After 22 years in the cooking industry, Jackknife Brewing's Damien Moore decided to take part in his first international competition and was blown away by the results.
At the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, which was held from March 25-27, Moore won the best cheese pizza slice in the international category and finished second in the world with the same slice.
Moore told Black Press Media he was "very surprised" when his pizza was named best in the international category but was even more caught off guard when his name was announced for cooking up the second-best piece in the world for cheese pizza.
"I didn't even believe that," said Moore. "I was kind of trying to ask if I had to stay around and wait until they said who won."
He walked back to see the best-of-the-best competition and his friends told him he had won second place.
"All the homies were there and they were like 'second place, this is insane,' and I was like 'what... second in what?'" said Moore, who added he didn't even know where results were being posted.
On top of his slice being held in such high regard, Moore said it was a great experience to learn from people from all over the world as well.
"You see all of the best of the best-making pizza, see what they're doing and asking questions," said Moore. "Everybody's in the same boat, running their own shop or running somebody else's shop. They all have endless amounts of knowledge in what they're doing in their area and how it works for them and what works for them and what doesn't, and how it compares to your business, it's pretty interesting."
In 2024, Moore was convinced by his friends to attend the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas as a fan to experience the event and afterwards, they further convinced him to compete in 2025.
Originally from Lethbridge, Moore has been cooking in 麻豆精选 from a young age and has worked for Earls, Summerhill Winery, and O'Rourke Winery, and has been with Jackknife Brewing since it opened in 2020.
"Having worked at all these places, every place has had pizza so I've been making pizza since I was 13 when I started in 2003," said Moore. "When it came to opening my own spot, I was kind of like 'What is the most fun you can have in a kitchen?' and it's making pizza."
Moore is back at home now, making pizzas for Jackknife, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary this month.
