Forget New York; Pittsburgh Has The Best Pizza In America

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Forget New York. The best pizza in the country is right here in Pittsburgh.

That's according to the 28th World Pizza Championship in Parma, Italy. Caliente Pizza & Draft House won the event's best pizza in America title, reports the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Specifically, it's a pan pizza topped with porchetta, rapini and cheese that's stolen hearts -- the pizza Mee-Maw, made by Caliente regional chef Eric von Hansen.

Mr. von Hansen attended the three-day event with Caliente owner Nick Bogacz after the two were invited to join the team of 13-time World Pizza Champion Tony Gemignani. It wasn't the first time Mr. von Hansen and Bogacz have competed together -- the pair were named World Pizza Champions three years in a row at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.

Contestants from 42 countries competed in 12 divisions during the World Pizza Championship from April 9 to April 11. There were 160 entries from Americans, but Mr. von Hansen and Nick Bogacz were the only Pittsburghers, reports the Post-Gazette. The two competed in several events, but only Mr. von Hansen's pizza Mee-Maw won the title of best pizza in America.

The Post-Gazette says a limited number of the award-winning pizzas will be available at all five Caliente locations — Bloomfield, Hampton, Mt. Lebanon, Aspinwall and Monroeville — starting Wednesday.