In 2023, chef Enis Bacova from Dante’s Pizzeria in Auckland achieved international acclaim by securing third place in the Neapolitan category at the prestigious Caputo Cup, known as the world pizza championship.
This year, Bacova elevated his standing by clinching second place at the competition held in Naples, outshining nearly 700 other contestants to bring home the silver trophy.
Bacova’s award-winning creation, dubbed “The Five Ps,” featured a distinctive black crust inspired by New Zealand’s All Blacks rugby team. The pizza was adorned with provolone cheese, pancetta, potato cream, pea cream, and pecorino, presenting a unique blend of flavors. The charcoal-infused dough was a standout feature that impressed the four Caputo Cup judges, setting his pizza apart in the intense competition against Italian chefs on their home turf.
“A true Neapolitan pizza is made with heavily hydrated dough and cooked very quickly in a hot woodfired oven,” Bacova explains. The sourdough crust must be airy, fluffy, and “crunchy-spongy”—crunchy on the outside and spongy on the inside. This method of preparation results in a pizza that is much easier to digest than commercial versions.
Kevin Morris, co-owner of Dante’s Pizzeria, shares Bacova’s commitment to authentic pizza. Morris, who grew up in the UK enjoying his mother’s traditional Italian cooking, was dismayed by the quality of New Zealand pizza when he moved there in the ’90s. Seventeen years ago, he opened Dante’s, named after his Italian grandfather, to bring genuine Neapolitan pizza to New Zealand.
Dante’s was the first New Zealand pizzeria to be accredited by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, also known as The True Neapolitan Pizza Association. Bacova, born in Albania and trained as a pizzaiolo in Naples, joined Dante’s team in 2013. Under his expertise, Dante’s Auckland has risen to rank among the top 50 pizza restaurants worldwide.
Bacova invites pizza enthusiasts in Auckland to experience the authentic taste at one of their three locations: Ponsonby Central, Takapuna, and Mission Bay, where he is currently based.
“You guys need to come and try for yourself one of the best pizzas in the world,” Bacova encourages.
