RC’s NYC Pizza & Pasta is proving its claim to not only the best pizza and pasta in Houston, but also that they can compete with the best in the nation.
RC Gallegos, owner of RC’s NYC Pizza & Pasta, took home the Bronze Medal at the 2017 USA Caputo Cup competition, competing against dozens of top pizzaiuolos (pizza chefs) from across the nation, in the inaugural Gluten-Free category. Gallegos was the only pizzaiuolo from the Houston area in the competition. He presented the California Pizza, featuring baby spinach, zesty Italian sausage, artichoke hearts, roasted peppers and fresh basil over traditional pizza sauce and 100% whole milk mozzarella on a gluten-free crust.
In addition, RC’s scored a Silver Medal in the Northeast Pasta Showdown, sponsored by Barilla. In this competition, they first presented the signature pasta Sugo alla Bolognese (pork cooked in white wine, beef cooked in red wine, port mushroom caps, ricotta and fresh basil in a nest of fettuccine pasta), then prepared a pasta dish from a table of common ingredients with one primary ingredient required. Dishes were judged on the trueness to the Italian tenets of technique, presentation, flavor balance and taste.
Gallegos has been competing at national pizza competitions since 2009, where he took home 1st place at the Pizza Expo in Las Vegas for his classic plain cheese pie. It was the first time a plain cheese pizza had been entered into the competition, and Gallegos shocked the field with the win.
Gallegos competes regularly, and has brought home trophies in numerous other national pizza competitions from coast to coast.