Italy dominates the Vera Pizza Napoletana Champion, but Japan surprises with two golds

The Vera Pizza Napoletana Champion concluded in Naples, solidifying a school that continues to train competent and responsible professionals, faithful to a centuries-old culinary tradition. The championship went beyond the competitions: at the Mostra d'Oltremare, after each batch of dough and each pizza baked, the participants demonstrated different ways of learning and interpreting a product with perhaps the strongest identity in the culinary world.

Italy dominated the medal count, with four golds, one silver, and two bronzes across the seven categories: Margherita, Marinara, Pizza Fritta, Calzone Napoletano, Mastunicola, Per Gourmet, and Amateurs. Even so, the championship produced some surprises worldwide.

Japan was one of the biggest surprises: they won gold in Margherita and Marinara, as well as two bronze medals. Their pizza-making community is very dynamic, and this is reflected both in AVPN's training projects with some of the country's most prestigious universities and in the practical application of knowledge in their pizzerias.

In Europe, Portuguese pizza makers won one gold and one silver medal, while Germany, Spain, and Austria each had one competitor. South Korea, the United States, Chile, and Canada also received medals and a special mention. The woman with the highest score was Canadian, and the contestant who traveled the farthest from her pizzeria to Naples was Chilean, covering 12,034 km. Among the special awards, the youngest pizza maker in the competition is 21 years old and from Latina.

Italy's primacy thus takes on a deeper meaning. Italian pizza makers are the primary custodians of this tradition and must continue to preserve it while making it accessible to all peoples and cultural identities. Naples remains the starting point, while each country develops new skills and perspectives.