Where Can You Find a World-Renowned Pizza Chef in Ridgewood?

MIchele D’Amelio has joined A Mano pizzeria as the restaurant’s newest pizzaiolo. He’ll oversee the Neapolitan pizza-making team.

D’Amelio has distinguished himself among the world’s best pizza makers. He won first place at the International Pizza Expo in 2013 in the Italian Style category and was second place at the Pizza World Championship competition in Parma, Italy in 2014.

“I am very proud to be able to share pizza Napoletana with people in the United States,” D’Amelio said. “There is nothing quite like authentic Neapolitan pizza, and at A Mano, we make pizza with the same methods used in Naples for more than 300 years.”

Born in Avellino, Italy, D’Amelio’s passion for pizza started with his mother when he was 4 years old. He quickly learned how to make pizza and opened a family-run pizzeria in Lioni in 2010.

A Mano is one of only a few restaurants in the United States that is certified by both Neapolitan pizza making governing bodies. The restaurant only uses authentic Italian ingredients imported from Naples, Italy. Neapolitan Artisans built the the restaurant’s twin ovens by hand using stones and volcanic soil from Naples.

“Tradition is important and something that should be passed on,” D’Amelio said. “It’s culinary history.”

(Pictured: Michele D’Amelio/Courtesy of DLS Public Relations)