Corlie’s Italian, a pizzeria in Somerset West has been voted the seventh best pizzeria in the country in this year’s Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge.
This year was the first that Corlie’s Italian took part in the challenge.
The pizzeria was founded by Attie and Corlie Esterhuyse in 2015. Born from selling homemade pasta at the Slow Market in Stellenbosch, the couple’s work developed into making fresh pasta and dishes to order, before adding pizzas to the menu in 2017.
Cape {town} Etc discount: Looking for things to do in the city at half the price? Let these offers inspire you! Get them here.
Alongside Corlie’s signature Margherita pizza, they are also known and loved for including ‘white pizzas’ on their menu. White pizza – not generally on offer in South African restaurants – is a style of pizza that uses an alternative to tomato sauce on its base.
According to News24, Esterhuyse explained white pizza or ‘pizza bianca’ to be ‘a style of pizza that does not use tomato sauce as a base and generally consists of pizza dough, olive oil, garlic, cheese, salt and other toppings.’

‘We offer three options – the Bacon, Brie and Onion Marmalade, the Salsiccia (mozzarella, spinach, caramelised onions and house made Italian fennel and chilli sausage mince) and the Coppa, Gorgonzola and Green Figs.’
The winning team includes owners Attie and Corlie Esterhuyse, Greg Denman, Lee Phiri, Jean Mari Kasselman, Bandile Magoxo and Ivan Belotti.
Speaking on the news of their win, the Esterhuyses expressed huge excitement at the wonderful news, saying that it is a great achievement and ‘an indication that we are doing something right. It underscores the fact that people really like our pizzas.’
Also read: Local sand artist creates incredible pizza oven for Massimo’s
Although not everyone knew about the ongoing competition, the Esterhuyses specified that their customers pulled through and kept them in the top 10.
The couple thanked Porcupine Ridge for creating the competition as well as the team behind the scenes, who were helpful and ‘very professional in [the way in] which they handled the competition.’
Appreciation was also pointed in the direction of the customers – for their support, dedication and voting – and the Corlie’s team for their hard work.
Corlie’s Italian is committed to entering into next year’s competition to try for an even higher result in 2024.
The winner of the 2023 Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge was Gino’s in Robertsham, Johannesburg.
Explore Cape Town and its surroundings with these incredible deals on cars for under R100 000. Find car listings here.
Also read: