30
Spring 2015 Issue
EVENTS
The 2015 North America Pizza &
Ice Cream Show (NAPICS) was held
Feb. 15-16 at the Greater Columbus
Convention Center. Restaurateurs and
food service vendors from throughout
the region attended the show to learn
about industry trends and the latest
food service improvements.
In addition to perusing vendors’ wares,
attendees also sampled delectable treats
created by visiting chefs and culinary
masters. The show also hosted the Pizza
Pizzazz competition in which competitors
vie for first place in one of two categories:
traditional or gourmet. This year, more
than 115 individuals competed in
Pizza Pizzazz.
The first place recipient in each
competition received a cash prize of
$6,000. The second place recipients
received $1,000 and third place winners
pocketed $500 for their culinary talents.
Garnering first place in the gourmet
competition was Will Shaw, PizzaBOGO,
located in North Olmsted, Ohio who
delighted judges with his submission
of the Tuscan Fiorentina. The Tuscan
Fiorentina combines a spicy garlic sauce,
red onions, fresh basil, Peruvian sweet
drop peppers, mushrooms, sirloin steak,
cheese, scallions and a balsamic glaze.
Anthony Farinacci of Fanucce’s Italian
Restaurant and Pizzeria in Willoughby,
Ohio, claimed second place with his
Potata pizza. Nathan Sickmiller of Six
Hundred Downtown in Bellefontaine,
Ohio, earned third place pizza with his
pizza named The D.
This year’s show offered great programming and diverse vendors
NAPICS 2015
Entertains Pizza, Ice Cream Crowd
at the Greater Columbus Convention Center
Brad Rocco, owner of Bexley Pizza Plus in Bexley, Ohio, won this year’s Pizza Pizzazz Traditional honors. Second place was captured by Lisa Early, of Brenz Pizza Co. in Knoxville, Tennesse, while David
Smith II, owner of Pizza Palace Plus in Emporium, Pennsylvania, came in third. Pictured here (left to right): Second-place winner Lisa Early, first-place winner Brad Rocco and third-place winner David Smith II.
