Lela

Angers, a city where quality of life reigns supreme – and now where pizza does to? That’s the challenge taken up by the delightful duo of Élise Rabineau (a very eloquent wine expert) and Fabien Sanchez (an enthusiastic Valparaíso native who trained at the École Française de Pizzaiolo), when they opened this pizzeria on a rather run-down street in the city center. The name? It’s what Fabian calls Ida, his beloved grandmother. And the space? A tiny wood-clad spot where a wood-fired oven hums away, decorated with collage-style artwork reminiscent of a Manon Negra album cover, featuring Socrates, Marcelo Salas and Zizou, with hip-hop playing in the background. The night we went, Puglia came along with us via the beautifully fragrant sun-dried tomatoes and burrata to start, but the real star of the show was of course the pizza, showcasing its globetrotting Italian flair: ’nduja and scamorza drizzled with okonomiyaki sauce, or a perfect fior di latte, roasted guanciale, onion and pecorino pizza. For a sweet treat afterwards, there’s fior di latte ice cream with dulce de leche and salted peanuts for some discreet Latin charm. // Suzy Dalleuze

FEELING THIRSTY? Élise knows natural Loire winemakers like the back of her hand, from Ringo, a Ligurian red by Robin Carette (€25 a bottle) to the chardonnay-chenin blend from the Domaine Mosse (€45), while Fabian adds a Chilean touch with a tangy Pisco Mule (€10 a glass).
PRICE: : Appetizers €5-12, pizza €11-18, desserts €6-8.