Food and Dining

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Chef of the Month tells his seafood secrets

Adding to his list of outstanding achievements in 2018, Johnny Di Francesco, owner and founder of 400 Gradi has now been named Chef of the Month by Ocean Made Seafood.
 
Renowned for his world-winning skills and most recently Oceania’s Best Pizza, Johnny opted for his Frutti Di Mare Pizza to impress the team over at Ocean Made Seafood, and it clearly didn’t disappoint!
 
Combining his pizzaiolo skills with his love of shellfish, Johnny created one of his all-time favourite feasts. Fresh seafood full of flavour, cooked by Johnny, and added added on top of his award-winning pizza, takes the Frutti Di Mare Pizza to a whole new level.
 
Available at all 400 Gradi restaurants, customers can taste the mouthwatering pizza, or make it themselves with the recipe attached.
 
Johnny’s endless knowledge of authentic Italian flavours and his love of seafood allows him to create new dishes with unmatched delicious-ness. Ahead of the family-orientated and food frenzy that is the Christmas season, Johnny has a wide range of tips and tricks for how to make simple and stunning Italian-inspired dishes for your summer Christmas celebrations - including how to cook prawns with truffle and cauliflower, or scallops with nduja and celeriac.

FRUTTI DI MARE PIZZA RECIPE

BY JOHNNY DI FRANCECSCO

 

 

INGREDIENTS

 

(Serves 4)

 

250g pizza dough

2g Spolverina flour

80g cooked tomato

80g Fior di latte

6 mussels

2 half scallop

4 clams

4 calamari rings

3 21/25 (size) prawns

15g rocket

5ml extra virgin olive oil.

 

METHOD

 

For the seafood:

Heat oil with garlic in a pan

Add calamari rings and scallops

Add mussels and clams

Add shrimp

Add parsley

Drain liquid and set seafood aside for a moment.

 

To assemble the pizza:

Heat the oven to 240C

Spread the tomato on the pizza base.

Scatter fior di latte and drizzle extra virgin olive oil.

Cook the pizza until crisp around the edges and the cheese has softened - about 10 mins.

Take out of the oven and plate the rocket over the top.

 

Place cooked seafood over the rocket and serve.

Food Features

Martha’s Bakery Wareemba

On the Great North Road in Sydney’s waterside suburb of Wareemba, a new icon is rising; Martha's, a boutique bakery set to draw pastry pilgrims from across the city, where specialty coffee brews, pastries rise and the kitchen hums long before the doors open.  At Martha’s, sweet and savo...

Read more

Food News

How Catering Boxes Help Food Businesses Deliver Fresh, Safe And Beautifully Presented Meals

Food presentation and safe transportation are essential for cafés, bakeries, caterers and restaurants. One of the most practical...

Where to find the best finger buns in Sydney (2025 edition)

Soft, sweet and topped with a generous swipe of icing, finger buns are the nostalgic Aussie treat that’s having a serious comeback...

How to make your own banh mi at home

Ah, the banh mi. It’s managed to go from the streets of Vietnam to food trucks, cafés, high-end restaurants and Instagram feeds wo...

Golden Age Hotel Beaufort’s Signature Dishes You Can’t Miss

If you’re looking for a place where classic pub vibes meet mouthwatering food, the Golden Age Hotel in Beaufort should be at the t...

Fuel your body with these high-protein lunches

Introduce these maple-infused and high-protein recipes to your weekly lunch rotation. Whether you’re looking for a simple and ...

Celebrate World Vegan Month this November with these Plant-based Favourites

Incorporate a few vegan recipes into your diet this vegan month, with dishes packed with wholesome ingredients that don’t compro...

Food & Dining

The ultimate cinnamon scroll recipe

Soft, sweet and swirled to perfection There’s something truly irresistible about a freshly baked cinnamon scroll.  It’s soft, it’s warm, it’s gooey and, let’s be honest, that swirl of buttery brow...

Where to find the best finger buns in Sydney (2025 edition)

Soft, sweet and topped with a generous swipe of icing, finger buns are the nostalgic Aussie treat that’s having a serious comeback. Whether you're chasing the ones topped with classic pink icing and ...

The Rise of Meal Delivery Service in Everyday Life

Over the past few years, the demand for meal delivery service options has soared, reshaping the way people cook, eat, and manage their time. Whether it’s busy professionals avoiding weeknight cookin...

Simple Ways To Increase Shelf Life Of Organic Food

Going organic is all the rage now. Whether you want to lead a healthy life or go greener, using organic products benefits both you and the environment. Many organic shops have been opened to cater...

Brisbane's Unique Pizza Flavors You Need to Try

Brisbane's vibrant pizza scene is known for taking foodies on an unexpected adventure of flavours. Forget the usual pepperoni and margherita that you can find at every nook and corner of the city. T...

Three Magical Reasons to Spend Christmas at the Windsor

MELBOURNE – The hallways of The Windsor have borne testament to some of the greatest Australian Christmases of all time, and this year is no exception. The Food: Christmas isn't Christmas without a...