Montreal chef to compete in World Pizza Games

Montrealer Brian Vickers will be heading to Las Vegas next week to compete in the World Pizza Games, an international pizza challenge that includes competitions such as fastest dough stretch, dough tossing and fastest pizza box folding.

Vickers calls himself the "Maitre Pizzaiolo" at Pizzéria No. 900, a local chain with locations on Peel Street in downtown Montreal, in Outremont and on the South Shore.

He's been making pizza for 20 years, and he's looking forward to showing off his creations at the expo for the second year in a row.

"I was very excited to measure my skills against guys from Naples," he told CBC Daybreak. 

Located at the Las Vegas Convention Centre, the event sees competitors come from all over the world.

"As soon as I got there, I realized these guys meant business," he said. "For them, it's not for the money, it's for the glory."

Last year Vickers competed in the Neapolitan division, which he says is what he does best. This year, he's trying his hand in the pizza pan division.

"We're experimenting," he said. "I believe that quality pizzas and more healthy pizzas are catching on in Montreal."

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In order to prepare for the challenges, Vickers and the staff at the restaurant's various locations have been holding internal competitions to determine who will go to the Las Vegas event.

The winning staff members will head to the World Pizza Games, starting March 26.