We are pleased to announce new additions to our expert judging panel for Canadian Pizza Chef of the Year West in Port Coquitlam, B.C., on July 8.
We are honoured to welcome Marzia Molatore (Mamma Marzia), cookbook author and chef in Langley, B.C., Martin Barnett, executive director of the Baking Association of Canada, and Ilaria Baldan, executive director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce Canada – West, to the judges’ table!
Meet our esteemed judges!
Marzia Molatore
Mamma Marzia, founder of Bella Cibo, born in Naples and grew up in the Valtellina in northern Italy, moved to Vancouver in 2003 to follow the big love of her life. Growing up in Italy homemade food was a big part of her culture. She learned how to cook with passion from her mom, nonna and aunts. In February 2003 she hosted her first lasagna cooking class. Inspired by the enthusiasm of her students, she made it her goal to teach people how to cook real food while they have fun. She launched a social media campaign and started to teach authentic Italian cuisine to other people. The name of her company, “Bella Cibo,” literally means “beautiful food.” Mamma Marzia now hosts classes from her kitchen. B In 2018 Bella Cibo won the Service Excellence Award from the Langley Chamber of Commerce. Mamma Marzia published a cookbook in 2020, a collection of her family recipes. mammamarzia.ca | marzia@bellacibo.ca
Martin Barnett
Martin Barnett is executive director of the Baking Association of Canada. Martin has a been involved in the Canadian baking industry since 1977. His wide experience includes running medium-size wholesale and retail bakeries in Victoria, working for the Fairmont Empress Hotel and teaching at Vancouver Island University. In 2018 Martin launched Seraphina’s Oven, a small artisan baking, training and consulting business. He has been involved with the Baking Association of Canada both provincially and nationally since 2005 and as a director since 2012. baking.ca | mbarnett@baking.ca
Ilaria Baldan
Born and raised in Venice, Ilaria Baldan is the executive director of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Canada-West. At the Chamber, Ilaria assists Canadian ho.re.ca businesses looking to learn more about Italian food and wine products, and to promote authentic made-in-Italy products in Western Canada. Some of the programs she implemented include: Italian culinary courses at VCC, the Ospitalita` Italiana awards, the Authentic Italian Table, the Ombreta monthly Italian aperitivo event, the True Italian Taste Taste trade and media tours. linkedin.com/in/ilariabaldan/ | ilaria@iccbc.com
If you are a pizzeria, restaurant or bakery-café with a focus on pizza, you can register for the Canadian Pizza Summit at canadianpizzashow.ca/location/vancouver/