LA-based DTown Pizzeria Chef/Owner Ryan Ososky’s Detroit-style Pizza wins Pizza Maker of the Year Championship at International Pizza Challenge during Pizza Expo in Las Vegas

Ryan Ososky, Chef/Owner at DTown Pizzeria in West Hollywood, California, wins Pizza Maker of the Year Championship at the International Pizza Challenge during the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas in March. Ososky takes home the top prize at the International Pizza Challenge with his Detroit-style pizza in one of the most prestigious pizza competitions in the world. He has earned the title of World Champion and received a trophy and Pan Division winner prize of $4,000 and a Pizza Maker of the Year $5,000 prize.

Ososky was among 550 competitors who battled in 5 pizza division (Traditional, Non-Traditional, Neapolitan/STG, Pan and World’s Best Cheese Slice) semifinals and division finals before he advanced to the Pizza Maker of the Year Championship.

Ryan Ososky, DTown Pizzeria, wins Best Pan Pizza in the World in Pan Division

Ryan Ososky, Chef/Owner at LA-based DTown Pizzeria, has won the Pan Division at International Pizza Challenge during Pizza Expo in Las Vegas with a Spanish-inspired pizza featuring a lobster rossejat. It using fideos cooked in lobster stock and smoked paprika. The lobster was finished in lobster stock, butter, saffron, lemon and tomato concassee and garnished with Saffron aioli and chervil. Photo courtesy of DTown Pizzeria

After taking the top spot in the Pan Division preliminaries, Ososky advanced to the Pan Division Finals. Styles that fall into this category include Roman, Chicago Deep Dish/Stuffed, Detroit, Grandma/Sicilian, Cast-Iron, Ohio Valley, Old Forge, among others. There are no restrictions on dough, sauce, or toppings, except that the pizzas must conform to a pan style. A panel of expert judges evaluated each pizza based on a combination of crust, sauce, cheese, toppings, bake, overall taste, creativity, and appearance, with an emphasis on the culinary attributes.

Ososky swept the Pan Division with a unique pan pizza. “The pan pizza was a Spanish-inspired pizza with a play of a dish called lobster rossejat,” he says. “It’s like paella but using fideos which is a small thin tiny pasta cooked in lobster stock and smoked paprika.  The lobster was finished in lobster stock, butter, saffron, lemon and tomato concassee.  Saffron aioli and chervil to garnish. I was trying to use ingredients and flavor profiles I though no one would touch. Also, I just wanted to make what I wanted to eat.”

Ryan Ososky of LA-based DTown Pizzeria wins World Championship with Seasonal Detroit-style Pizza

The pinnacle of the International Pizza Challenge is the Pizza Maker of the Year Championship where division winners face off against each other in a mystery-ingredient (Trifoglio 100% Pure Extra Virgin Olive Oil) bake-off to be named World Champion.

Ryan Ososky, Chef/Owner at LA-based DTown Pizzeria, has won the Pizza Maker of the Year Championship at International Pizza Challenge during Pizza Expo in Las Vegas with a Detroit style pizza. The winning seasonal Detroit pizza featured asparagus; a fennel onion and olive oil soubise; a gremolata of Meyer lemon, shallots, chives, fennel fronds, cashews and olive oil; and garnished with Parmesan and fennel fronds. Photo courtesy of DTown Pizzeria.

“The final round for Pizza Maker of the Year was a secret ingredient of olive oil, so I figured I needed to get creative with the communal ingredients,” Ososky says. “I think my years of chef experience shined during this one. I made a seasonal Detroit pizza with asparagus, a fennel onion and olive oil soubise, a gremolata of Meyer lemon, shallots, chives, fennel fronds, cashews and olive oil. Garnished with Parmesan and fennel fronds.”

The win for Ososky was a combination of capitalizing on his chef background and adapting to the competition environment. “I think my years as a chef truly helps me compete not only in terms of creativity but organization and ability to stay calm during the competition,” he says. Test runs were vital as well as oven selection. Ososky opted for a gas deck oven away from a popular electric one. A decision, he says, helped him control his bake.

Ososky welcomed feedback from competition judges. “It’s great to be able to be judged by some of the best judges and critics, to get real feedback from people with proper credentials.”

DTown Pizzeria is now a 3X World Champion Pan Pizza. Photo courtesy of DTown Pizzeria

As Ososky takes home the championship hardware, he says, “it’s great to receive this recognition and awards. I’m very proud of this accomplishment, especially Pizza Maker of the Year. I certainly hope it’s received well amongst the community, and I think the real win is if the pizzeria is successful because we’ve had challenging times.”

Ososky and DTown Pizzeria are no strangers to championship pizza titles. He won the Pan Division in 2021 and Eduardo Ramirez represented DTown Pizzeria and won best pan pizza in 2023. Both years, the two won the Shawn Randazzo Award for Best Detroit Style Pizza.

Congratulations Ryan Ososky and DTown Pizzeria! You are the Pizza Maker of the Year!

Learn more about DTown Pizzeria and follow DTown on Instagram @dtown_pizzeria

For more competition details from Pizza Expo 2025, visit our hub page.