News

California restaurateur takes home world pizza championship

November 29, 2018

California-based pizzaoloand restaurateur, Tony Gemignani, took home his 13th global pizza championship this week in Porto, Portugal, where this time he won a new world pizza face-off, the Antonio Mezzero All-Stars Pizza Championship which pitted 10 of the globe's top pizza talents against one another, a news release said. 

Gemignani represented the U.S., taking first place in the Port wine category after three rounds of competition, by pairing his Pizza Napoletana with Croft's 20-year-old Tawny Port. The pie included Portugese chorizo and smoked fleur de sel with Topo São Jorge cheese, a port wine reduction, 'Nduja salumi, Grande mozzerella, crema de port, micro greens and more. 
 
"It was such an exciting experience working with the rich, local ingredients of Portugal," Gemignani said in the release. "The result is a really high-quality pizza that harmonizes with Croft's 20-year-old Tawny Port, and I'm looking forward to bringing these unique flavors back with me."

Early next year, Gemignani will host a specialty pairing event at his Tony's Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco, that will include a three-course fixed menu including the winning pizza, additional courses inspired by the winning ingredients, all paired with Croft Port. Following the event, the winning pizza will continue to be available on the menu at Tony's Pizza Napoletana. 

Gemignani has won numerous awards including Best Pizza Margherita at the World Pizza Cup in Naples, Italy, and Best Pizza Romana at the World Championship of Pizza Makers in 2011. Gemignani is the chef and owner of 21 concepts in Northern California and Las Vegas. He is also proprietor of the International School of Pizza in San Francisco, where he certifies chefs from around the world, and is an official U.S. Ambassador of Neapolitan Pizza by the city of Naples.