Earlier this month, Mick and Bob from next door (originally from Yorkshire) were both skiting about how good their pizzas were. Each was pretty confident that his was better than the other’s. So realistically, there was only one way to resolve this.

And, last night was the night.

Mick had discovered a new recipe for the dough since we’ve been here. He found it in one of the many cook books our host here owns. So he put that to the test against Bob’s pizza.

Bob had an advantage in so far as he and his wife own a unit in Spain as well as their home here, and he buys many of the toppings for his pizzas in Spain and he believes his ingredients are much better than anything we can buy here.

So as to ensure an impartial judge, a fifth person, another Yorkshire man, was invited to take on that task.

My job was to prepare the table and a salad.

I also made a dessert (pear and apple crumble), while Mick transformed a baguette into garlic bread.

I decided to add myself to the competition as a last minute entrant – the Wild Card! (I bought an already prepared pizza from the supermarket and added a little rocket. Not that I admitted that until all the pizzas were tasted.)

Mick generously made room on his tray to allow my pizza to be included.

Bob and his wife arrived at 6.30pm with his pizzas ready to be shared amongst the five of us.

Bob was confident.

While Mick was concerned that Bob had bought three pizzas. Mick was not sure if this fell within the rules.

The one on the left was topped with spicy chorizo, the middle one with Iberian ham and the one on the right was smothered in anchovies and onions. The bases of Bob’s pans were generously covered in semolina, which made them very easy to get out of the pans and also gave them a nice taste.

Mick did not start cooking his (and mine) until well after Bob’s first pizza had been sampled.

Mick had made two pizzas, but they were exactly the same. It was just for ease of serving and also for convenience as he has a trick where he fries the base of the pizza in a well oiled frying pan to give them a really crispy finish.

After each pizza was tasted, including mine, the decision was made that on the night, Bob’s anchovy and onion pizza was the winner.

Mine was discarded for the chooks – and we all agreed it was inedible.

Although Mick was a little disappointed, he conceded the win to Bob on the night.

During the meal, another competition was proposed. This time – a pie making competition – where all three men will enter their speciality pie. It will be up to the girls to judge the winner. Mick made it clear, that this time each person must only submit one type of pie for the competition.

Mick is determined to win that one.