Pizza Payaa owner has top ten win in international pizza contest

Posted on April 3, 2024

*^{The pizza he made was the “Honey Badger,” which is one of the top-selling pizza’s at Pizza Payaa. (Photo courtesy of Adam Elpayaa)}*

By WMBD-TV

BLOOMINGTON – A local pizza maker raked high in the International Pizza Expo 2024 competition on March 20 in Las Vegas.

According to a news release from Pizza Payaa, its owner, Adam Elpayaa, competed against 500 other pizza makers around the world and ranked 9th for Detroit-style pizza and 14th overall for pan pizza.

The pizza he made was the “Honey Badger,” which is one of the top-selling pizza’s at Pizza Payaa. Elpayaa has previously served as a speaker and a judge at the expo, and this was his first year competing.

“I was pleased with how the competition went, but it was my first year competing and I’m already thinking about next year,” he said.

Pizza Payaa has two locations, one in Uptown Normal at 107 E. Beaufort St. and the other at 4 Currency Drive in Bloomington.

More information on Pizza Payaa is available on its website.

WMBD-TV can be reached at [email protected].

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