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Dave Smith, owner of the Pizza Palace Plus restaurants in Emporium and Port Allegany, has been participating across the nation in culinary competitions to promote his business. Recently dubbed the "Best Pizza Maker in the U.S." for his chicken cajun speciality, Smith later competed in Pizza Today's Northeast Pizza Show in Atlantic City, N.J. Taking first in the semifinals for "fastest dough" and second for "largest stretch," Smith placed seventh and fourth in the finals.