- April 18, 2024
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In a spontaneous decision to fly out to Vegas ease their minds from some of the recent tragedy they’ve endured, Joe's New York Pizza & Pasta cook Alex Stephens discovered that he was one of the Top 3 fastest pizza box folders in the world.
Owner Mike Bennici and Stephens attended the World Pizza Games, where Stephens signed up to compete in the Fastest Pizza Stretch and Fastest Box Folding competitions against other contestants throughout the country and from around the world. While he didn’t do so well in the stretch battle, Stephens took third in the folding race, folding five boxes in 20.9 seconds, .7 seconds behind the winner.
“Surprisingly, I entered the fastest pizza stretch, thinking I would do better,” Stephens said. “I didn’t expect to do so good in the boxes. I haven’t touched a pizza box in six years. I don’t make boxes anymore; I make pizza.”
The end on Stephens’ last box got caught, which added an extra second, so he could’ve won the competition. Bennici has already vowed to return every year with Stephens, and his chef, for the gold medal and other competition wins.
“Surprisingly, I entered the fastest pizza stretch, thinking I would do better,” Stephens said. “I didn’t expect to do so good in the boxes. I haven’t touched a pizza box in six years. I don’t make boxes anymore; I make pizza.”
Alex Stephens
Stephens has been working for Joe’s for 12 years, and Bennici says he’s been one of his most consistent team members.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity to give back to one of our best guys, who has given so much to the store,” Bennici said. “He’s really mastered his craft here, and I figured it would be a great opportunity to take him to Vegas and display his skills on a world stage.”
“Those are some serious bragging rights for us,” Bennici added. “We got the third fastest guy on the planet.”
Joe's New York Pizza & Pasta is located at 1070 Palm Coast Parkway NW. Call 445-1650.
