Juan Hermosillo

Juan Hermosillo, of La Cocina de Isabel in Costa Mesa, California, will represent the U.S. Pizza Team for the first time in 2005. Juan and his brother, Pedro Hermosillo, are co-owners of La Cocina.

He has a unique pizza with added Mexican flare; one of his best selling pizzas is the Carne Azada, a traditional Mexican dish used as a pizza topping. Juan started in the pizza business when he was 19 years old at tan Italian restaurant. His pizza has a brilliant blend of Italian and Mexican flavors.

He won first place in the Freestyle Dough Tossing competition in New York. He has a mix of Italian old style dough tossing that leads into lively salsa with dough tossing dances.

Juan says the best part about being on the team is "that you get to represent the United States and it makes you feel proud, that your not representing your restaurant anymore you are representing your country."

Juan has appeared on many television shows and in many newspapers since his victory on November 3, 2004. He has been featured in the L.A. Times, WPIX Morning Show, CBS's The Early Show and Sony Pictures' Life and Style.

Juan keeps in practice by having a dough tossing show every Saturday, where he wows the customers and offers them free pizza samples.

"First, I have to think that I am going to win." Juan says. "I have that mentality. If I don't, then I will be just like those other guys. You don't compete just for competing, you compete to win.