SPOKANE, Wash. — A local chef won big money in a pizza cooking competition in California.
Chef Ricky Webster, the former owner of Rind and Wheat Bakery, won the grand prize at Coppola Wine's third-annual Perfect Your Pizza competition.
He made a "caponata," which is a traditional Sicilian dish and paired it with a Rosé wine.
One judge said it was "one of the best pieces of pizza I've ever had."
Webster won an all-expenses paid pizza and wine-lovers Italian getaway, where he and a guest will be flown to Rome and take part in a specialized pizza tour.
“I’m thrilled that my Sicilian-Style Skillet-Baked Caponata Pizza took home the grand prize at this year’s Perfect Your Pizza contest!" Webster said. "My Sicilian-inspired thick crust pan pizza represents the ideal vessel for fresh California produce, with one of Sicily’s most influential dishes, caponata, taking center stage as both sauce and topping. This pie begs to be eaten with a great glass of wine, and I can’t think of anything better than Coppola’s Diamond Collection Rosé of Pinot Noir, which brings the crispness and natural acidity needed for a perfect pairing.”