Paul Cataldo
World Pizza Champion
Paul Cataldo is the owner and operator of Antonio’s Italian Ristorante, a restaurant located in Elkhart, Indiana. However, Paul is more than a restaurateur, he is an International Pizza Champion.
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When you meet Paul, you’ll first feel the intensity of his personality. He takes his restaurant and his food seriously. He’ll look you in the eye and give you his attention while fifty other demands are pecking at the door. That focus and intensity have given him the winning edge.
Titles​
2004
2005
2007
2008
2016
2017
2018
2019
2021
2022
2023
1st, Masterpiece Pizza Championship | Toledo, Ohio
1st, Pizza Quest | Elkhart, Indiana
3rd, America's Plate | New York City, New York
2nd, Masterpiece Pizza Championship | Toledo, Ohio
2nd, Largest Dough Stretch, Alamo Pizza Festival | San Antonio, Texas
16th, “Pizza in Teglia” Pizza Olympics | Salsomaggiore, Italy
3rd, Pizza-Pizzazz NAPICS | Columbus, Ohio
Joined “World Pizza Champions” Pizza Team
3rd, Gourmet Pizza Division NAPICS | Columbus, Ohio
Top 4, NAPICS Traditional Division | Columbus, Ohio
Best Pan Pizza from North America, World Pizza Championship | Parma, Italy
4th, Mid-America Pizza Pizzazz | Columbus, Ohio
1st (World Champion), International Pizza Competition | Las Vegas, Nevada
1st, Best Traditional Pizza in Mid-America | Last Vegas, Nevada
1st, Best Non-Traditional Pizza, Mid-America International Pizza Expo | Las Vegas, Nevada
3rd, Young Pizza Maker, Pizza & Pasta | Gemma
1st (World Champion), Traditional Division, International Pizza Expo | Las Vegas, Nevada | Gemma
Carmela Cataldo
World Pizza Champion
Carmela Williams (Cataldo) is the co-owner and operator of Antonio's alongside Paul. The restaurant industry has been a part of her identity since she was 10 years old and she aims to bring that dedication into the food, service, and ambiance of Antonio's.
She has been known for her passion, attention to detail, serious game face, and intensity while competing. Her main goal is to bring the authenticity of her father's cooking and heritage to the center stage, and continue Italian traditions for years to come.
Titles​
2016
2019
2020
2021
2023
2024
Assistant, Campionato Mondiale della Pizza | Parma, Italy
4th, Pizza Pizzazz Competition | Columbus, Ohio
1st, Pizza Pizzazz Competition | Columbus, Ohio
1st, International Pizza Competition, Mid-American Region in the Non-Traditional Division | Las Vegas, Nevada
2nd, International Pizza Competition, Non-Traditional Division | Las Vegas, Nevada
Top 20, International Pizza Competition, Non-Traditional Division | Las Vegas, Nevada
1st, International Pizza Competition, Mid-American Region, Traditional Division | Las Vegas, Nevada
Meet the World Pizza Champion Team
The World Pizza Champions™, America’s #1 Pizza Team™, was founded by Tony Gemignani, Michael Shepherd, Siler Chapman, Joe Carlucci, Ken Bryant and Sean Brauser.
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The World Pizza Champions™ (WPC) team is an elite group of multi-national pizza makers based in the US. Through International competition, educational outreach, public demonstrations and community-based service the team is dedicated to promoting the positive image of pizza making as a respected craft, and a viable career choice.
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The WPC has a combined 70 World Titles. Team members are carefully selected. Inclusion on the team roster is by invitation only and is based on skill, character, compatibility and selfl ess effort on behalf of the industry. Each member has dedicated years of practice and entrepreneurial energy to the craft. The teammates offer unique perspectives and areas of specialization including culinary, operations, promotion and entertainment skills.
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Working for the common good of the craft, the WPC team is united by the shared goal of setting the industry-wide standard of excellence in all aspects of the pizza makers art. By partnering with a select group of high-quality distributors and manufacturers the WPC Team is committed to being the premier ambassadors of pizza making as an art, a craft and a business.
Sponsor a Champion!
When you support Paul Cataldo and the World Pizza Champions Team you become
part of their winning team. You support pizza making as an art, a craft, and a business while helping us set a standard for excellence. We hope you will consider partnering with us!
Sponsorships with Paul Cataldo, World Champion can be either cash donation form or in-kind product* form. We see your sponsorship as both an investment in our competition journey and a partnership with your company. We welcome your thoughts and ideas on how we can work together!
*In-Kind donations of product are welcome for products that Antonio’s Italian Ristorante currently uses in the preparation and creation of our menu offerings.
Proudly Sponsored By
