Queensland’s Best of the Best Selected

The competition to determine who is the Best of Best pizza maker in Australia is heating up and the hottest players in the pizza business are starting to be named. Just recently the representative from Queensland was selected and Pierluigi Donin from Arriva Italian Restaurant and Ryan Parsons, owner of Parso’s Pizza, have won their respective state finals. They will face off against each other and winners from other states in Sydney in September to contest the national final and find out who will be Australia’s Best of the Best in 2009.

Ryan won 2 categories, Best Cheese (Gourmet) and Best Seafood (Gourmet) while Pierluigi won Best Seafood (Traditional). However, they both produced consistently good pizzas in all 3 categories of Cheese, Smallgoods and Seafood in their respective finals and both establishments now have a trophy and $1000 cash for winning through in Queensland.

Previous winners have gone on to publish their own cookbooks, gained thousands in free publicity and enjoyed the celebrity status that comes with being named the top gun in Aussie pizza. One example is the success story of Peter Augoustis, who is now the creative chef from the up and coming franchise called Crust Pizza. You can read more about Crust and Peter in this issue in the article When Fresh is Best and Fast is the Future. Other examples of the benefits of entering the Best of the Best are demonstrated by looking at people like Andy Parisi who was asked to be a spokesperson for Pizza Wine and Theo Kalageracos who last year published his own pizza cookbook and recently went to Salsomaggiore, Italy to compete in the World Pizza Championships. Although 2009 Queensland entries are now closed, entries are still open to independent pizza making establishments in other states. For terms and conditions of entry please visit www.bestofthebest.com.au

The national winner will receive a range of prizes including a:

• $5000 cheque
• $5000 marketing package
• big, shiny trophy
• valuable range of sponsors prizes
• package for an international pizza contest

With leading food industry co-sponsors Caboolture, Spyral Pty Ltd, First Pack. Mutti, Primo Smallgoods, Sandhurst Fine Goods and Williams Refrigeration, National Foods is offering a superb opportunity to acknowledge great pizza makers around Australia year after year.

More information? Visit www.bestofthebest.com.au