U.S. Pizza Team Invades Italy for the World Pizza Championship
OXFORD, Miss. (PRWEB) March 25, 2019 -- The United States Pizza Team (USPT) will be returning to Parma, the “Food Valley” of Italy, to compete in the 28th edition of the World Pizza Championship April 9-11. With a number of first-time competitors as well as seasoned USPT veterans on this year’s squad, hopes are high to bring back some precious medals.
“I’m extremely excited to compete with this team in Italy,” says rookie USPT member Derrick Tung of Paulie Gee’s Logan Square. “It is a true band of brothers and sisters. I’m excited to learn what I can from pizzaiolos from around the world and bring that back to my shop.”
Gianni Gallucci of Forno Rosso in Chicago, another first-time competing member, heads into the global event with an air of confidence. “I can’t wait to win,” he says.
With 19 competitors in 55 categories between them, the brigade of USPT members is one of the largest competing in the international event. Additional members competing in this year’s championships are Gino Rago, Lenny Rago and Bruno Brunetti, Panino’s Pizza, Chicago, Ill.; Leonard Giordano, Mona Lisa Pizza, Staten Island, N.Y.; Michael LaMarca, Master Pizza, Cleveland, Ohio; Jason Samosky, Samosky’s Homestyle Pizzeria, Valley City, Ohio; Dave Sommers, Mad Mushroom, West Lafayette, Ind.; Scott Volpe, Fiamme Pizza, Tucson, Ariz.; Ali Haider, 786°, Sun Valley, Calif.; Constantino and Peter Anezinos, Zorba’s Pizza, Millbrae, Calif.; David Conti, Red Planet Pizza & BBQ, Ansonia, Conn.; Lars Smith, State of Mind Public House & Pizza, Los Altos, Calif.; Leah Scurto, Pizza Leah, Healdsburg, Calif.; Michael Stevens, Palo Mesa Pizza, Arroyo Grande, Calif.; Michael Athanasopoulos, The Lamb & The Wolf, Rockville, Calif.; and RC Gallegos, RC’s NYC Pizza & Pasta, Kingwood, Texas.
The U.S. Pizza Team competes all year round in various trials across the country in anticipation of the World Pizza Championships. The USPT trials are designed to mimic the Italian event to better prepare the competitors in such events as pizza classica, pizza in the pan, pizza on the peel, gluten-free, STG (Neapolitan style), and pizza for two (made by two pizzaiolos). Winners of each trial event in the United States win a trip to the World Pizza Championships.
PMQ Pizza Magazine, the business trade publication for the pizza restaurant industry, created the U.S. Pizza Team in 2000. The team is sponsored by Galbani, Grain Craft, Ferrarelle, Real California Milk, Gordon Food Service, LaNova, Paradise Tomato Kitchens, MFG Tray, Molini Spigadoro, Burkett Restaurant Equipment and Supplies, Bag Solutions, Lillsun, Univex, Presto Foods and Sofo Foods.
For more information about this event or the U.S. Pizza Team, contact Brian Hernandez at 662-234-5481 ext. 129, brian(at)pmq.com, or visit http://uspizzateam.com/.
Heather Wilson, PMQ Pizza Magazine Inc, http://www.pmq.com, +1 (662) 234-5481 Ext: 137, [email protected]
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