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Mama Mimi's Take 'n Bake takes Pizza Festiva crown

March 14, 2006

LAS VEGAS—Jodi and Jeff Aufdencamp, owners of Mama Mimi's Take 'n Bake Pizza in Columbus, Ohio, took the $2,000 first prize in the 2006 Pizza Festiva contest held March 14 at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.

This is the second trip the couple has made to the Festiva finals; their first was in 2004. (Read also Kings of the pizza contests.)

The winning pie was the Mama's Marmalletta Amore, a combination of a sauce of apricot preserves, bone-in herbed, roasted chicken, mozzarella and gorgonzola cheeses, and caramelized onions.

"We could tell by the pizzas entered that the contest would be very close," said Jodi Aufdencamp, who baked and presented the pizza to a panel of six judges. "After it was over, we were told there were only nine points separating first and fourth. The other pizzas were really good, so that didn't surprise us."

Jeff, who helped prepare the pizza, called the contest nerve-wracking.

"I hate these things; I don't want to do another one anytime soon," he said, laughing. "We were really worried about our dough because the water here is different from that back home, and it definitely made it harder. So we had to let it warm up a lot longer than we normally do."

In 2001, a Mama Mimi's pizza took top honors in the gourmet category of Pizza Festiva, an annual contest held during the North America Pizza & Ice Cream Show. That same year the Aufdencamps traveled to the World Pizza Championships in Salsamaggiore, Italy, where they competed as part of the U.S. Pizza Team.

Both said they're eager to spread the word of their victory throughout Columbus, where they operate four shops.

"We hope it'll generate attention for the business like it has in the past," said Jodi, clutching a celebratory glass of wine. "Right now, we're just trying to relax. We've been a little wound up for a few days."