FL Pizza Chef Named One Of The Best In The World

MIAMI, FL — A South Florida chef was named one of the best pizzamakers in the world at an awards ceremony held in Italy earlier this summer.

Javier Ramirez, co-owner of La Natural in Miami, was the only Florida chef to make the top 100 list of the World’s Top Pizzaioli — that means pizza chef — at the June 25 Best Pizza Awards in Milan. He nabbed the No. 35 spot on the list.

“I’m still in a strange state of disbelief and happiness. Thank you @thebestpizzawards and all those who voted. The company I was in last night at the gala was unreal…. Legends and truly the best at this craft,” Ramirez wrote in an Instagram post the day after the awards ceremony. “The amazing people that have worked with me at @lanaturalmiami over the past 5 years are fundamental to this and I’m lucky to have had and continue to have some truly passionate, talented and hard-working humans.”

The Venezuelan-born chef got his start as an economist, according to the awards’ website. After two decades in corporate finance, he decided to follow his passion for food and cooking.

He co-founded La Natural with Andreina Matos, who serves natural wines, mostly American, at the restaurant.

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The two co-founded and ran other award-winning and celebrated restaurants in Miami, including Alter, Palmar and Bachour, according to the restaurant’s website.

La Natural was born out of their hosting friends and family for sourdough pizzas and wine at their Miami home.

The restaurant has been named a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand for the past four years.

The No. 1 spot on the World’s Best Pizzaioli went to Francesco Martucci of I Masanielli in Caserta, Italy.

Other Americans to make the global list include:

• No. 17 - Anthony Mangieri at Una Pizza Napoletana in New York
• No. 22 - Dan Richer at Razza Pizza Artigianale in New Jersey
• No. 25 - Mark Iacono at Lucali in New York
• No. 27 - Wylie Dufresne at Stretch Pizza in New York
• No. 34 - Massimo Laveglia at L’Industrie in New York
• No. 42 - Chris Decker at Truly Pizza in Dana Point, California
• No. 44 - William Sang Woo Joo at Pizzeria Sei in Los Angeles
• No. 52 - Giorgia Caporuscio at Don Antonio in New York
• No. 54 - Juan Gabriel Perez at Posto in Boston
• No. 58 - Justin de Leon at Apollonia s Pizzeria in Los Angeles
• No. 77 - Marisol Doyle at Leña Pizza+Bagels in Cleveland
• No. 95 - Frank Tuttolomondo at Mama’s TOO! In New York
• No. 96 - Laura Meyer at Pizzeria da Laura in Berkeley

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