Local Chef Competes with the US Pizza Team

Greenville, NC, December 01, 2017 --(PR.com)-- Massimo Mannino, chef and co-owner of Marabella Restaurants, recently competed at the 26th annual World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy. The event, which was held May 8-10, is widely known as the “Olympics of pizza.” The team consisted of 17 competitors, all master pizzaiolos, from Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, California, Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, and New York.

Hundreds of pizza chefs from over 30 countries make their way to this global competition each year to compete for the world champion title in 10 categories.

Mannino created a unique pizza using classic Italian ingredients. The pizza featured arugula tossed in Crema di Parmigiano, a cream made with the popular Parmesean Reggiano cheese, Lardo di Colonnata, a special Italian cured meat, grilled zucchini, roasted garlic and topped with Stracchino cheese. Mannino placed 40th in a competition that featured nearly 800 competitors.

Mannino joined the US Pizza Team in 2016. In that same year, he was awarded 3rd place in the Western Culinary Trials, Classico division, and 2nd place in the International Pizza Challenge, Pan Pizza division. Locally, Mannino has won Signature Chef at the March of Dimes’ annual Chefs Auction fundraiser in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Marabella Old World Pizza also won Best Pizza in Mixer, a local entertainment magazine in 2010, 2011 and 2012. Mannino has also been featured in documentaries on UNC-TV’s North Carolina Weekend and various other press.

Massimo Mannino is Co-Owner/Co-Executive Chef of Nino’s in Greenville, N.C., Marabella Italian Restaurant in Washington, N.C. and Marabella Old World Pizza in Greenville and Farmville, N.C. In 2009, Mannino enjoys sharing over 75 years of Italian family tradition that has been acquired over three generations, and continues to make food fresh daily from centuries-old authentic Italian and New York-style recipes.

For more information, contact Brian Jacobs, brian@misterjacobs.com, 252-916-5250.