Virtual Pizza Academy is proud to announce that co-founder Jimmy Henry captured the California Freestyle Category Championship at the 2026 Real California Pizza Contest with his Motor City Elote Detroit-Style Pizza, competing against some of the most talented pizza makers in the United States. Jimmy's category victory came after being selected as one of only eight national finalists in this year's competition hosted by the California Milk Advisory Board in Napa, California.
The annual competition celebrates the country's most innovative pizza chefs and their creative use of Real California dairy products. Finalists traveled from across the nation to compete in a live bake-off, where judges evaluated each pizza on flavor, creativity, presentation, baking execution, and innovative use of California dairy.
For Jimmy, the recognition is the culmination of years spent studying, teaching, and continually refining the craft of pizza making.
"Winning the California Freestyle category with my Motor City Elote Detroit-Style Pizza is something I'll never forget. To have something I created recognized on a national stage while competing against some of the best pizza makers in America is an incredible honor."
Congratulations to Chef Zack Calder
Virtual Pizza Academy also extends congratulations to Chef Zack Calder of Left Coast Pizza for earning the contest's Grand Prize with his outstanding pizza, Valley Heat, Vine Sweet. Zack's creativity and execution were exceptional, and it was an honor to compete alongside him and the rest of this year's incredibly talented finalists.
More Than a Competition
While bringing home a category title was an unforgettable achievement, one of the biggest takeaways from the week was the opportunity to build friendships with some of the finest pizzaiolos in the country.
The exchange of ideas, techniques, and experiences throughout the event served as a reminder that the pizza community is one of the most supportive and collaborative culinary communities anywhere. Those relationships will continue long after the competition has ended, and Virtual Pizza Academy looks forward to staying connected with these talented chefs for years to come.
Thank You to the Organizers
A sincere thank you goes to the California Milk Advisory Board, Real California Milk, and The Food Connector for organizing a world-class event. Every detail was thoughtfully executed, and the hospitality shown to the competitors made the experience truly unforgettable.
We're also grateful to the judges, who faced the incredibly difficult task of evaluating eight outstanding pizzas. The level of talent and creativity was remarkable, and any one of the finalist creations could have walked away with the Grand Prize.
Built with Incredible Ingredients and Incredible Partners
Award-winning pizza starts with exceptional ingredients and equipment. Jimmy's California Freestyle-winning pizza featured products from companies that continually support pizza professionals and educators throughout the industry.
Special thanks to:
-
King Arthur Baking for their outstanding flours.
-
El Mexicano Brand for exceptional Mexican cheeses, including Crema, Oaxaca, Queso Fresco, and Cotija.
-
Bacio Cheese for premium mozzarella.
-
Soul Brothers Meats for incredible locally crafted chorizo.
-
LloydPans for industry-leading Detroit-style pizza pans.
-
Cambro Manufacturing for professional food storage solutions.
-
Atlas Steel Co. for the Frico King® Spatula and Rocker Cutter.
-
Ooni for the Halo Pro spiral mixer that prepared the award-winning dough.
A Victory Shared with the Virtual Pizza Academy Community
Jimmy also credits much of his success to the experience gained through teaching hundreds of live pizza classes with Virtual Pizza Academy alongside the support of NEPA Pizza Review.
Teaching pizza week after week, answering student questions, demonstrating techniques under pressure, and presenting to audiences around the world helped develop the confidence that proved invaluable during the competition's live presentation and judging process.
Every live class, every student question, and every conversation has contributed to this journey.
Whether you're interested in mastering Detroit-Style Pizza, Old Forge Pizza, New York Style Pizza, Stromboli & Calzones, or one of our many other live and on-demand courses, our mission remains the same: helping home pizza makers become more confident in the kitchen through proven techniques and hands-on instruction.
Explore all of our classes at VirtualPizzaAcademy.com.
Thank You
Finally, Jimmy would like to thank his wife, family, friends, Virtual Pizza Academy students, and everyone who followed along throughout the competition.
Every encouraging message, comment, and text meant more than words can express. This accomplishment belongs to an entire community that has supported the journey from the very beginning.
Bringing home the California Freestyle title is an incredible milestone, but it's also just the beginning.
Jimmy is already back in the kitchen—testing, learning, and developing new ideas inspired by this unforgettable week in Napa. Those lessons, techniques, and experiences will soon make their way into future Virtual Pizza Academy classes, where students around the world can continue learning alongside one of the nation's award-winning pizza makers.
The best pizzas are still ahead.
0 comments