John Lanzafame is the best pizza and pasta chef in Australia
As expected, competition was hot this year in the Australian leg of the Fonterra Global Pizza and Pasta Challenge 2013, with some of the biggest names in the industry represented.
Reigning global champion Simon Best from Augellos, 2012 Australian champion Kris Bailey from Pizza Religion and John Lanzafame from Lanzafame along with 16 other finalists travelled from around Australia to Melbourne to compete on the 2nd and 3rd of June at the Australian Final.
Sponsored by Fonterra’s Perfect Italiano, the award categories were for Best Pizza, Best Dessert Pizza and Best Pasta in Australia.
Glenn Austin, head judge, “This year’s event has been a long time coming, The competitors where ready for it and this showed in the fantastic food combinations offerd. Pizza is no longer a trashy fast food, it is excellent food done fast!”
Award Winners:
Best Pizza: John Lanzafame from Lanzafame. Pizza: Winter Lamb Pie
Best Pasta: John Lanzafame from Lanzafame. Pasta: Pennette with Lamb Casserole
Global Pizza & Pasta Challenge Team Choice: Joel Viney from Delaware North. Pizza: Dengaku Style Smoked Duck and Miso Pizza
Best Dessert Pizza: Brent Assam from The University Club of Western Australia. Pizza: Italian Meringue, Strawberry and Basil Salsa with Salted Hazelnut Popcorn
Best Use of Nutella in a Pizza: Akheel Soltan from Oakhill Pizza. Pizza: Sweet Cheese and Nutella Pizza
Of the winning pizza, Glenn Austin says “With John Lanzafame we have seen what great talent can do, after not competing for almost five years, John has come back bigger and stronger than ever. The pizza pie and scroll will take off in the industry in a big way”
“Dessert will struggle to be the headline on any menu, but the work Brent did has just ensured the Pizza Dessert a secure place and great future on any menu.”
John Lanzafame will now compete against pizza and pasta chefs from around the world in the global final, to be held in Sydney in 2014.
The Fonterra Global Pizza and Pasta Challenge was founded 10 years ago to promote and encourage culinary innovation with the worlds most popular food – pizza. The competition has developed into the world’s biggest pizza competition with national and international events run in countries throughout Asia Pacific, Africa and the Americas.
