Pizzas and burgers are among the most favoured foods in New Zealand but you would not know the ‘real quality, until you have tasted these at Flame Gourmet Pizzas and Burgers Botany, Auckland and the recently opened branch in Pukekohe.
Pat and Abby who own the two stores said that pizzas and burgers can be made to taste better and healthier.
With almost 20 years in the restaurant and fast food business, Pat believed that the people would patronise a venture that offered value for money.
He was right.
From the first day of its operation in September 2010, the Botany store (located at 15/123 Ormiston Road in Botany Junction) and the Pukekohe branch (opened in March this year at 65-71 Edinburgh Street) have endeared themselves to a growing number of clients.
He is proud that everything at the two stores conform to the standards of Halal, public hygiene and rigid standards of the Auckland Council, the Food Safety Authority and other government agencies and departments.
“More than conforming to government regulations, our passion is to justify customer confidence. We aim to lift the quality of our products to greater heights and offer a wider range of pizzas and burgers,” Pat said.
The menu ranges from big city flavours to the more traditional and aromatic tastes. It boasts of variety, including Gourmet Pizzas (Bombay Chicken, Thai Fusion, Cajun Chicken, Zesty Vege, Sweet As vege, Patties), Regular Pizzas (Pepperoni, BBQ Chicken, Spicy Italian, Vege, Cheese), Burgers (Vege, Lamb, Lamb and Blue Cheese, Beef, Chicken and Chicken and Avocado), Salads (Greek, Chicken and Ceasar), Combos and Sides.
The two stores also serve fat free and gluten free smoothies.
Pat said that nothing is fried at Flame.
“In fact, we do not have a deep fryer. We use the freshest ingredients, as well as the Kapiti range of cheeses. Our pizza dough is all made from scratch, without using bulk starters. Our chicken is roasted on site, which we use on our pizzas, and our salads are all made to order,” he said.
Pat hopes that someday, Flame Gourmet Pizzas and Burgers would be franchised.
A Pukekohe based online community paper (elocal.co.nz) quoted him as saying that his desire was to bring a new standard in a different, delicious and healthy takeaway food to New Zealand and may be beyond.
“An Australian customer was blown away by our pizzas. He reckoned that we should go across the Tasman and show Australians what a good pizza is like; may we will someday,” Pat said.
Takeaway is popular at the two stores, although dine-in facility is also available.
Delivery facility is available in Pukekohe and in and around the Botany area in Auckland, for an additional fee of $6 per delivery.
