The winner of the World's Fastest Pizza Maker award was Pali Grewal from Surrey

This week, Pali Grewal, a multi Domino’s Pizza store franchisee from Surrey was crowned the World’s Fastest Pizza Maker 2010.

The final saw competitors pour in from all over the world, many travelling from as far afield as Malaysia to take part in the grand final which was held in Las Vegas. However there could only be one winner, and this year Mr Grewal clinched the title making an impressive 3 large pizzas in 39.1 seconds which works out as one pizza in just over 13 seconds.

Being a speedy pizza maker is only part of the talent required to win this coveted award as each pizza is inspected by a panel of judges to ensure it meets with the high standard of food presentation which Domino’s Pizza prides itself on. The application of the sauce, portion control and shape of the pizza were all scrutinised by the tough judges, if any pizza fell below their high standards, it was sent back to be corrected.

Each competitor was required to hand stretch fresh dough to create the base, top with sauce and a different topping on each, one with cheese, another with pepperoni, and another with mushroom.

After a nail biting final, Mr Grewal, who has worked with Domino’s Pizza for 18 years, emerged triumphant. The winner was awarded a prize of $3,000 and also a trophy presented by Domino’s Pizza President and CEO, J. Patrick Doyle.

Pizza Hut Waitress lands part in top musical

24-year-old Leigh Coggins has spent 6 years waitressing in Pizza Hut, but finally the aspiring musical star has been served the break she’s been waiting for.

Leigh, who has previously served tables in a number of Pizza Hut restaurants including the Bridgend outlet, McArthurglen and Stratford over the past 6 years, was plucked from thousands of hopefuls to become the understudy for the female lead in the UK tour of the world famous musical, Les Miserables.

The former Pizza Hut waitress descried the moment she received the good news: “I was on my way home from work when I found out I’d got the part – I cried my eyes out on the Tube and everyone was laughing at me!”

The talented soprano only graduated from The Guildhall School Of Music and Drama this summer and has wasted no time in lining up her first major role. Taking on the part of the male lead in the touring musical production is Gareth Gates. Talking about working with the Pop Idol runner up Leigh said, “Gareth is lovely,” she added, “I’ve never met someone so genuine in all my life and we’re close in age so we get along really well.”  

Pizza Hut will have to manage without one of its experienced waitresses for a while as the production will be touring the UK until May 2010. The show is currently playing at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff until January 16^th.

Lady Gaga rewards fans with free Papa Johns pizza

Lady Gaga treated her loyal fans to $1,000 worth of pizza courtesy of Papa Johns this week. The wacky singer decided to reward her followers, who had queued for hours outside a record store in the US where she was signing copies of her new album, by giving away free pizza.

Hundreds of Gaga fans descended upon the Best Buy store in Los Angeles to get their copy of the new album, The Fame Monster, signed by the Lady herself. The singer also hit the headlines this week, not unusually, for her outrageous choice of costume for her album signing tour. Taking the current trend for 80’s style shoulder pads to great heights, Gaga sported a black blazer with should pads which reached her ear lobes.

Gaga devotees had a happy wait for their idol outside the record store in LA as 80 cheese pizzas were delivered throughout the day courtesy of Papa Johns. The free pizza certainly helped to keep the crowd in good spirits as they waited patiently. Writing on her Twitter account, Lady Gaga posted this message: “Sending all my little monsters little pizzas for waiting all night for me at best buy. I hope you’re hungry…eat up I love u!”

The inside word from the Papa Johns outlet which served Lady Gaga is that she tips “very, very well.”