Dairy Farmers Best of the Best Competition

For more than a decade Dairy Farmers has been running The Dairy Farmers Best of the Best Pizza Challenge. A pizzamaking competition to find Australia’s best pizza makers in independent establishments around the country. Pizzerias, takeaway shops, Italian and other restaurants and pubs that make pizza have all been part of the process to discover these people and their skills.

2008 Competiton
After the successful introduction of the Traditional and Gourmet categories to the competition last year, the same format is being used in 2008. Some people have asked why there are two categories in the competition and what is the difference between the Traditional and Gourmet categories.

The two are designed to promote quite different styles of pizza. The Traditional category is for entrants who specialise in a more simplistic ‘traditional’ style of pizza creation both from Italian and Australian perspectives. Examples of pizzas that fit into this category would be Margherita, Meat Lovers, Marinara or Ham & Pineapple. The Gourmet category allows contestants to prepare pizzas with a more exotic ingredient base. Some examples seen in last year’s Dairy Farmers Best of the Best Pizza Challenge include: Rockmelon, Prosciutto & Rocket, Kangaroo Ragu & Truffle Cheese, Smoked Salmon Carpaccio and Asparagus and Duck Egg.

Competition Structure
There are three stages in the competition. The first is a range of regional cook offs to find the state finalists. From here the state finals take place as part of various food service and retail food shows held around Australia. Once these are finished and the state winners are known, they are all brought together to compete for the national title of “Best of the Best”. This year’s national final will be held in September as part of Fine Food Australia in Melbourne. There are prizes at both state and national levels. In 2008 these include: a trophy, $1000 prize money, return economy airfare and accommodation to compete in the national final in Melbourne, September 2008 for the state winners.

The overall national winner will recieve a trophy, $5000 prize money and a $5000 joint marketing package to promote their establishment.

For the chance to attend one of the initial cook offs people must complete an entry form and submit it before the closing date in each state. At each of these regional cook offs entrants prepare one of the pizzas from their menu. These are judged by a panel of three. The top five scoring entrants in each state progress to the state final.

2008 Competition Locations & Dates

QLD/NT STATE FINAL 10 – 11 March
Fine Food QLD – Brisbane
VIC/TAS STATE FINAL 30 May – 1 June
Good Food & Wine Show – Melbourne
Entries close 30/04/08 at 5pm
NSW/ACT STATE FINAL 20 – 22 June
Good Food & Wine Show – Sydney
Entries close 19/05/08 at 5pm
SA/WA STATE FINAL 11 – 13 July
Good Food & Wine Show – Perth
Entries close 23/05/08 at 5pm
NATIONAL FINAL 22 – 25 September
Fine Food Australia – Melbourne

Past winners There have been ten national winners of The Dairy Farmers Best of the Best Pizza Challenge. In more recent years some of these winners have gone on to compete in international contests as part of The Dairy Farmers Australain Pizza Team winning a variety of trophies, prizes and accolades.
2007 - Raffaele Brotzu, Delizioso Cafe NSW
2006 - Peter Augoustis, Melt Gourmet Pizza Bar NSW
2005 - John Lanzafame, Hugo’s Bar Pizza NSW
2004 - Andy Parisi, La Trattoria SA
2003 - Theo Kalogeracos, Little Caesars WA
2002 - Simon Best, Augello’s Qld
2001 - Jerome Calvar, Neo Pizza, Pasta and Gelati Qld
2000 - Sidney Roberts, Picasso’s Restaurant Qld
1999 - Bruno Gentile, Caffe Belgiorno SA
1998 - Peter Oxley, Wedgetail Woodfire Pizza NSW
NB The establishments listed above are where the winners worked at the time of their victories.

Sponsors
KR Castlemaine is one of the largest Australian foodservice suppliers of ham, bacon and smallgoods. KR Castlemaine Foodservice Division markets and sells a comprehensive range of products to restaurants, educational institutions, health care, government and food service suppliers.

Spyral is a direct importer of high quality international brands. With their distribution and technical support, and established dealer networks, they have continued to be the leader in the pizza market, but have also expanded their range of products to include fryers, modular commercial cooking appliances and induction cooktops.

First Pack is an innovative packaging company specialising in food packaging products. Our main product line is Pizza Cartons and we are one of the largest suppliers of pizza boxes in Australia. Caboolture - the cheese professionals choose. Dairy Farmers is the largest Australian owned producer of stretched curd mozzarella and pizza cheeses.

Caboolture is the brand name of mozzarella and pizza cheeses they supply to pizza makers and others in the food service industry. This is the cheese used in The Dairy Farmers Best of the Best Pizza Challenge. Caboolture is available as blocks, shredded, grated or diced and comes in a variety of pack sizes.

For more information about the competition, sponsors products and recipe ideas and to download entry forms visit www.bestofthebest.com.au. For enquiries over the phone Freecall 1800 777 556.