
Two Canadian pizzaiolos among the world's 100 best pizza chefs
Article content
The third edition of The Best Pizza Awards, a 'celebration of global pizza excellence and innovation,' recently took place in Milan, Italy. Baddeley was named No. 51 for his 'refined yet nostalgic approach' to New York-style pizza by the slice. Toullec, whose ethos is 'rooted in sustainability and authenticity,' placed No. 93.
Article content
Article content
Article content
Italian pizza chefs dominated the 2025 ranking with 36 of the 100 spots, including the top three. 'Famed for his mastery of dough and pioneering techniques,' Francesco Martucci of I Masanielli in Caserta was crowned the world's best pizza chef. (Up from No. 5 in 2024.) Franco Pepe of Caiazzo's Pepe in Grani, 'A pioneer of terroir-driven pizza,' was named No. 2, down from the top spot in 2024 and 2023. Gabriele Bonci of Rome's Pizzarium, who earned the nickname 'Michelangelo of pizza' for his pizza al taglio (rectangular pies sold by the slice), rose one place from last year to round out the top three.
Article content
Article content
Jorge Sastre and Rafa Panatieri were the only other pizza chefs outside Italy to break the top 10. The friends placed No. 8 for the artisanal 'farm-to-pizza' pies they make at Barcelona's Sartoria Panatieri, which showcase organic, local and seasonal products.
Article content
Article content
Alongside pizza chefs from countries including Brazil, India, Taiwan, the Philippines and the United States, Baddeley and Toullec were the only Canadian pizzaiolos to make the 2025 list.
Article content
Article content
Baddeley, a former fine-dining chef who worked at Toronto restaurants including Bar Isabel and Bar Raval, opened Pizzeria Badiali in 2021. It's since become a community fixture with lines around the block. 'Badiali is about more than just great ingredients — it's about heritage and craftsmanship. Using three-day fermented dough and premium Italian flour, each pizza balances crispy, airy texture with bold, familiar flavours,' The Best Pizza Awards said on Instagram.
Article content
Founded in 2022, Toullec named his Halifax pizzeria Lou Pécou after the stem that holds a cluster of fruit, such as tomatoes, in the Provençal dialect. Growing up in his hometown of Marseilles, France, Toullec's grandmother taught him to pay special attention to the stems when buying produce at the market. A 'good pécou' was a telltale sign that the fruit was fresh and ripe.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CTV News
5 hours ago
- CTV News
Comedian John Early's directorial debut ‘Maddie's Secret' to premiere at TIFF
People walk the closed-off streets at the Toronto International Film Festival, in Toronto, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette TORONTO — Comedian John Early will make his directorial debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. TIFF announced Wednesday that the satire 'Maddie's Secret' will open the festival's Discovery program, which spotlights first-time and sophomore directors. Early, who is best known for his starring role on the TBS and HBO Max show 'Search Party,' had not previously announced he was making the movie. Programmer Dorota Lech says the film, which was also written by Early, is about a content creator on a food network who's trying to hide her dark past. She says the movie is both a showcase for some of comedy's brightest stars, including Early's frequent collaborator Kate Berlant, and a 'really sincere portrait of girlhood and trauma.' The Discovery lineup includes Canadian filmmaker Eva Thomas's 'Nika & Madison,' a feature-length adaptation of her short film 'Redlights.' The movie follows two Indigenous women who flee their reserve after a violent encounter with a police officer. 'It's a really relevant social drama,' Lech said in a call last week to preview the lineup. Other films in the program include '100 Sunset' by Canadian director Kunsang Kyirong, a noir about Toronto's Tibetan community, and 'The Man in My Basement' from director Nadia Latif, a thriller starring Willem Dafoe and Corey Hawkins and based on the novel by Walter Mosley. TIFF, which holds its 50th edition this year, runs from Sept. 4 to 14. Earlier this week, festival organizers dropped their most robust lineup announcement to date, touting films from big-name directors including Guillermo del Toro's 'Frankenstein,' Benny Safdie's 'The Smashing Machine' and Scarlett Johansson's feature directorial debut 'Eleanor the Great.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 23, 2025. Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press


CBC
5 hours ago
- CBC
Toronto fans mourn death of metal legend
Fans in Toronto are mourning the death of Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne, who died Tuesday at the age of 76. CBC's Tyler Cheese explores his legacy — and his influence on GTA musicians.


CBC
6 hours ago
- CBC
Would you buy the CNE's new VIP ticket package?
This year the CNE is offering VIP tickets priced at $452.99 per person, but you can only buy it in packages of four. CBC's Madi Wong has the reaction from Torontonians.