To make the world's best pizza you'll need dough, mozzarella cheese and some top shelf tequila. On Thursday, top pizza-makers from around the globe competed for the title of "World's Best Pizza" at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. At stake was $10,000 and the highest honor in the industry.Goodfella's Brick Oven Pizza, based in Staten Island, N.Y., took first prize in the gourmet category of the International Pizza Expo's pizza competition.The expo, held earlier this week in Las Vegas, yielded more than 10,000 attendees.This was Goodfella's Brick Oven Pizza's third international championship, and earned the business $10,000 in prize money.
Peppe and his pizzaioli would like you to know that pizza is not an American invention. Deep-dish Chicago pies and New York slices are just aberrations from the true pizza, which he maintains is from Naples, Italy.
To this end, Peppe (known on his drivers license, and nowhere else, as Giuseppe Miele), founded in 1988 the North American chapter of the Associazione della Vera Pizza Napoletana, or Verace Pizza Napoletana ("verace" is Neapolitan slang for authentic), or VPN. Originally created in 1984 in Naples with the help of the local chamber of commerce and the regional Italian government, this association certifies pizzerias that produce pizza adhering to a strict set of guidelines, supposedly based on Neapolitan tradition. Pizzaioli, trained pizza chefs, are sent out to restaurants to confirm their claims that they deserve the seal of approval from the VPN.
This year's big winner was anything but traditional. The "Tropical Pie" - a blend melted asiago and mozzarella cheese, topped with shrimps, thinly sliced and twisted limes, a fresh mango salsa, all resting on a rich pineapple cream sauce infused with Patron.
The recipe, devised by mad pizza scientist Andrew Scudera of Goodfella's Brick Oven Pizza in Staten Island, was months in the making.
"I came up with idea to use tequila, but it was a collaboration," Andrew tells Shine. "Everyone here at the restaurant dived in and gave their input, helping to perfect the recipe by the time we brought it to the show."
The competition in Vegas was steep-particularly in the "gourmet" category, where the Tropical Pie was entered. Unlike the "traditional" competition where standard two topping pies are tossed around, "gourmet" competitors go rogue. The only rule is that there are no rules.
"A lot of different types cuisines compete in the gourmet challenge," says Andrew. "It's a culinary phenomenon." His fiercest competitor: a Japanese chef who made a rice crust topped with sushi-grade raw fish.
The recipe, devised by mad pizza scientist Andrew Scudera of Goodfella's Brick Oven Pizza in Staten Island, was months in the making.
"I came up with idea to use tequila, but it was a collaboration," Andrew tells Shine. "Everyone here at the restaurant dived in and gave their input, helping to perfect the recipe by the time we brought it to the show."
The competition in Vegas was steep-particularly in the "gourmet" category, where the Tropical Pie was entered. Unlike the "traditional" competition where standard two topping pies are tossed around, "gourmet" competitors go rogue. The only rule is that there are no rules.
"A lot of different types cuisines compete in the gourmet challenge," says Andrew. "It's a culinary phenomenon." His fiercest competitor: a Japanese chef who made a rice crust topped with sushi-grade raw fish.
"The gourmet pizza took the competition by storm. A unique pie made with nothing but the best of the best ingredients," says "Pizza master" Andrew Scudera from Goodfella's. "Winning the contest and representing New York always makes us proud. New York is known for great pizza and great food; we are happy to bring the title back to where it belongs."
Goodfella's Brick Oven Pizza is no stranger to pizza championship titles. This will be their 3rd international title among many other national awards and proclamations.
Goodfella's Brick Oven Pizza, established in 1992, is also home to the "Pizza School of New York," where they teach the art of pizza to restaurateurs from all over the world. Goodfella's will be serving the award-winning pizza all week long and handing out samples to all their loyal fans and pizza lovers from all over the tri-state area. Their website will have all the details, photos and recipes at http://www.goodfellas.com, as well as the latest news.
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