Pizza maker in Italy competing for team USA

Emporium's Dave Smith, owner of Pizza Palace Plus, is among members of the 2009 U.S. Pizza Team who left last week for Salsomaggiore, Italy, to compete in the 18th annual World Pizza Championship.

Team members are vying in the largest dough stretch, fastest pizza maker, free-style dough-tossing and culinary competitions. More than 30 countries are represented.

Smith is participating for the U.S. team in all of the categories. He has won five pizza titles since 2007, including American Pizza Champion.

Dave and his wife Marlene own and operate Pizza Palace Plus. Two of their children are involved in the business.

U.S. Pizza Team is a group of pizza-makers and dough-acrobats whose mission is to promote the talent and camaraderie of the pizza industry.