Grano Lab chef takes the overall title with his innovative creation, The Golden Smoke, as four talented chefs celebrate category victories.
Luca Cusimano of Grano Lab has been crowned Pizza Chef of the Year 2026, taking the overall title and £1,000 prize at this year's PAPA Industry Awards.
The competition final, held at Rudy's Pizza Napoletana in Queensway, London, saw talented pizza chefs put their creativity and technical skills to the test, developing original recipes showcasing ingredients supplied by the competition's sponsors.
Luca secured the coveted overall title with The Golden Smoke, which also won the Danish Crown Supertops category. Inspired by the culinary traditions of Northern Italy, his creation combined roasted pumpkin cream, smoked provola, sweet Gorgonzola, pepperoni and smoked bacon, finished with toasted almonds, crushed amaretti biscuits and fresh sage.
The result was an imaginative balance of sweet, smoky and savoury flavours, demonstrating the creativity and technical expertise that the competition aims to celebrate.
Three other chefs impressed the judges to claim category titles.
Lewis Jennings of Village Pizza Kitchen won the Whitworth Bros. Flour Chef's Special category with Appely Ever After, a dessert pizza inspired by tarte Tatin and apple crumble, featuring Bramley apples, cinnamon, caramel and Chantilly cream on a thin, crispy Romana-style base.
Michele Rutigliano of Due took the Silbury Signature Pizza Sauce category with Senza Filtri, meaning 'without filters'. Inspired by the traditional marinara, his stripped-back creation allowed the tomato sauce to take centre stage, complemented by anchovies, garlic, oregano, basil and extra-virgin olive oil.
Matty Ryles of The Watch House claimed the Futura Foods Paneer category with Tropical Paneer, a contemporary combination of charred allspice paneer, mango and chilli salsa, lime yoghurt and crispy chickpeas.
The Pizza Chef of the Year competition is organised by the Pizza Pasta & Italian Food Association (PAPA) to recognise and celebrate the skill, innovation and passion of professional pizza chefs working across the UK.
The winners were announced at the PAPA Industry Awards Dinner on Thursday 5 November at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square, where Luca received the overall title.
