Competitions
Pizza & Pasta Northeast will be abuzz with competitions to crown the best pizza and pasta chefs in the region. They’ll be preparing their entries where all can see in the contest areas on the exhibit hall floor, adding to the excitement of the trade show. Special Events are planned in the morning on both show days before the exhibits open at 11 a.m. Making appearances at 10 a.m. will be, among others, Frank Pinello — from operating one of Brooklyn’s hottest pizzeria to starring in The Pizza Show, and Anthony Falco who is a world-renowned pizza consultant who first made a name for himself at the famed Roberta’s. Also planned: The Next Wave of American Pizza, Moderated by Scott Wiener — Our Man on the Street, will sit down for a Q&A with some young guns who are making big waves on the American pizza scene, which will be followed by a reception and networking session to take place after the exhibit hall closes on Wednesday afternoon.
The Caputo Cup
Sponsored by Antimo Caputo Flour
Discover the Best Neapolitan & US Style Pizzas at the Caputo Cup Pizza Competition This annual pizza-making competition sponsored by Antimo Caputo Flour expanded in 2017 to four divisions: Traditional, Non-Traditional, Pizza Napoletana/STG and Gluten-Free. The 2018 competition at Pizza & Pasta Northeast featured more competitors for the fifth annual USA Caputo Cup. It has expanded for the 2019 to five divisions, adding Pan Pizza. Antimo Caputo is known for its double zero flour and other products for pizza restaurants. Pizza makers from throughout the U.S. will bake-off in front of a panel of judges on both days of Pizza & Pasta Northeast — and event attendees are invited to sit in and see how some of the best in the business prepare their pies. Winners of Traditional, Non-Traditional, Gluten-Free and Pan win $2,000 and a trophy; the Pizza Napoletana champion receives $3,000 and a trophy. Competitors bring their own dough and ingredients and then assemble their pizzas in view of the audience. Registered attendees can observe their techniques and hear the contestants explain how they make and bake what the judges taste.
View the 2019 USA Caputo Cup Rules and Regulations
2018 Caputo Cup Champions
Traditional Winners: First Place (tie) – Scottie Rivera of Scottie’s Pizza Parlor in Portland, Oregon. First Place (tie) – Brenton Wallace of Crust & Craft in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Second Place – Sean Dempsey of Dempsey’s Brewery in Watertown, South Dakota. Third Place – Chris Decker of Metro Pizza in Las Vegas, Nevada
Non-Traditional Winners: First Place – Chris Batties of Denunzios Brick Oven Pizza and Grill in Fort Meyers, Florida. Second Place – David Conti of Red Planet Pizza N BBQ in Ansonia, Connecticut. Third Place – Greg Shope of Berthoud Pizza Company in Berthoud, Colorado
STG/ Napoletana Winners: First Place – Michael Mercurio of Mercurio’s LLC in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Second Place – Yoann Le Corvec of Pizzeria No 900 in Montreal, Canada. Third Place (tie) – Mirko D’Agata of Groupe No 900 Pizzeria Napolitaine Inc. in Montreal, Canada Third Place (tie) – Brian Vickers of Groupe No 900 Pizzeria Napolitaine Inc. in Montreal, Canada
Gluten-Free Winners: First Place – Giovanni Cesarano of King Umberto in Elmont, New York. Second Place – Joseph Mercurio of Mercurio’s in Pittsburgh, PA. Third Place – Ryan Banda of Flour & Barley in Las Vegas, Nevada
Northeast Pasta Showdown
Sponsored by California Milk Advisory Board
Top Chefs in the Industry Compete in the Northeast Pasta Showdown We’ll be crowning the chefs with the best pasta dishes in the region during our two-day Northeast Pasta Showdown, sponsored by the California Milk Advisory Board.
2018 Pasta Showdown Winners
First Place Salvatore Passalacqua Nino’s Cucina Italiana Greenville, NC Second Place John Lombardi Third Place Matt Hutchinson Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana Houston, TX View the 2018 USA Caputo Cup Rules and Regulations Read about the Special Events at Pizza & Pasta Northeast.
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