Tony Gemignani IMG: via Tony’s Pizza Napoletana
Tony Gemignani is the pizza king.
He is the first and only triple-crown winner of the International Pizza Championships, the first American to become the World Champion at the 2007 World Pizza Cup and a two-time inductee into the Guinness Book of World Records for the World’s Largest Pizza.
He is the president of World Pizza Champions, the official U.S. Ambassador of Neapolitan Pizza (as named by Naples, Italy) and the proprietor of the International School of Pizza. He also owns seven different pizza restaurants throughout the West Coast, including Tony’s Pizza Napoletana and Pizza Rock.
Gemignani was born and bred on an apricot and cherry orchard farm in Northern California, giving him a love of fresh food from birth. He spent his youth cooking with his mother, a woman who taught him that you can create anything using only the ingredients from your farm. He took that philosophy with him when he began his pizza empire.
His journey began in 1991 when he worked at his brother’s pizza shop as a pizza thrower, entertaining patrons with his wild throwing skills. Within a few short years he was winning national pizza throwing competitions, eventually becoming the top pizza thrower in the world. From there a pizza star was born.
Tony has been featured on multiple TV programs such as the Tonight Show and Good Morning America, and he’s a regular on the Food Network, working with some of the biggest chefs in the world. Earlier this year he released “The Pizza Bible,” the definitive book on pizza.
Tony Gemignani is a strong force in the pizza world, but he hasn’t forgotten his humble beginnings. He continues to work in the kitchen and enjoys mentoring his cooks. Still in California, Tony continues to share his love of food with his community, one pizza at a time.
