This killer Pizza Truck in Oxford would look sweet at a Tailgate Party

Night time in Oxford City is when the food trucks come out to play, yet all of them are the same usual boring Kebab places on wheels. That’s why I was struck with awe when I walked past the Pizza Artisan truck.

Not only is this is a classic old school Citroen H truck serving food, but it has been transformed to cook wood fired pizzas. After spending two years travelling the States I thought I had seen everything that the black top could offer, but here I was stunned to see pizza on the menu., and I wasn’t even at a football game, but near the High Street in Oxford City, England.


Paul, the chief of Pizza Artisan, found the Citroen truck on-line. He promptly decked it with a beautiful clay furnace, which can cook up to four pizzas at a time. The menu is very extensive and well priced. Steph and I tried the Calypso pizza , which is ham, pineapple and one more veggie, so we choose mushrooms.

Paul and his compadre went to work, flattening out the dough and then span it in the air a few times for good measure. Think Tom Cruise in Cocktail, but for pizza. Once in the wood fire oven it didn’t take too long for the dough to be nice and crisp.

When it came out, it looked great. Pizza Artisan pride themselves on serving fresh food, and as the piping hot pizza was place into the box, we were offered fresh rocket, baby spinach and grated parmesan on top. We were then offered various more toppings, such as the garlic oil, chilli oil and balsamic vinegar.

It’s these fresh and fine ingredients that really set Pizza Artisan apart from the usual dirty “burghaaa” vans and into the realm of tailgate food. After just one bite, Steph was sold on the pizza claiming it is far better than pizzas from Zizzi and Pizza Express.

To make a good tailgate I do look for three things: The first, is interesting fresh, unique food, and Pizza Artisan covers that instantly. Secondly, it is the rig. Sure there is no NFL merchandise here, but that’s ok because we are not an NFL game, but the truck itself, is simply kickass.

The Citroen truck has a left hand drive, is diesel powered and has been totally gutted. Paul has installed an on board kitchen, sink, food prep surfaces and of course a hugely deep clay oven powered by wood. Paul’s wife designed the eye catching and classically French style logo reflecting the French charm of the classic Citroen truck. Word on the street is that soon they will be selling Pizza Artisan merchandise. The only thing that is missing is a cool nick- name for truck.

The third factor comes down to the tailgaters’ attitude. Now I’m aware that Pizza Artisan is a business and not a tailgate machine (yet) so Paul, has a slightly different agenda to that of a tailgater, however he is as friendly and passionate about his food as any high standard tailgater out there.

Paul wants you to walk away happy with his pizzas, and your overall experience. His fun confident personality mirrors exactly that of his funky truck. You can eat your lovely Pizza by the truck on the ledge in-front of the beautiful Christchurch College, or for an extra £1.50 you can take your pizza across the street to G and D’s ice cream café until midnight, where you can sit there in the warmth and enjoy your tasty treat. If you take up this offer, G and D give you 50p off their ice cream. Pretty good deal if you ask me.

Pizza Artisan sits proudly outside Christchurch College on St. Aldates from 6:30pm until after midnight Tuesday to Saturdays. You can even hire Paul and his Pizza artisan truck for all sorts of events.

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