Joey Neidel, a local pizzaioli, representing Tuscono’s Woodfired Pizza & Pasta from Buckner, Missouri returned to Las Vegas last month to nab his second win at the International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas.
Neidel’s pizza placed first in the traditional pizza category for the Midwest region, and third in the world at the annual competition that features over 200 competitors that come from all over the world to compete for the cash prize.
His winning pie, that he entered in both the regional, and overall competition, featured sweet Italian sausage he purchased from Carollo’s Italian Grocery in the City Market, roasted peppers, mozzarella and homemade ricotta cheese and a unique braided crust he made that featured activated charcoal made from vegetable ash.
With Neidel’s second win, he has demonstrated that he is on a quest to try to grab the number one spot at the largest pizza-making competition in North America that is part of the annual International Pizza Expo held annually in Las Vegas.
Kirk and Renee Kellough, the husband-and-wife team behind Tuscono’s Woodfired Pizza & Pasta, have taken Neidel, who works for them, to Las Vegas to participate in this competition since they opened their restaurant 2 years ago, to learn more from the pizza experts, and to see where their skills rank against others in their field.
Kirk also entered the competition in the non-traditional pizza category this year with a peanut butter and jelly pizza that had bacon and cheddar cheese along with a lattice crust on top.
“I didn’t mind not placing, once I saw who did,” says Kirk smiling. “Neidel and I start planning our competition pizzas as soon as we get back from Las Vegas, within the month we have something we are working on for next year.”
This passion for pizza competition started when Kellough built the pizza oven located inside of his popular restaurant located in Buckner, Missouri. It is a wood-fired pizza oven with gas assist that features a cook surface made from refractory brick, which rotates inside of the oven for quick and even cooking. The oven gets to around 750 degrees; at that temperature, a pizza cooks in about two minutes.
The menu at Tuscono’s features a host of tempting Italian appetizers, soups/salads, sandwiches, entrées, pastas, pizzas and desserts. His local customers seem to enjoy the home-cooked specials – like prime rib night on Mondays and meatloaf and mashed potatoes – but their best-selling items next to their pastas is their pizza.
“Now, that we are back from Las Vegas, we are offering Joey’s award winning pizza for $22 at Tuscono’s Woodfired Pizza & Pasta, for those who would like to taste what the judges tasted in Las Vegas,” says Kirk.
Tuscono’s Woodfired Pizza & Pasta, 312 S. Hudson St., Buckner, Missouri, 816.650.8284, tusconos.com
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