166. Gemma Cataldo -- Pizza Champion at 18

Send us Fan MailThis week on The Hot Slice Podcast, we are chatting with Gemma Cataldo, manager at Antonio’s Italian Restaurant in Elkhart, Indiana. We recently named Gemma a Rising Star in the Pizza Industry.She competed in her first International Pizza Challenge at Pizza Expo this year and took home first place in the Traditional Division. Her only other competition showing was in the Young Pizza Maker of the Year at Pizza & Pasta Northeast in Atlantic City last year.After also winning the Traditional Division in 2019, her father Paul set a legacy for competing and winning as both Gemma and her sister Carmela.As Gemma heads to university soon she plans to continue to elevate the pizza industry. She has collaborated with Carmela to be a beacon for women in pizza. She is working with the Women in Pizza movement to help amplify the successes of women in the industry.In a Q&A with Gemma for Rising Stars, says, “I recently graduated high school early in March and I will be attending Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Michigan, this fall. I plan on studying Dental Hygiene, though I have no intention of leaving the pizza industry behind. The pizza industry has always had a special place in my life, and going to college will not prohibit my desire to continuously improve and learn. My sister, Carmela, and I are already working on new pizzas and flavors for the 2024 IPC. In terms of more immediate action, I am becoming more involved with Women in Pizza to support and highlight the talents of women in the pizza industry, especially young women who are just starting.”Hear more about Gemma big IPC win, the pie that won, her future plans and continuing her Women in Pizza charge.Read Gemma’s Rising Stars Q&A: https://pizzatoday.com/topics/people-pizzerias/gemma-cataldo-antonios-italian-restaurant-elkhart-in-rising-star-2023/Learn more about Antonio’s Italian Ristorante at https://antoniositalian.com/Follow Gemma and Carmela’s Instagram: @thecataldosisters.