Paolo’s staff dish out a generous slice of gratitude to hospital workers

Recently opened restaurant Paolo’s Italian hand delivered 100 freshly-baked pizzas to staff at the Melrose hospital last Wednesday as a way of thanking local NHS workers for their efforts throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

The team at the Italian restaurant and takeaway which relocated to new premises in Market Street in February but has been closed apart from takeaway orders since lockdown, hand-baked the takeaway treats fresh in one morning after nurses agreed it would be a welcome treat.

Restaurant owner Paolo Crolla said: “I did this because it’s important to support our NHS staff and nobody else has done this for them so far.

“It’s nice to say thank you and give them a bit of a treat.

“I was up at 7am getting the ovens on and the dough made and there was a team of five of us in the kitchen all working like a conveyor belt getting the sauce and topping one. It actually only took us about an hour to make them all.

“The staff at the hospital were very happy. When I called to explain the idea to them they said 10 or 15 would be nice so when I suggested 100 and turned up with them they were quite overwhelmed.

“I just thought 100 was a nice number.”

Paolo’s Italian relocated from Overhaugh Street in February to enjoy larger premises and space to include Paolo’s Deli and Cafe, which recently reopened to customers offering takeaways during lockdown.