Sid, Scrat & friends take over the Pizza Express Piccolo menu to celebrate the release of Ice Age Collision Course

I have a confession to make. Sid the adorable but slightly stinky character from the Ice Age series of movies is on my list of inappropriate crushes. Please don't tell anyone.

Ice Age Collision Course

I don't know if it's the eyes or the lisp but there's something about him....

Our family are keen Ice Age fans so we were delighted to learn that the latest instalment, Ice Age Collision Course was being released in cinemas this week.

We were even more delighted to learn that Pizza Express would be incorporating Ice Age fun into the activity sheets especially designed for their younger guests.

We were invited to watch the movie and enjoy a Pizza Express meal afterwards - what a fabulous family day out!

Pizza Express Piccolo menu Ice Age activities

There's always been activity sheets to entertain children who also have their very own Piccolo menu at the restaurants. To celebrate the launch of Ice Age Collision course though the pack now comes with an extra Ice Age sheet - you can even win a trip to Hollywood by drawing your favourite Ice Age character with your favourite pizza.

So firstly - what did we think of Ice Age Collision Course? Here's the official blurb about the new movie.
The new Ice Age Collision film sees Scrat's epic pursuit of the elusive acorn catapult him into the universe where he accidentally sets off a series of cosmic events that transform and threaten the Ice Age World. To save themselves, Sid, Manny, Diego, and the rest of the herd must leave their home and embark on a quest full of comedy and adventure, travelling to exotic new lands and encountering a host of colourful new characters.
Well we love Scrat's antics and there are more of them than in previous films which left us weak with laughter.

It's a great storyline and the film features all our favourite characters from previous movies along with a few new faces. We saw it in 3D which I would recommend too. It gets a big thumbs up from us (children aged 7-11 plus me aged 40 mumble.)

Ice Age Collision Course Scrat

So what about our family meal? Well the children were invited to make their own pizzas (you can do this as a birthday party which would be enormous fun) and were very creative with ingredients including spinach, pepperoni, ham, mushrooms, olives and of course lots of cheese.

Pizza Express pizza making party

Make your own is one of the options on the Piccolo Menu - here's a few facts about the menu especially designed for children.

Created with help from nutritionists at the Children’s Food Trust, the experts in young people and food, the Piccolo menu aims to treat children as mini-adults, ensuring children get to enjoy the same fresh, high-quality food as their parents

Pizza Express Piccolo menu
 So the littlest of customers aren’t tempted to overeat, there is the option of just one course for £3.95 or three courses for £6.50

PizzaExpress’ famous Dough Balls are served with a portion of bright and crunchy vegetables to tempt little fingers into eating one of their five-a-day, and are served with the option of garlic butter or olive oil and balsamic – heart healthy fats

Create Your Own means kids can choose what goes on their pizza, allowing them to select more, less or none of any ingredients

 Just like the grown-ups, kids can choose from several pizzas – American, La Reine, Pollo and Margherita – or they can create their own.  If they prefer a pasta option, there’s Bolognese, Bianca or Napoletana.  For dessert they can choose between a Piccolo Sundae, made with ice-cream or fat free sorbet, or a Chocolate Brownie topped with a fresh strawberry. 

During our visit we started with the famous and inimitable dough balls with garlic butter and some olives and while the children learned Pizza Express top pizza making tips I had a peek at the main menu.

Pizza Express dough balls
I am a traditionalist - Hawaiian is my favourite pizza but Pizza Express doesn't normally offer this option. However for the summer they have produced their own take on the classic with a tangy, slightly spicy sweet chilli pineapple chutney on a béchamel base with red onions and salty prosciutto along with garlic oil, Grand Milano cheese and mozzarella.

Pizza Express Hawaiian pizza
It was my duty as a food writer to sample this pizza -  the things I have to endure to keep you lot informed and educated! *winks*

Now I really mean this - this pizza was seriously the tastiest pizza I have ever eaten. I really hope Pizza Express decided to include it in their permanent menu. Judging by the reaction of the bloggers at Pizza Express at the weekend it would be a very popular addition to the already mouth watering selection.

Head to the Pizza Express website to find your nearest branch, opening hours, telephone numbers for booking and much more.
Pizza Express Ice Age collaboration

Disclaimer: We watched Ice Age Collision Course and enjoyed food and fun at Pizza Express as guests of Pizza Express. Views and opinions remain honest and my own.