Dear curators of “50 Top Pizza”, Albert Sapere, Barbara Guerra, and Luciano Pignataro, Dear representatives and entrepreneurs of the top pizzerias in the Asia Pacific Region, Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very happy to welcome the “50 Top Pizza Asia-Pacific Award” once again in this prestigious hall, which gorgeously represents the Italian arts and culture. This evening we have the pleasure to disclose the best pizzeria in the Asian Pacific Area, covering 16 different countries.
Dating back to the Roman Empire as shown in a recently discovered fresco in the Pompei ruins, pizza is an example of the extraordinary Italian taste.
It is a simple food, often consumed as fast food, but make no mistakes: in Italy, pizza is a serious thing. It is an expression of tradition and identity.
Among the various factors that make pizza a unique food, known throughout the world, two are fundamental: the mastery of the pizza chef in creating the dough, with the choice of flours, yeast, rising times, and the quality of the ingredients used to complement the dough.
Pizza is the dish that best expresses some of the characteristics of Italian people: simplicity, creativity and the pleasure of conviviality. It is the first dish that comes to mind when you think of a dinner with friends, the pleasure of the table and the fun of sharing.
Today the Italian Cuisine, including our beloved pizza, is worldwide recognized as synonym of high quality and creativity and it is also very much appreciated here in Japan, where the Italian exports of food and beverage products count for almost one billion euros.
In our promotional effort of our products, the 50 Top Pizza Guide is offering a strong contribution and we are grateful to the organizers for convening to Tokyo all the best pizzeria from Asia for the third time.
Let me conclude by thanking all of you for being here today. Congratulations to the winners and best wishes to all participants.