The Pizza At These 2 FL Eateries Among Best In The Southeast

FLORIDA — Two Florida pizzerias were honored among the world's best at the recent International Pizza Challenge, which brought together the premier pizza makers from around the globe for an intensively judged, category-specific competition.

Some 550 competing eateries participated in the event, which was part of the Pizza Expo celebrations in Las Vegas.

The NONA Slice House in Safety Harbor placed first in the traditional preliminaries for the Southeast region. The eatery also placed first in the Daiya plant-based pizza competition.

To compete in the traditional category, pizza makers had to whip up a pie with tight restrictions. Competitors could only use two traditional toppings, such as pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms or olives. Once the pizza entered the oven, only a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil could be added.

Jamie Culliton, the owner of The NONA Slice House, is one of the top pizza competitors in the world, winning 4 world championships and 30 national titles, according to the business's website. He’s also won Best Pizza in the Country for his Margherita pizza at the American Pizza Championship.

Other winners in the traditional preliminaries for the Southeast region were Grazie Nonna in Washington, D.C. (2nd), and Valentina’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar in Madison, Alabama (3rd).

Meanwhile, Uncle Rico's Pizza in Fort Myers placed third in the best cheese slice preliminaries for the Northeast region.

To compete in the category, pizza makers presented their top three cheese slices to the judges. Slices could only consist of dough, traditional red tomato sauce, cheese or cheese blend, and spices.

Other winners in the best cheese preliminaries for the Southeast region were Marabella Old World Pizza in Greenville, North Carolina (1st), and Good Company Pizza in Swannanoa, North Carolina (2nd).

In February, Rico's owner Enrico Aguila was selected as a competing member of the United States Pizza Team after his reputation earned a boost for winning first overall in the traditional cheese pizza category at the Galbani Professional Pizza Cup in Orlando.

“I’m really blessed and honored,” Aguila told the News-Press. “It’s a huge honor for me to be able to represent the U.S. and Fort Myers.”

The International Pizza Expo bills itself as the world's premier pizza judging competition. The world-renowned three-day competition saw 550 competitors from around the world competing to have their pizzas proclaimed the world’s best non-traditional pizza, traditional pizza, pan pizza, pizza Napoletana and cheese slice. Winners included first, second and third places in each division as well as the top 3 in each region.

Ryan Ososky of DTown Pizzeria in Los Angeles was named 2025's Pizza Maker of the Year World Champion, while Anthony Cerimele of New Columbus Pizza Co. in Pittston, Pennsylvania, nabbed the Best of the Best Champion title for 2025.

See the full list of winners at PizzaToday.com.