The Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge, a a food competition celebrating South Africa’s best pizzerias, kicks off for its fourth year, promising another round of fierce pizza rivalry and mouth-watering delights.
The competition, which pits local pizzerias against each other in a quest for the title of SA's favourite pizzamaker, saw an exhilarating battle last year.
Gino’s of Robertsham reclaimed the top spot, ousting Cape Town’s Ferdinando’s, which had taken the crown in 2022.
Gino’s, a Johannesburg staple celebrating its 40th anniversary, was thrilled with their victory.
Owner Gino Mazza expressed his gratitude, saying: “Winning the competition, especially when it’s decided by public votes, is a tremendous validation of our dedication to serving delicious Italian food made with passion and great value-for-money.”
The 2023 challenge showcased a stellar lineup of pizza joints, with other top 10 contenders including Osteria Rossa in Bedfordview, Gino’s in Stellenbosch, Ferdinando’s in Observatory, Mooiuitsig Kombuis in Groot Brakrivier, Piccola Rossa in Edenvale, Corlie’s Italian in Somerset West, Julia’s Eatalian in Potchefstroom, Lucio’s Pizzeria in Northcliff, and Enzo Pizzeria Trattoria in Scottburgh.
Each of these eateries brought their unique flavour to the competition, demonstrating the diversity and high quality of South Africa’s pizza scene.
Lynton Kaiser from Porcupine Ridge remarked on the vibrant competition.
“Last year was a real ding-dong battle. The rivalry was intense but friendly, with nearly 100 restaurants competing, including sibling rivalries, brand-new spots, and long-standing favourites.
“The wide provincial representation made it a truly national event, and it was fantastic to see restaurants from places like Groot Brakrivier and Potch performing so well.”
This year’s challenge promises to be even more exciting with both returning favourites and new contenders eager to join the fray.
Voting remains straightforward: pizza enthusiasts can cast their votes for their favourite pizzeria via the competition’s dedicated website.
The restaurant with the most votes will be crowned South Africa’s favourite pizzeria, winning not just the title but also a prize package valued at R40,000, including wine and marketing support.
Additionally, all top 10 restaurants will receive R1,800 in vouchers and three cases of wine to reward their top servers.
The competition kicks off on September 1 and runs through October 31, with the top 10 restaurants announced in mid-November.