exterior
DAY 26 & 27: OCTOBER 26th and 27th, 2025
LOCATION: Pizza Expo (400 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215)
GUEST(S): Robin Rothman, Kitzi Taylor
ORDER: 5 slices of cheese, 1 slice of Detroit style, 2 slices of pepperoni
REVIEW:
PizzaCon! Pizza Today magazine is the reason October is officially recognized as National Pizza Month. I first learned about this delicious designation back in 2002, and ever since, I’ve celebrated by eating a slice of pizza every day at a different location. For that, I’m eternally grateful to Pizza Today—but their contributions to the pizza world go far beyond that. In addition to producing my current favorite pizza podcast, The Hot Slice, every spring, they host the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. In 2025, however, they took the show on the road, debuting a U.S.-centric version of the Pizza Expo in Columbus, Ohio. The result? A full-on two day pizza party. Walking into the Columbus Convention Center felt like stepping into a dough-fueled dream. Booths stretched as far as the eye could see — cheese producers, tomato growers, oven builders, box designers, slicer makers, dessert sellers, and just about anyone else who’s ever had a hand (or a topping) in the pizza business. On one end, pizza pros flipped, stretched, and tossed dough in live demos; on the other, elite pizza makers from around the world battled it out in high-stakes competitions for cash, trophies, and pizza-world bragging rights. And yes, there was pizza everywhere. In the competition zone, each contestant’s pie went to the judges behind closed doors… but the leftover slices? Fair game. Meanwhile, vendors showed off their goods the best way possible — by feeding everyone in sight. Although the event is geared toward industry insiders, any self-proclaimed pizza enthusiast would be in heaven here. Between the endless samples, the latest gear, and the smell of freshly baked dough in every direction, the inaugural Pizza Expo in Columbus was one unforgettable (and delicious) experience.
PHOTOS:
Chef Aaron Gehrman
Greater Columbus Convention Center
Scott at the Slice Out Hunger booth
Remaining slices from the pizza competition
Day 26
Grande Mozzarella booth
Sketch Artist
Sean Taylor, Michelle and Marianne Corrova (from TAT Ristorante di Famiglia)
Sean Taylor and Paulie Gee (from Paulie Gee's)
Ovens galore
Competition arena
VIDEO:
MISCELLANEOUS:
Robin Rothman, Sean Taylor
1. Robin Rothman and I got our caricatures drawn on a pizza box at the Pizza Today booth.
Sean Taylor and Kitzi Taylor
2. My mom, Kitzi Taylor, wore her witch hat and I wore my pizza sunglasses both days of the Expo.
RATING:
5/5
5/5
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