Every year the US Pizza Team holds a series of trials in Orlando and New York for the Largest Dough Stretch, Fastest Pizza Maker Freestyle Dough Throwing and Pizza Making. The winner of each category wins a trip to Italy to compete at the international level and a spot on the U.S. Pizza Team.
Download Acrobatic Registration Form.
If you didn’t win first place at the U.S. Pizza Team Trials but would still like to compete on an international level in Italy please let us know. We have a limited number of self-sponsored spots available. If you would like to join us in Italy and you have competed in at least one PMQ sponsored contest contact Tom Boyles 662-234-5481 ext. 125 or tom@pmq.com.
Pizza Dough Stretching Rules
Contestants have five minutes to hand stretch or toss one 17.6-ounce (500-gram) dough ball to the maximum size without tearing the dough. (No Rolling Pins) The dough will be made with cold water and half the normal yeast to provide the best dough possible to work with. Twenty-five contestants maximum will be allowed to compete with a registration fee of $40, which includes show admission only if contestant pre-registers. Only two contestants per business are allowed to enter. Dusting flour can be used. (No Oil) Holes can be repaired as long as this is done within the five-minute time limit. The dough will be placed on the floor to be measured before the time limit expires. Judges measure the shortest and longest distance across the middle of the dough and take an average. The dough must be in a round or oval form. Holes bigger than a quarter will disqualify entry. A measurement of the widest and narrowest distance across the dough will be averaged to yield a score. Come by the PMQ booth for last minute registration if unable to meet deadline and slots are still available. Contestants must be ready to be judged at the scheduled time. Only registered contestants will be allowed to participate, we will not accept substitutes. Gold, Silver, and Bronze plaques will be awarded to the top three winners. Contestants must be at least 18 years old in order to compete. The first place winner in this contest will earn a slot on the U.S. Pizza Team with an expense paid trip to the World Pizza Championship. The winner must represent the U.S. Pizza Team in Italy.
Acrobatic Pizza Tossing Rules
Twenty-five contestant maximum will be allowed to compete with a registration fee of $40, which includes show admission only if contestant pre-registers. Only two contestants per business are allowed to enter. Contestants must be 18 to compete. Performance will be scored on a 10-point scale by three to five judges. A perfect score would earn ten points from each category. The three categories will be Originality, Presentation and Difficulty of routine each category counts for 10 points making a total of 30 possible points. (Originality; Creative in routine, music, new approaches to tossing, new tricks. Presentation; entertainment value, choreographed, smoothness, connection with the audience. Difficulty; variety of tricks, difficulty of tricks) Sound system will be provided; you must provide your own music on CD. Come by the PMQ booth for last minute registration if unable to meet deadline and slots are still available. Contestants must be ready to be judged at the scheduled time. Only registered contestants will be allowed to participate, substitutions will not be allowed. Prep table will be provided. Contestants are given ten 7.05-ounce (200-gram) dough balls. Two dough balls are combined into one creating a total of five 15-ounce (400-gram) dough balls just before the contestant is ready to start. The Dough will be provided and made cold the formula uses about half the yeast. Create a throwing routine using five dough balls set to the music of your choice. Contestants will have two to five minutes to perform their routine. Gold, Silver and Bronze plaques will be awarded to the top three winners. Contestants must be at least 18 years old in order to compete. The first place winner in this contest will earn a slot on the U.S. Pizza Team with an all expense paid trip to the World Pizza Championship. The winner must represent the U.S. Pizza Team in Italy, and may not be affiliated with any other pizza team or he will forfeit his trip.
Official Dough Throwing Recipe
Fastest Pizza Maker Rules
Registration Fee: $40, which includes show admission only if contestant pre-registers. Contestants start with five 7.05-ounce (200-gram) dough balls. The dough is stretched to cover 11.8-inch (30-centimeter) screens. Dusting floor may be used. (No Oil) Once finished, the time is taken. If judges find that dough doesn't completely cover the screen or there are holes in the dough, the contestants will be given a second chance to stretch the dough with the extra time added to the final time. Contestants must be at least 18 years old in order to compete. The first place winner in this contest will earn a slot on the U.S. Pizza Team with an all expense paid trip to the World Pizza Championship. The winner must represent the U.S. Pizza Team in Italy.
Official Fastest Pizza Maker Recipe
North American Pizza Championship and America’s Plate Rules:
Rules for the North American Pizza Championship and America’s Plate Competition. The North American Pizza Championship is an open competition that is held every year in Orlando, Florida at the Orlando Pizza Show. If you would like to compete in the American Pizza Championship submit your recipe to Weihua@pmq.com or 662-234-5461 ext. 128 and the top recipes will be chosen. Only two contestants per business will be allowed to enter. You must be 18 years of age and be able to provide documentation. You must be able to obtain a U.S. or other valid Passport. You must be employed at a pizzeria, or have pizza on your menu at the time of competition. Competitor must bring own dough, sauce, cheese and toppings for 2, 14-inch pizzas. On site refrigeration will be provided. (Contestants will have access to dough making equipment if necessary.) Oven testing will start 40 minutes prior to first competition. Bring extra ingredients if you want to prove the ovens. Dough trays and peels will be provided; competitor should bring any other needed tools. The choice of pizza ingredients is strictly up to the discretion of the competitors. There is no requirement that this pizza is on any existing menu but part of the judging criteria is that it be commercially viable. Bring your best pie. You must prepare and cook pizza in competition area. Competitors will make 2 pizzas. They will decide which of the two will go to judges. The second will be given to audience for sampling. Competitors must agree to judge criteria prior to competition. At the pre-competition briefing contestants must sign publicity waivers and rule agreement waiver. All contestants will be assigned numbers and a drawing will determine order. Judges will be sequestered before drawing takes place. Contestants will remove finished pizza from oven and place either on a wooden peel with nothing else. At this time PMQ will take photos of chef with pizza, then the pizza will be taken to an area to have photos taken of the pizza itself. The pizza will then be taken by a runner to the judging area. Here the runner will read the description and recipe of the pizza. The runner will then cut the pizza and allow each judge to choose a slice (piece). The judges will grade the pizza, then the score sheets picked up, tallied, and held by head judge. The tables will then be cleared. Contestants will give permission for PMQ to use photos and statements in any future media without obligation. Pizza will be judges on Pizza Appearance - 30 Points Crust - Baked correctly, shape, thickness, seasoning, pastry style, too thin to hold ingredients, correct for pizza Crust - Overall - Impressiveness & Visual Appeal Pizza Taste - 50 Points Crust - Flavor, texture (soggy, dry), aroma, oil content Sauce - Flavor, spice level, salt level, thick, thin amount of sauce, appropriate use of product, color Toppings - Do the flavors compliment each other? Bland, strong, appetizing, correct preparation Pizza Viability - 20 Points Practical to make commercially Creativity of ingredients/design Pizza is a representation of the country of origin (America’s Plate Only) The first place winner of the American Pizza Championship will earn a slot on the U.S. Pizza Team with an all expense paid trip to the World Pizza Championship. The winner must represent the U.S. Pizza Team in Italy.
