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The World Pizza Championship is an event held annually for three days in April since 1991 in Salsomaggiore Terme (Parma), Italy, although several other cities likewise claim to be the home of the ultimate international pizza games including Naples and Paris. Organized by Pizza E Pasta Italiana magazine, the 30th edition of the competition (which was briefly paused in 2020 and 2021) was held from April 18-20, 2023. More than 700 chefs from 52 countries compete in 12 categories. The World Pizza Championship includes six categories in the baking competition, three categories in the pizza game competition, the pizza team award, the Heinz Beck trophy awarded to pizzeria chefs, and the triathlon award given for the highest average score in 3 separate categories.[1] All culinary scores are figured from 800 as perfect, with each contestant rated by cooking prowess, sanitation, presentation, taste, and knowledge of the pizza.[2] It is the largest pizza show in the world with over 6,500 independent chain and franchise owners from all around the world attending. The winners are inducted into their Hall of Fame[3] and are sometimes invited back to judge the next World Pizza Championship. [4]
Classic Pizza - Criminisi Giuseppe
Neapolitan STG Pizza - Mansi Vincenzo
Pan Pizza - Valentino Clemente
Roman Pizza - Di Tella Antonio
Gluten free Pizza - Vassallo Domenico
Freestyle - Tolu Botella Francis
The Largest - Pasini Daniele
The Fastest - Bandinelli Andrea
Triathlon - Di Tella Antonio
Heinz Beck Trophy - Caliolo Alessandro
World Pizza Team - Di Stasio Raffaele - Tolu Cristian - Pizza a due
In 2016, French chef Ludovic Bicchierai, won the Pizza Classica competition with his pizza topping inspired by the traditional bouillabaisse fish soup which involves sea bream carpaccio, mozzarella, prawns, Tabasco sauce and courgetti flowers.[6]
In 2019, chef Filippo Rosato, from the UK pizzeria, Purezza, won the Pizza Classica category with a vegan pie. His creation was made using IPA-infused wholegrain dough topped with stir-fried cavolo nero, Italian-style marinated tempeh, pioppini mushrooms, a borlotti bean sauce, a vegan mozzarella, and a fermented cashew cheese with sundried cruschi peppers. The creation was finished with a garnish of ginger purée, agave syrup, and vegan caviar.[7]
Notable repeat winners include Tony Gemignani who holds 13 world championship titles, seven for acrobatics and six for baking. He also holds several pizza-related Guinness World Records and has opened more than 40 pizzerias across the United States.[8]