City of Pizza 2024: Bellafesta by Lombardi Pizzeria and the Municipality of Trattoria Pizzeria da Cesira win in Naples

Yesterday, May 20, the Naples stage of La Città della Pizza 2024 ended with enthusiasm and great participation. It was an intense meeting full of professionalism and sharing that could be felt throughout the competition. A day that celebrated pizza right in its hometown, Naples, thanks to the talent and passion of the pizza chefs present, who challenged each other at the headquarters of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana in via Capodimonte 19.

“This stage of La Città della Pizza was also a triumph – says Emiliano De Venuti, creator of La Città della Pizza – As we had imagined, Naples gave us great emotions, in both heats, exceeding expectations in terms of creativity and manual skills of the competing pizza chefs. After the surprising stages around Italy, we are already projected to Bologna, the last meeting of the Tour that will complete the dream team of pizza chefs, ready to face the final in Rome”.

The technical jury, composed of Luciano Pignataro and Luciana Squadrilli together with the master pizza chefs of the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana Ciro Salvo, Giovanni Grimaldi and Antonio Aniello, and supported by the journalist Nadia Taglialatela and Elia Del Pizzo, technician of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, evaluated the creations of 25 pizza chefs among which the following triumphed:

Michele Bellafesta of Lombardi Pizzeria in Maddaloni (CE) with the flagship dish “Gambero Detox” made with asparagus cream, fior di latte, crispy asparagus julienne, red shrimp tartare, lime zest, pink pepper and real Trapani salt, red shrimp bisque reduction and, to complete, “Monte della torre” EVO oil, a blend of Sessanella, Pignarola and Frantoio.

Francesco Pio Comune of the Trattoria Pizzeria da Cesira in San Salvatore Telesino (BN) with the “Franci 2” pizza with 100% Italian peeled tomatoes, Agerola fior di latte, fresh cherry tomatoes, 16-month Grana Padano, Matese oregano, garlic-flavoured EVO oil from the Monicella, Olivicola and Cassettao cultivars and fresh basil.

The two winning pizza chefs of La Città della Pizza in Naples are joined by Alessandro Tirriciello of Agriturismo Il Riccio in Rionero in Vulture (PZ) and Salvatore Zanetti of I Careca Pizza Concept in Pomigliano d'Arco, who have accessed the repechage and will have the chance to take part in the increasingly close final at the Circo Massimo.

“Our Association has always been committed to supporting quality pizza – underlines Antonio Pace, President of AVPN – for this reason we are truly proud to have hosted the Neapolitan stage of La Città della Pizza, the national competition that like us promotes the authentic values ​​of this symbol of Italianness in the world and that we continue to support every year, at every stage, to celebrate the talented pizza makers who are ambassadors of the excellence of tricolor pizza”.