I had the unexpected opportunity to go out for a take away one night last week. I went to a small Italian Takeaway called Pizza Bello in Morley, somewhere that I have heard others rave about but never got round to trying out.

It is in a fairly small building near the Telephone Exchange and is a family run business. They only open four days a week, from 5pm to Midnight. They are very successful but known to close down when they go away on holidays. (Such is their brand reputation that they are better off not trading than getting others in).

It is interesting to watch them in action on a busy evening. Two men make the Pizzas, mostly thin base but occasionally deep pan and those folded Calzone ones that look like huge Cornish pasties. A third man tends to the big kebab machine, skillfully slicing the revolving meat & frying burgers as required. Meanwhile the Matriarch tends to the cash desk, taking phone orders & slicing the Pizzas. I was struck by how well she knew her customers and the orders passing through, like an air traffic controller with their “big picture” of where the planes are in their sector.

I have to say that the Pizza was very good, it was a Hot Shot consisting of mozzarrella, tomato, green peppers, red onions, pepperoni and green chilli . The best one I ever had was what I christened a Mapperley Mighty Meaty when I used to live in Nottingham. Maybe I’ll try the Bello Meat Feast on my Birthday.