Having witnessed a bake-off in my time, I’ve seen firsthand the excitement that the event conjures. The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) recently oversaw the 2023 Real California Pizza Contest and announced three champions. It was a race to see who would craft the best pie with some of the Golden State’s best cheeses.
“This year’s pizza contest showcased the use of California dairy at its finest,” said Mike Gallagher, Business and Market Development Consultant for the CMAB. “The judges were impressed by the variety of California cheeses and how chefs used them to elevate their recipes, such as a pesto-whipped Ricotta featured in one of the winning pizzas. There was a clear recognition by our finalists of the quality these products bring to the table.”
Bill Crawford, Owner of the Righteous Slice in Rexburg, Idaho, took home the Grand Prize for his El Pollo Borracho recipe in the Cal-Mex pizza category. This pizza packed a punch of flavor by marrying tequila-lime chicken, elote corn, jalapeño peppers, and Tajín seasoning with Real California Oaxaca and Queso Fresco cheeses, and creamy California crème fraîche.
The Plant-Forward category winner was Giovanni Labbate, Owner of Tievoli Pizza Bar in Palatine, Illinois. His Sunset in Sonoma recipe featured a garlic confit cream sauce, sharp California Cheddar, purple potato slices, caramelized onions, and mushrooms. It was topped with pesto-whipped Real California Ricotta and Parmesan cheeses.
The press release also noted the winner of the Real Californian category. Vincent Sbarro, Owner of Vinnie’s Pizzeria & Forno di Sbarro in Concord, California, won for his Cali King pizza, which paired four unique Real California cheeses with tender eggplant, fire-roasted red bell peppers, and sliced Castelvetrano olives to tastefully showcase the best of California dairy and produce in each savory bite.
“As the country’s number one producer of milk and Mozzarella, a big percentage of our dairy products go into pizza,” said John Talbot, Chief Executive Officer of the CMAB. “A healthy pizza industry is important to our California dairy industry. Maintaining our standing as a national leader in the pizza category is essential to our business.”
To learn more about the event, click here.
Deli Market News loves to see what chefs create with cheese!
