PMQ’s 5th Annual New York Pizza Showcase a hit at the Javits Center

Oxford, Miss. (March 9, 2009) – Now in its fifth year, the New York Pizza Showcase, produced by PMQ Pizza Magazine (www.pmq.com) and held in conjunction with the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, once again invited pizza industry manufacturers and pizzeria operators to join together at the Jacob Javits Center March 1-3.

This year’s lineup included companies showcasing their newest equipment, food products and services; performances and competitions with PMQ’s own U.S. Pizza Team; and the always anticipated America’s Plate Competition, an international culinary competition that awards the World’s Best Gourmet Pizza.

America’s Plate

This year a culinary battle between Italy, China, Czech Republic and the United States took place March 2, at Cha Cha’s Outdoor Cafe in Little Italy as all vied for the title of World’s Best Gourmet Pizza during PMQ’s America’s Plate Competition. Four worthy opponents faced off: Roberto Caporuscio from Italy, Michael Amheiser from the United States, Petr Kotasek from Czech Republic and Andrew Lin from China. In the end it was Roberto Caporuscio representing Italy who walked away with the title of World’s Best Gourmet Pizza and the glory. For more information about the America’s Plate, visit www.americasplate.com.

 

U.S. Pizza Team Trials

High-flying dough throwing action came to a close with a number of winners

• Triathlon Winner (secured a trip to Italy with the team April 2nd)
  • Patt Miller, Flying Pizza, Columbus, Ohio
• Fastest Pizza Maker
  • Dave Smith II, Pizza Palace Plus, Emporium, PA
• Largest Dough Stretch
  • Scott Childers, East Coast Pizza, Riverview, FL
• Freestyle Dough Throwing
  • Ryan LaRose, Pizzeria Del Corso, Brooklyn, NY
• America’s Plate Acrobatic Division
  • Petr Kotasek, Pizza Donna, Czech Republic

The U.S. Pizza Team is sponsored by The California Milk Advisory Board, La Nova, Paradise Tomato Kitchens, Bag Solutions, Roma, Marsal & Sons, XLT Ovens, Fontanini, F&A Dairy, and Throw Dough. Find more information on the U.S. Pizza Team and its members at www.uspizzateam.com.

 

Pizza Hall of Fame and PIE Awards

Chef Santo Bruno was inducted into the Pizza Hall of Fame (www.pizzahalloffame.org) on Monday, March 2, for his years of dedication to the industry and his unwavering commitment to helping fellow pizzeria operators find success in the pizza business. Due to bad weather in the New York area, Dom DeMarco of Di Fara’s Pizza was unable to accept the Pizza Hall of Fame award reserved for him and will receive his at a later date.

Sid Fanarof, co-owner of Newport Beach, California- based zpizza was presented with the Pizza Industry Enterprise (PIE) award on Sunday, March 1, for displaying exceptional growth in the industry.

 

Pizza Tours

Showgoers who signed up on the show floor enjoyed a tour lead by Scott Weiner of Scott’s Pizza Tours (www.scottspizzatours.com) to some of the most famous pizzerias in New York, including Patsy’s, John’s and Luzzo’s.

 

About PMQ Pizza Magazine

In publication for more than 10 years, PMQ Pizza Magazine reaches 40,000 owner/operators each issue, 5,000 Web visitors each day at www.pmq.com, and 10,000 newsletter subscribers each week, helping to make it the official publication of the $36 billion pizza industry.