The International Baking Industry Expo (IBIE) is sweetening the pot for attendees of this year’s event in Las Vegas, with a star-studded demonstration program that features headliner Buddy Valastro, star of TLC network’s “Cake Boss” series. Valastro brings his unique style to the Amoretti Demo Theater in the show’s North Hall for two 50-minute sessions. Additionally, this year’s event, to be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center Oct. 6-9, features the Pizza Village, hosted by PMQ Pizza Magazine, a special area that will showcase moneymaking products and equipment specifically for the pizza restaurant industry.

Visit the IBIE website to register or learn more.


www.IBIE2013.com

Take Time to Train
What's your training style? In order to properly learn job functions in a pizzeria, trainees need to go through a series of steps, which usually include demonstration of the task; shadowing; verbal or written instructions; and role-playing. Training updates should also be performed every three to six months.

– Liz Barrett, PMQ editor at large
Read more at The Pizza Insider.

This Week In Pizza

Today on This Week In Pizza: CiCi’s lands in airports; SliceFest draws 2,000; and dining in at Domino’s.

Click here to watch video.

A Pizza Fit for Champions

Whether the San Antonio Spurs win or lose in this week’s NBA Finals against the Miami Heat, there’s a gigantic pizza out there with their name on it. Literally. Big Lou’s Pizza, a popular San Antonio eatery, crafted a deliciously ornate specialty pie that featured the Spurs’ logo, the Larry O’Brien Trophy and the team mascot (the latter fashioned out of pepperoni, ham, olives and green peppers). ESPN producers requested the pie while they were shooting footage in the area for their coverage of the series. Big Lou’s reportedly made a similar pie last January in honor of the Texas A&M Aggies’ football squad.

Read more at PMQ.com.

Pizza Without Borders

Sweden's Pizza Maker of the Year

Ah, the sweet smell of bone marrow and cabbage pizza! You're probably thinking, "Where can I get one of those?" You can sink your teeth into this curious pie – the winner of Sweden's Pizza of the Year competition – only at Speceriet in Stockholm, where chef Jonas Karlsson has "pushed the pizza into the top echelons of modern gastronomy," according to one contest judge.

Read more at Pizza Without Borders.

SliceFest 2013 Draws 2,000 Guests

SliceFest 2013, a music and food festival hosted by Slice Pizza & Brew in Birmingham, drew more than 2,000 guests and raised $3,000 for the pizzeria’s partner charities. Attendees jammed to live bands and sampled new pizza creations from chef Terrill Brazleton, including the Lobster Mac & Cheese (fresh lobster, macaroni, Asiago, Parmesan and cheddar cheeses, jalapeños, bacon and green onions); the Rasta Far Pie (smoked Jamaican jerk chicken, grilled papaya, corn, black beans and manchego cheese); and the Chilton (braised pork shoulder, grilled peaches, fresh arugula, aged gouda and balsamic drizzle). JJ Grey and Mofro headlined the event, which also featured eight other bands. “This was the best anniversary party we could have imagined,” said Slice co-owner Jason Bajalieh.

Read more at PMQ.com.