The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) launched the seventh annual Real California Pizza Contest, a nationwide search for the best pizza recipes that showcase Real California cheese and dairy products. The contest, open to professional chefs and culinary students across the U.S., will award $30,000 in total prize money for the most innovative uses of cow’s milk cheeses from California.
The online entry submission period opens March 20, 2025, and closes May 16, 2025. Twelve finalists will be selected for an all-expense-paid trip to compete head-to-head at a bake-off event July 29, 2025, in Napa, Calif.
This year’s contest spotlights three new pizza recipe categories:
“Our contest is focused on highlighting the best in pizza from around the country that showcases how California cheeses and dairy ingredients can elevate any restaurant or pizzeria menu,” said Mike Gallagher, Business and Market Development Consultant for the CMAB, in a recent press release. “The judging team looks forward to seeing submissions in new, fresh categories that celebrate California’s leading foodservice cheese, Mozzarella, as well as other cheese varieties.”
All online entries will be evaluated, with the top four recipes in each category selected as finalists. The 12 finalists will travel to Napa to compete in the bake-off event at the Culinary Institute of America at Copia.
Each category winner will receive $5,000. The overall highest-scoring pizza will be named the Grand Prize Winner, earning an additional $5,000. Finalists who do not win a category will each receive $1,000.
The contest will be judged by an esteemed panel of award-winning pizza chefs, including 13-time world pizza champion Tony Gemignani, renowned Italian and pizza chef Glenn Cybulski, and international champion pizza chef and restaurant owner Laura Meyer.
Professional chefs and culinary students can review the contest details, official rules, and submit entries at https://realcaliforniamilkfoodservice.com/pizza-contest/.
This year’s entry form includes pizza name, photograph, ingredient list, and a brief description detailing the recipe concept and use of Real California cheese and dairy.
With over 250 varieties and styles, cheeses that carry the Real California Milk seal are made with sustainably sourced milk from more than 1,000 family dairy farms across the state. These cheeses bring exceptional flavor and quality to any pizza recipe.
