Step aside SF Giants, we have another World Champion to boast about: restaurateur and pizza maker Tony Gemignani, who was awarded the “Best in the World” title at the 10th Annual World Championships of Pizza Makers in Naples, Italy.

Gemignani took home the title in Pizza e Metro, or Romana, category. In addition to his recent win, he is a nine-time World Champion Pizza Acrobat and operates The International School of Pizza in San Francisco. Wait, there’s a pizza school in SF?

The best part of all this is that you don’t need to travel far to sample his wares as Gemignani runs two pizza places right here in North Beach: Tony’s Pizza Napoletana and Tony’s Coal-Fired Pizza & Slice House, which he opened last year and boasts a – you got it – coal-fired oven.

Now, being from New York I am pretty darn particular about my pizza. I haven’t personally tasted the slices at either of these joints but if the man is considered the “Best in the World” then I’m just going to have to trek to North Beach to see just what the fuss is all about.

Photo credit: International School of Pizza

• Tag: coal-fired over, contests, Italian, North Beach, pizza, Restaurants, world champion