The U.S. Pizza Team (USPT) and Platinum Sponsor Galbani Professionale US will host the 2023 Galbani Professionale Pizza Cup at the Pizza Tomorrow Summit, taking place November 8-9 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida.
This event will be a head-to-head battle between talented pizzaioli and pizza acrobats from across the nation. The grand-prize winners in both culinary and acrobatics will earn a trip to compete in the World Pizza Championship (WPC) in Parma, Italy, in April 2024.
Registration is required for all competitors. Click here to sign up today.
Related: Jose Flores wins 2022 Galbani Professionale Pizza Cup
Last year’s Galbani Cup grand prize went to Jose Flores of Crust Lovers Pizza in Sanford, Florida. Coming in at a close No. 2 was Craig Allenbaugh of Sauced Pizza and Catering in Fairview Park, Ohio.
Oven 2 finalists and winners in last year’s Galbani Cup: Joey Streeter (2nd), Craig Allenbaugh (1st) and Michael Athanosopoulos (3rd)
Here’s how the culinary competition works: Two sets of competitors will present pizzas to two separate sets of judges. There will be three judges per table, and a winner from each judge’s table will be chosen. The two finalists will face off, and all six judges will judge both final pizzas.
USPT coordinator Brian Hernandez said all competitors should bring enough dough and ingredients to make two rounds of pizzas.
“The first-place culinary competitor from the face-off will be crowned the 2024 Galbani Cup Champion and win a trip to compete in the World Pizza Championship, along with a snazzy pizza peel to hang in their shop and brag about all day long,” Hernandez said.
“Second and third places get the snazzy peel, $300 and $200 respectively, and a hug from me,” Hernandez added. “It’s priceless.”
The first-place winner in the Freestyle Acrobatic competition will also receive the grand prize of a trip to Italy to compete at the 2024 WPC. Last year’s acrobatics winner was McKenna Carney of The Nona Slice House in Safety Harbor, Florida. Carney finished the year with the title of 2022 USPT Acrobatics Champion and went on to compete at the WPC in Parma the following April.
Other ancillary prizes will be awarded to competitors.
