Smilestones
TYING THE KNOT CURRAN-MIRAGLILO
Maryellen Curran married Nicholas Miraglilo on Nov. 16 in Sea Isle City. Maryellen is the daughter of Grace and Lawrence J. Curran Jr., of Sea Isle, and Nicholas is the son of Nicholas and Maryanne Miraglilo, of Somers Point. The couple were married at
St. Joseph Church and their reception was held at the Yacht Club of Sea Isle City. Maryellen has a biology degree from Georgetown University and graduated No. 1 in her class from Drexel University in the Accelerated Nursing Program. Nicholas has a business degree from West Virginia University and is employed with the Local 27 Sheet Metal Workers Union. They reside in Northfield.
Michael DeNunzio, Chris Batties, Rachel Coulter, Josh Olandt and Brie Chrisenberry with the Caputo Cup.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION DeNUNZIO’S THE NON-TRADITIONAL PIZZA CHAMP
The team at DeNunzio’s Brick Oven Pizza boasts the distinction of producing a pizza that won first place in the prestigious USA Caputo Cup competition. Chris Batties of DeNunzio’s submitted “The Secret Garden,” which won in the non-traditional pizza category.
The competition was part of the Pizza & Pasta Northeast convention last fall in Atlantic City. Pizza makers from throughout the U.S. participated in a bake-off in front of a panel of judges. Competitors bring their own dough and ingredients and then assemble their pizzas in front of a panel of judges and event attendees. The judges rated the pizzas based on five criteria: crust, taste, bake, visual presentation and creativity.
“When they called our name, I was in total shock,” Batties says. “I knew our pizza was good, but there were so many amazing pizzas, and to be named champion was just an unbelievable feeling.”
“The Secret Garden” featured the dough from DeNunzio’s Brick Oven Pizza with one difference: Instead of water, it was made with tea infused with butterfly pea flowers, which made the dough blue. The sauce on the pizza was a light white Alfredo topped with butter-fried capers, wine-glazed mushrooms, aged sharp cheddar, and mozzarella. Once the pizza came out of the oven, it was topped with two types of edible flowers: marigolds and pansies.
“The Caputo Cup is like the Super Bowl in the pizza world,” says owner Michael DeNunzio. “Seeing Chris win was an emotional moment for myself and the team. We put our heart and soul into our business, and to win at that level, no words can describe.”
This year’s convention will be held Sept. 25-26 at Atlantic City Convention Hall.
