THE BEST PIZZAIOLO IN THE WORLD IS ITALIAN: "CAPUTO TROPHY" GOES TO MARCELLO D'ERASMO; SECOND PLACE TO GENNARO NASTI OF PIZZERIA "VIA TRIBUNALI" IN PORTLAND (OREGON) AND THIRD TAKEHIKO CHIBA OF PIZZERIA "PADRINO DEL SHOZAN" IN SENDAI (MIYAGI)

The new world champion pizzaiolo comes from the Marche region: Marcello d’Erasmo, 54, runs the pizzeria "Mama Rosa" in Ortezzano (Fermo). He won the 11th edition of the "Caputo Trophy " in Nola. "I have been making pizzas for 35 years”, he said, “and for me this prize is really the greatest honor. I did not expect it”. A bit dazed, he thanked Naples and the "Neapolitan masters who taught me the craft. Thanks to them, their technique and their advice, I have the best job in the world”. The race lasted three days and was attended by 427 pizza makers from Italy, Japan, France, Switzerland, Ukraine, Morocco, Germany, Romania, Brazil, Norway, Spain, Canada and the USA.

The runner-up, Gennaro Nasti of the Pizzeria "Via Tribunali" in Portland, Oregon, lives in the U.S. but is originally from Naples. Third place went to Takehiko Chiba of the Pizzeria "Padrino del Shozan" in the city of Sendai, Miyagi province.

A large delegation of Japanese arrived in Naples, demonstrating that the job of pizzaiolo is not the exclusive rights of Neapolitans and Italians. More and more foreigners and women are successfully making “Margherita” and “Napoli” pizzas. "Elisabeth Falkner, Iron Chef from California, was also in the race. She won first place in the category "Classic Pizza" and was awarded the title "Caputo Trophy International Chef ".