The Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge, South Africa’s premier food competition celebrating the nation’s best pizzerias, is gearing up for its fourth year. The event promises another round of intense competition and delicious pizza offerings.
This annual challenge brings together local pizzerias from across the country, all vying for the prestigious title of South Africa’s favorite pizza maker. Last year’s competition was a thrilling contest, with Gino’s of Robertsham reclaiming the top spot after losing it to Cape Town’s Ferdinando’s in 2022.
Gino’s, a well-known Johannesburg establishment celebrating its 40th anniversary, was elated with their victory. Owner Gino Mazza expressed his gratitude, stating, “Winning the competition, especially with the public voting, is a tremendous validation of our dedication to serving delicious Italian food made with passion and great value-for-money.”
The 2023 challenge featured an impressive lineup of pizzerias. Among the top contenders were Osteria Rossa in Bedfordview, Gino’s in Stellenbosch, Ferdinando’s in Observatory, Mooiuitsig Kombuis in Groot Brakrivier, Piccola Rossa in Edenvale, Corlie’s Italian in Somerset West, Julia’s Eatalian in Potchefstroom, Lucio’s Pizzeria in Northcliff, and Enzo Pizzeria Trattoria in Scottburgh. Each establishment showcased its unique flavors, highlighting the diversity and high quality of South Africa’s pizza scene.
Lynton Kaiser from Porcupine Ridge reflected on the competition’s success. “Last year was a real ding-dong battle. The rivalry was intense but friendly, with nearly 100 restaurants competing, including sibling rivalries, brand-new spots, and long-standing favorites. The wide provincial representation made it a truly national event, and it was fantastic to see restaurants from places like Groot Brakrivier and Potch performing so well.”
This year’s challenge promises even more excitement, with both returning favorites and new contenders eager to join the competition. Voting remains simple, allowing pizza enthusiasts to cast their votes for their favorite pizzeria through the competition’s dedicated website.
The pizzeria with the most votes will be crowned South Africa’s favorite, winning not only the title but also a prize package valued at R40,000, which includes wine and marketing support. Additionally, all top 10 restaurants will receive R1,800 in vouchers and three cases of wine to reward their top servers.
The competition kicks off on September 1 and will run through October 31, with the top 10 restaurants announced in mid-November.