Ask ten Aussies where to find the best pizza in Australia and you’ll spark a serious debate. Each answer will likely come from a different city with a different dough preference and topping combo. When I picture the perfect pizza, I envision a classic marinara: puffy dough, a slightly sweet tomato base, a drizzle of oil and a few fresh basil leaves. That almost describes the pizza that’s just been crowned the very best in Australia at a major new awards ceremony – though a few secret ingredients gave it the winning edge.
Almost 50 of Australia’s top pizza chefs faced off in the inaugural Australia’s Best Pizza Awards, hosted by hospo trade show Food and Hospitality Week. There were three prizes up for grabs, including Pizza Chef of the Year, Best Classic Pizza and Best Creative Pizza, with the winners judged by an expert panel, including former World No.1 Pizza Champion Johnny Di Francesco (400 Gradi) and award-winning pizzaiolo Daniel Semrani (Gigi Pizzeria).
Drumroll, please… the winner of the very first ‘Australia’s Best Pizza Award’ went to Gold Coast chef Emanuele Malara from Ciccio’s Pizza and Gelato. This is a major win for Malara, who won both Best Classic Pizza and Pizza Chef of the Year – all just eight months after opening his Broadbeach pizzeria.
The Sicilian-born pizza chef’s winning pizza was a twist on the classic marinara, inspired by renowned third-generation Neapolitan pizzaiolo, Antonio Starita. While staying true to the classic combo of tomato, oregano and olive oil, Malara elevated his slab with the addition of datterino tomatoes (a variety of cherry tomatoes), pecorino cheese and black pepper.
Reflecting on the competition, Malara said, “The biggest challenge (was) adaptability. I went from fermenting pizza dough at room temperature in the Gold Coast to 12-degree temperatures in Melbourne. Luckily, I have the knowledge and skill to adapt my approach, honed from making pizza for the last 24 years.”
At Ciccio’s, Malara slings more than 40 woodfired pizzas – the most basic being a traditional marinara with tomato sauce, fresh Australian chopped garlic, extra virgin olive oil and oregano. Other hits include the Al Gamberi with local cow mozzarella, prawns, housemade semi-dry tomatoes and fresh stracciatella; Ciccio’s Favourite featuring carrot purée, pulled beef, pecorino, cherries, stracciatella and mozzarella; and a Double Choco dessert pizza dripping with chocolate gelato, white chocolate glaze and hazelnuts. Mamma mia!
Chef Nicola Pellegrino from Ollie’s Italian in Cairns took out the win for Best Creative Pizza, with Australia’s Best Burgers also crowned over the same weekend. You can check out the winners of the burger showdown here.