Bond Your Family With the Help of a Wood-fired Pizza Oven

Ever considered having a pizza oven in your back garden?  If so, how much have you focused purely on the pizza and considered whether that’s an upgrade on a barbecue?  Have you, at all, contemplated some of the less obvious benefits of having a pizza oven, even if they are the ones that every Italian family takes for granted?

Here, if we cut to the chase, we’re talking about family bonding and the togetherness that can be hard to achieve in a world where shared meals around the dinner table are no longer necessarily the norm.  Dinners in front of the TV, hectic family schedules and the distraction of mobile phones have all eaten into the shared family dining experience.

But if you think the principles of such an experience are long gone, think again.  Orchard Ovens has very many customers who will tell you that one of the chief gains they have had from owning a pizza oven has been its capacity to bring the whole family together, in one dynamic, hands-on and integrated way.

And, when we tell you this, we are talking about multi-generational families and also not just families with young kids.  The pizza oven has had the ability to re-engage teenagers and university-age kids who can’t wait to be in the garden getting involved in the pizza creation process.   

This speaks volumes about pizza being a universally loved food that appeals to all ages.  Absolutely everyone can find a topping combination they love and having that mix of options is really very easy, so all of those involved are instantly happy, if you cook up what they prefer.

And that’s so simple, because the base is the same for each dish and you are simply adding something else at the personalisation stage.  That stage itself can be absorbing, allowing the kids to become junior chefs, placing pepperoni here and there, spreading the tomato on the base or sprinkling herbs atop the creation.  In other words, instant boredom-busting and a little role play, stepping into the shoes of a professional pizza chef for a few minutes.

But let’s not underplay the dough base.  It’s immense fun for both kids and adults to knead and shape the dough and perform the all-essential spin in the air.  There’s a feel of relaxation about all of this and, whilst one is taking on the dough shaping, there’s a lot of chat, laughter and observation to be had.

If all of this becomes a regular thing, it’s an opportunity to strengthen emotional connections, bridge generation gaps and even iron out any sibling rivalries.  

Then, there’s the fire management of a wood-fired pizza oven that can make the whole thing a great learning experience too.  Whilst some ovens, due to lack of adequate insulation, are red-hot to the touch and it’s not advisable for kids to get near them, a Valoriani oven is perfectly insulated and will not burn a youngster if they brush against it.  With supervision, kids can learn to move pizza around the oven, add a little wood and keep a keen eye on the flames, to tell the adults when action is required.

The oven becomes a physical hub and a natural place around which to linger, watching the mesmerising flames, enjoying the warmth on a cooler evening and observing the sight of pizza bubbling and crisping in the oven.

Once a gourmet pizza is served in your back garden, it can, of course, be sliced up and shared around, bringing all family members together again, as all decide whether the chef triumphed or has room for improvement!

So why does eating together as a family matter?  Firstly, it encourages communication. There’s no chance to be glued to a phone or screen, if you are busy topping pizza, preparing dough or tending a fire.  If there’s a family production line involved, everyone needs to keep the next one in the line abreast of how things are going.  There’s far too little talk within families, a lot of the time, causing emotions to be bottled up.  By soliciting better communication, families can break a lot of the conversation barriers down.

Sitting down to eat together undoubtedly strengthens the family bond and is a special time.  If this is done outdoors, around the pizza oven, it’s also about creating precious family memories and moments.  

And, if you are outside cooking in the fresh air, you are also gaining a health benefit and a mood lifter.  Home-cooked food is often healthier too, so there’s a double family health plus point.

There’s a reason that the pizza oven became such a big part of Italian family tradition, or should we say many reasons, all of which we have outlined.  The great thing is that this is a benefit that has been transplanted into England and has not been eroded one bit.  So many British families have experienced the exact same joy around their Orchard Ovens-supplied Valoriani pizza oven.

So, when considering whether or not to invest in a woodfired pizza oven, remember the family bonding benefits alongside the culinary ones.  Just make sure you choose an oven that will grow up alongside your family and be with you for 15 or 20 years to come.  And, if you want that, you need the truly authentic Italian woodfired oven – the one that has been at the heart of Italian family life for many generations, Valoriani.

Call us on 07743 847647 today, to get this family bonder at the heart of your outdoor space.

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Editors notes

Orchard Ovens is the domestic and commercial pizza oven supplier in the UK of Valoriani, based in Reggello, Tuscany - the manufacturer of Italy's hugely respected Valoriani pizza ovens, known as the Maserati of pizza ovens and the kings of clay. These ovens are made from superb refractory clay - cotto clay - found in the family's quarry and unique, thanks to having just the right alumina. This allows Valoriani ovens to heat up quickly and retain heat superbly, bring huge advantages to homeowners, as well as restaurant owners, hotels, pubs, mobile caterers, pizzerias, takeaways and more.

Orchard Ovens supplies some of Britain's best-known restaurants and chefs, whilst it is also a specialist creator of outdoor kitchens and wood-fired oven builds for the rich and famous, as well as everyday homeowners wishing to add value to their home and enjoy an outdoor lifestyle to the full.