Antonio D’Angelo, owner of the “Premiata Forneria” pizzeria in Vibo Valentia, is the winner of the 2025 Italian Contemporary Pizza Championship, one of the most prestigious and anticipated gastronomic events on the national scene.
With his victory, D’Angelo gives Calabria and its city recognition of the highest level, a symbol of talent, passion and craftsmanship.
The competition
The event, organized with the support of Galbani, in collaboration with Sirman, 5 Stagioni and Demetra, saw over 500 pizza chefs from all over Italy compete.
In the final stages, only six master pizza chefs managed to gain a place among the best, including Francesco Ribaudo from Tropea.
The decisive tests put the finalists’ technique, creativity and cold blood to the test, as they faced three main challenges:
Margherita pizza, homage to Italian tradition;
The free pizza, a personal creation inspired by the philosophy of each competitor;
The pressure test, a surprise test which involved the creation of a pizza paired with a cocktail, to evaluate taste balance, inventiveness and ability to improvise.
The winning masterpiece
It was precisely the last test that crowned D’Angelo: starting from the ingredients of the mystery box, he created a pizza with a refined and harmonious taste, with cream of yellow cherry tomatoes, oregano and black pepper, fiordilatte, creamed cod, semi-dry red cherry tomatoes, red tomato chips, edible flowers, fresh mint and extra virgin olive oil.
The pairing, as required by the regulations, was completed by a citrus, floral and sweet cocktail, which enhanced the freshness and balance of the flavours.
Tradition, innovation and heart
The jury was impressed by Antonio D’Angelo’s ability to combine respect for tradition and an innovative spirit, recognizing his perfect balance between technique, creativity and authentic taste.
«It was an indescribable emotion» – declared the pizza chef from Vibo – «I dedicate this award to my family, my staff and all those who have always believed in me. Bringing this title to Vibo Valentia is a source of great pride.”
His success represents not only a personal achievement, but also a tribute to the work, perseverance and passion that he has dedicated to white art for years.
Special thanks went to his media manager, the photographer Giovanni Garufi from Vibo Valentia, who encouraged him to participate in the competition and contributed significantly to achieving this result.
For lovers of good pizza, the message is clear: the best contemporary pizza in Italy is found in Vibo Valentia, signed by Antonio D’Angelo and his unmistakable vision of taste.