MEMBERS SHINE ON THE WORLD STAGE

For more information about the U.S. Pizza Team, its members and sponsors, visit uspizzateam.com.

In her second trip to the WPC, Cristina Aceves Smith, co-owner of State of Mind Public House in Los Altos, California, grabbed 5th place in the world for her Pizza in Pala submission. Tugging on the judges’ memories with familiar flavors, all sourced locally, Smith showcased a light and fluffy Roman-style crust topped with a winter squash puree, speck, fresh mozzarella, olive oil, chicory dressed in white balsamic, roasted walnuts and a 36-month aged Parmesan.

Multiple-time world champion Jamie Culliton, owner of The Nona Slice House in Safety Harbor, Florida, took 7th in the world in Teglia with his Truffle Parmesan frico crust, Galbani aged and fresh mozzarellas, panseared potatoes, guanciale cream sauce and crispy pancetta, finished with herb-crusted Parmesan Reggiano and burrata.

In the Gluten-Free realm, Lenny Rago of Panino’s Pizzeria in Evanston, Illinois, secured 13th place out of a field of 75 competitors. Using Panino’s own Via Pizzeria 123 Gluten-Free dough mix, Rago’s Barese pie featured a 90% hydration dough, homemade Barese sausage, tomato sauce, a blend of Galbani whole and part-skim mozzarella, rapini sautéed with garlic, olive oil, salt and crushed red pepper, stracciatella, red sweet drop peppers and field greens.

Top USPT recognition for Pizza Classica went to Galbani Professionale Pizza Cup Champion Jose Flores of Crust Lovers Pizza in Sanford, Florida; McKenna Carney of The Nona Slice House; and Dave Sommers of Mad Mushroom in West Lafayette, Indiana, who all finished in the Top 40 out of 431 competitors in the category. Flores ranked 31st, while Carney and Sommers finished 34th and 36th respectively. For Flores, this was just his second competition ever, while it was Carney’s first attempt at the Classica category in Italy.

Additional USPT competitors were Wilhelm Rodriguez, Papa’s Pizza, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico; Lars Smith, State of Mind Public House, Los Altos, California; Sean Dempsey, Danger Von Dempsey’s, Aberdeen, South Dakota; and Drew French, Your Pie, Athens, Georgia.

Congratulations to all our USPT members for another great performance!