The United States Pizza Team Competes at the World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy

The U.S. Pizza Team (USPT) will be returning to Parma, Italy, to compete in the 26th annual World Pizza Championship May 8-10, 2017. The team will bring 17 competitors, all master pizzaiolos, from Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, California, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, and New York. Team captain Michael Lamarca, owner of the Master Pizza chain in Cleveland, Ohio, Coaches Gino Rago, owner of Panino's Pizza in Chicago, and Jamie Culliton, the reigning world champion in freestyle acrobatics, will lead the team in hopes of returning with gold medals.

Hundreds of pizza chefs from over 30 countries make their way to this worldwide competition each year to compete for the title of World Champion in 10 categories. The culinary categories include Classico, Neapolitan, Gluten Free Pizza, Pan Pizza, Pizza for Two (one pizza made by a team of two pizzaiolos), and Pizza on the Peel. The athletic categories are Largest Dough Stretch, Fastest Pie Maker and Freestyle Acrobatics.

The 2017 USPT competitors include:
Gino Rago, Panini's, Chicago IL, Won Gluten Free div. At Western Pizza Trials (IBIE, Las Vegas)

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Michael Lamarca - Master Pizza, Cleveland OH- won Midwest Pizza Trials (Chicago)

Anthony Gordon - Casa Ristorante Italiano, Ft. Wayne IN - accepted the SOFO foods show competition prize (Ryan LaRose and the runner up could not accept.) First time competitor.

Haider Ali - 726 degrees, L.A. CA - won Western Pizza Trials (IBIE, Las Vegas) Repeat competitor domestically, first time competitor in Italy.

Kyle Rosch - Brenz Pizza Company, Grand Rapids MI (Won Pizza Pizzazz at MAREXPO, Columbus OH)

Alex Garcia (FLO Pizzeria, Grand Rapids MI) - won 3rd place at Pizza Pizzazz. We have footage.

Dan Ucello* (FLO Pizzeria, Grand Rapids MI)

Michael Athanasopoulos (Michael Wolf) - The Lamb and Wolf, Oroville CA

Constantino Anezinos - Zorba's Pizza, Millbray CA

Massimo Manino, Marabella Old World Pizza, Greenville NC, Took 3rd place in Western Pizza Trials

Dave Sommers - Mad Mushroom, W. Laffayette IN (Medalist in multiple culinary/athletic categories, many times over. 3rd Place 2015 Chinese Pizza Championship)

Leonardo Rago* - Panini's, Chicago IL (+1) (Midwest Trials 2015 winner)

Bruno Brunetti* - Panini's, Chicago IL
John Coletta The USPT will arrive in Parma days prior to the event. During this time, the team will practice and shop the local food markets for their potential winning ingredients.

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"The team arrives in Italy with a refined idea of what flavors they wish to deliver on their pies. Sometimes ingredients do not arrive or ideas change when in the moment, but luckily we have local markets right around the corner that feature all of the regional flavors needed to make a winning pie." Said USPT Coordinator, Brian Hernandez.

There will be new additions to the event this year with four themed areas with specific pizza and pasta dishes and 11 competitions focusing strictly on the cooking and skills that will go beyond the traditional events.

About USPT
PMQ Pizza Magazine, the business trade publication for the pizza restaurant industry, created the U.S. Pizza Team in 2000. The team is sponsored by Grain Craft, California Milk Advisory Board, Gordon Food Service, Sofo Foods, LaNova, Paradise Tomato Kitchens, American Baking Systems, Bag Solutions, Fontanini Meats, Lillsun, Marsal and Sons, Univex, Presto Foods, Pivetti and Lloyd Pans. This year's 2017 hashtag for the USPT will be #PizzaGold

For more information about the team, events, pictures or video, contact Brian Hernandez at 662-234-5481 x129 or by email @ brian@pmq.com or Heather Wilson extension 137 heather(at)pmq.com

Visit us online at http://www.uspizzateam.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTnpCmAyQUI

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