Winners Announced at PMQ's 6th Annual Orlando Pizza Show

ORLANDO, FL, September 16, 2011 (Press-News.org) In addition to a bevy of pizza-centric vendors providing attendees with information on what's new in the industry and the opportunity to learn from seasoned restaurateurs, three competitions took place, which gave contestants the opportunity to earn a place on the United States Pizza Team. The first place winner in each category automatically earned a spot on the team, and the winners of the American Pizza Championship and the Freestyle Acrobatics contests will join the team when it travels internationally in 2012.

Winners for the Gluten-Free Pizza Competition include 1st Place, Mike Amheiser from Pizza Dock in Fredricktown, Ohio; 2nd Place, Patrick Maggi from Pasquale's Deli and Pizzeria in Demascus, Maryland; and 3rd Place, Jason Samosky from Samosky's Pizza in Valley City, Ohio. Judges for the contest included Betsy Craig, CEO of MenuTrinfo; Gary Jones, culinary dietary specialist for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts; Vanessa Maltin Weisbrod, executive editor at Delight Gluten-Free Magazine; and Carol Kicinski, a recipe developer at Simply...Gluten-Free.

Winners for the American Pizza Championship, Fall 2011 include 1st Place, Jamie Culliton from Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Ft. Myers, Florida; 2nd Place, Jeff Smokevitch from Brown Dog Pizza in Telluride, Colorado; and 3rd Place, Shawn Randazzo from Cloverleaf Pizza in St. Clair Shores, Michigan. Judges for the contest included Scott VanDuzer, owner of Big Apple Pizza & Pasta; Antonio Swad, founder of Pizza Patron; Jon Porter, owner and operator of Chicago Pizza Tours; and Paul Russo, founder and CEO of NYPD Pizza.

Winners for the U.S. Pizza Team Trials include Fastest Box Folding: 1st Place, Jamie Culliton from Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Ft. Myers, Florida. Fastest Pizza Maker: 1st Place, Ryan Kubil from Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Ft. Myers, Florida; 2nd Place, Dave Sommers from Mad Mushroom in West Lafayette, Indiana; 3rd Place, Jamie Culliton. Largest Dough Stretch: 1st Place, Wilhelm Rodriguez from Papa's Pizza in San Juan, Puerto Rico; 2nd Place, Bradley Johnson from Mellow Mushroom in Chattanooga, Tennessee; 3rd Place, Ryan Kubil. Freestyle Acrobatics: 1st Place, Jamie Culliton; 2nd Place, Bradley Johnson; 3rd Place, Giorgio Giove from Brothers Pizza in Staten Island, New York. Judges for the contest included Matt McClellan, owner of Tour de Pizza; Jason Samosky, owner of Samosky's Pizza; and Sam Niemeier, an experienced dough spinner from the U.S. Pizza Team youth division.

For more information and photos from the event, contact Liz Barrett at 662-234-5481, ext. 126.

About the U.S. Pizza Team
The U.S. Pizza Team is a group of pizza makers and dough acrobats whose goal is to bring world attention to the talent and camaraderie of the pizza industry. The team makes appearances at various events across the country, including the 2010 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, and competes in Europe and Asia. The U.S. Pizza Team has appeared on the Food Network, Good Morning America, Live! With Regis and Kelly, and Today, as well as in the pages of Fortune Small Business, New York Daily News, Orlando Sentinel, and publications in Finland, Germany and France.

The team is always grateful to its generous sponsors, who make it possible for them to travel the world spreading the word about everyone's favorite food. This year's U.S. Pizza Team Gold Sponsors include Real California Cheese, La Nova Wings, Paradise Tomato Kitchens, Pizzaware, Gordon Food Service, Tom Sawyer, Cheney Brothers, Pizza Packet and Pizza.com. Silver Sponsors include Bag Solutions, Fontanini Italian Meats & Sausages, Marsal & Sons Ovens, Burn Cream MD, Liguria Foods, Lillsun Pizza Peels, Univex, Ruxter and Vin Divino. The Bronze Sponsor is Off the Wall Magnetics.

Find more information about the U.S. Pizza Team and its members at USPizzaTeam.com.

NYPD Pizza is a franchise operated fast casual pizzeria serving only the best ingredients available.