West Ashley restaurateur Mike Pitera represents United States in Italy at the Pizza World Championship
by Lorne Chambers | Editor
For many people, returning from an international trip might mean a few days of rest and recovery. But for West Ashley resident and restaurateur Mike Pitera, it meant jumping straight into a big wedding catering job and preparing for the grand opening of a third Pizza a Modo Mio location.
This kind of work ethic is normal for Pitera, who hasn’t slowed down since his early days of slinging pies from a food trailer. This whirlwind pace seems to suit Pitera just fine.
Pitera recently returned from northern Italy, where he competed as a member of the United States Pizza Team at the Pizza World Championship, known formally as Campionato Mondiale della Pizza.
Held April 14-16 in the Emilia-Romagna region—an area famous for Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Prosciutto di Parma—the competition drew more than 570 competitors from over 55 countries, making it one of the most prestigious pizza contests in the world.
“This competition is truly the best of the best in the world,” Pitera said. “To me, it blows away Vegas and any other competition I’ve been a part of. Competing against over 500 competitors from 55 countries pushes you to a level you didn’t even know you had.”
Pitera was one of roughly 25 American competitors, not all of whom were members of the U.S. In the end, he performed very well on the global stage, representing the United States in four categories:
• Pizza in Due: 38th out of 79 competitors
• Pizza Classica: 48th out of 354 competitors
• Pan Pizza: 60th out of 88 competitors
• Pizza Pala: 29th out of 115 competitors
“I’m super proud of where I ended up. You’re talking about a worldwide stage and the biggest pizza competition on the planet,” said Pitera.
For Pitera, the trip was about more than standings. It was also a chance to immerse himself in the homeland of pizza and gather inspiration to bring back to the Lowcountry.
“This trip was exciting, stressful, overwhelming, and everything in between. Our days started at 6 a.m. and didn’t end until 1 a.m. But every second of it was worth it. This is an experience I will never forget,” said Pitera. “My wife and I went up a week earlier. We started in Venice and made our way down to Rome, with stops everywhere in between.
As he traveled throughout Italy, Pitera said he gathered ingredients from different parts of the country for the pizza he was making at the competition. According to Pitera, one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was having his wife by his side during his first international competition.
“She has always been my rock, my biggest cheerleader, and my support system,” he said. “Having her there every step of the way, through the long days, the pressure, and the emotions, meant everything to me.”
Pitera gave shout-outs to fellow members of the United States Pizza Team, including mentor Vitangelo Recchia.
“You’ve pushed me to levels I never thought I could reach,” Pitera wrote in a social media tribute. “You are the true definition of a teacher who wants to see others succeed.”
Now back in Charleston, Pitera is wasting no time putting to use the knowledge that he gathered while in Italy. After testing himself against some of the world’s best pizza makers, he has returned home with new ideas, renewed confidence, and another oven waiting to be fired up.
“I learned a lot that I can incorporate back into the shops,” he said. “Using different ingredients and techniques. I get inspired when I’m there and want to bring something new back home to the shop.”
The West Ashley Pizza a Modo Mio is located at 3125 Bees Ferry Road. For more information, call (843) 640-3897 or visit www.modomiopizza.com.
