It was all
a dream.
We offer support and engagement within our community. We love being in a position to connect people to local providers and groups. We do this in a way that is educational and helpful in everyday life. We provide inspiration to try simple alternative ingredients.
Before we founded Dodo Vegan Pizza we were feeling disconnected from being the earthlings we are and wanted reconnection - where possible we always use local produce too.
Our friendly team of pizza wizards consists of invested family members. Passionate about the business WE have created. In order to deliver a genuine experience for you and your guests we have maintained commitment to our original core beliefs.“...To provide quality food, that everyone loves, that is also safe for everyone to eat.”
WE ARE SALLY AND DARREN
Darren and I met in 2006, at work, 9-5, Monday-Friday, and were the best of friends for many years. In 2015, our paths went in very different directions when we both found ourselves single, but were not ready for a relationship with each other. Darren left the office we worked in and moved to a different area. His replacement was a lady called Melanie Venis.
In 2018, Mel and I had become close after her 30+ year marriage dissolved. In 2019, Mel and I left office working life, bought a motorhome between us and started doing event work. We spent a lot of time talking about what we wanted from life and it always came back to being close to nature. She had homeschooled her sons in the 90’s and so she had a deep interest in showing younger parents that there are more options than what mainstream influenced. She had a real interest in workshops for single Dads and bringing old skills back in our day to day lives and children.
This was brushing off onto me very quickly. I am eternally grateful for her showing me how to make laundry liquid from conkers! My garden isn't as successful as hers but im determined!! In 2021, Darren contacted me, out of the blue. I was at Mel's house, at the time, separating the heads from the stalks of the elderflower we had harvested, that day. Turns out, Darren and I were both single again and this time the time was right!!
New Year 2022; Mel, Darren and I were dreaming and planning our future business venture together. This included our love for food, events and festivals and sustainable living…while living in the moment. We bought our Dodo van in April of this year and had a great summer bouncing from one local festival to another. Very excited about soon making bookings for bigger festivals for 2023! Sadly, this didn't happen. Mel was diagnosed with cancer in July 2022 and lost her fight in May 2023. The pizza van has been parked up and inactive for a year, when writing this.
During this difficult time Darren and I went back to working where we could rely on an income in order to support the situation we had all found ourselves in.
You wouldn't know we were allergen free and vegan, unless we told you
Did we mention....WE are an allergen free kitchen!
Where we cant find allergen free products, we make our own! We are working towards growing all of our very own produce.
Mel was the green fingered partner within the company. Sadly, she is no longer with us, but she left behind enough seedlings to give us a head start. It will just take a little longer to achieve this part of our dream.
Darren and I were married in June 2023, I know…thank you!
A truly fairytale story and we are very happy together. Serendipity, as Darren would say. We have four adult children between us who knew each other while they were in their teens, all those years ago. Their support is very important to us and they are all extremely happy for us to be together.
Darren and I continue to take the motorhome out, love every minute and relive past memories. Mel, if you're listening ...Darren still can't juggle, but still trying! I love cooking and connecting with nature. I have been eating plant based for 7 years and treasure the garden teachings from Mel. I hope that one day our own patch will be successful enough that we can take our produce from the garden. Just as we had planned with Mel…
Our core beliefs have remained the same and we will carry this on through Dodo but with more passion. We will provide the nation's favourite guilty pleasure while removing as many allergens and using local produce. Where ingredients include allergens, we make our own!! - also reducing preservatives. Mel was the green fingered one of the three of us so there will be a year or two before we can honour this side of our dream. Darren and I are working towards growing our own produce by making our garden an allotment, but it's not going so well…. Yet!
We would like to thank and welcome a new member to our team, Ahakista. I am very proud to say that she is my Sons partner, one of our Bridesmaids and an amazing amount of support to us both.
Let’s Chat.
Get in touch NOW to try our Luxury Pizza!
07598 273033 | Info@dodoveganpizza.co.uk