Thomas McMurtrie, a senior in accounting, stops buy Mamma Leone’s for a bite to eat: Students can taste each others’ pizza recipes Oct. 21 during “Create Your Own Pizza Night.” Morgan Thacker / ASSOCIATE PHOTO EDITOR
Mamma Leone’s is looking for a new pizza recipe. Instead of utilizing the expertise of its executive chef, however, the restaurant is sponsoring a create-your-own-pizza contest that will call upon the culinary and creative skills of students.
Gina Groome, marketing coordinator for Tiger Dining, said signing up for the competition is easy.
“The students just fill out the recipe form with whatever they want for toppings and give their creation a creative name,” Groome said. “I will then pass the recipe on to Executive Chef Emil Topel.”
Topel will then choose six of the recipes as finalists. These pizzas will be featured on “Create Your Own Pizza Night” on Oct. 21. Topel, however, will not decide the winning pizza.
“Students can try free samples during ‘Create Your Own Pizza’ night, and then they will choose which of the six will be the winning pizza,” Groome said. “The winning pizza will be featured on the menu with a picture of the designer for one week.”
In addition to choosing the winning pizza on “Create Your Own Pizza Night”, students will also get the opportunity to, as the name suggests, create their own pizzas.
The deadline for submissions is Oct. 17.
Groome said the six finalists and the one overall winner would all receive prizes. The details of the prize package, however, are being kept secret.
Groome said Mamma Leone’s would consider offering the winning pizza for more than a week if it sells well.
“If everyone loves it, we may extend it two weeks, but right now we are only planning for one,” Groome said.
Rodney Harcum, Mamma Leone’s supervisor, said although one lucky student will get his or her pizza featured for a week, any student can get a fresh pizza made to order if they are willing to wait a little while.
“If they want something special, we will make it,” Harcum said. “It just takes a little longer.”
Heather Smith, a senior in early childhood education, said she does not have enough time to wait for a custom pizza.
“I know they can make them just how I want it, but time-wise, it is easier to just grab one of the ready-made pizzas,” Smith said.
For students that are looking for something different, but lack the desire or luxury of being able to wait, Harcum recommended trying the pizza of the week.
“Every week, we feature a special pizza that normally isn’t on our menu,” Harcum said.
Harcum said the pizza of the week changes every Monday, so students can get a fresh new taste every week.
Bergen Bolt, a freshman in civil engineering, said she was not sure if she would enter the contest, but she did describe her ultimate pizza.
“I wish they had a pesto pizza with feta and grilled chicken,” Bolt said. “But I want Mamma Leone’s to be open on the weekend more than I want that pizza.”
Britt Cowen, a freshman in radio, television and film, said his dream pizza would have an extra kick.
“I would want my pizza to be spicy,” Cowen said. “I know it would have banana peppers.”
Forms can be found at Mamma Leone’s or at www.Auburn.edu/dining.
