The owner of a White Rock pizzeria can now boast the title of “world’s best pizza” after winning first place in an international competition last week.
Aaron Gehrman, owner of Emilio Finatti Sicilian Pizzeria in Five Corners, won best pizza in the traditional division at the International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas last week. Gerhman went on to compete in the overall championship round, where he placed third.
“It was amazing,” Gehrman told Peace Arch News Monday. “For my second year competing, there are guys who have been doing it for five to seven years. It was kind of surreal, actually.”
Head-to-head against pizza aficionados from as far away as Prague, Brazil, Japan and Italy, Gehrman kept it simple, cooking up a traditional pepperoni pie.
“It was a very tight competition,” he said. “When you’re only working with a few ingredients, it really comes down to flavor profile.”
Last year, Gerhman came in third place at the annual competition. This year, he attributed an adjustment to the heat setting on the competition oven that resulted in “the perfect crust.”
The victory isn’t the only reason Gehrman has to celebrate – this year marks 10 years of business in White Rock for the 32-year-old restaurateur. Noting that he has customers visit his pizzeria from Langley, Vancouver and even Seattle, Gehrman said he has recently negotiated a franchise package for potential owners to open up additional locations around the Lower Mainland.
Growing a business he has wanted to start since he was a child is “a dream come true,” he said.
“I want to bring the pizza to the people.”
