9th Edition of the World Pesto Championship

Saturday 4th June, 2022: 9th Edition of the World Pesto Championship

100 Contestants, 10 Finalists

In the Salone del Maggior Consiglio at Palazzo Ducale, a historical palace in Genoa and beating heart of today’s main cultural events and activities, 100 competitors from all over the world will challenge each other with pestle and mortar in the preparation of Genoese Pesto according to traditional methods and using authentic and genuine ingredients.

Each competitor is provided by the organisation with all the ingredients and tools to take part in the competition. A jury of food experts and tasters selects the 10 finalists among the 100 competitors who will challenge each other in the afternoon finals.

The Championship is open to amateur and professional cooks, provided they have reached the age of 18, from any country in the world. Participants, in order of entry, are all registered for the Championship, while the winners of the preliminary rounds held throughout the year all over the world are entitled to take part.

The reigning champion is Emiliano Pescarolo, a 42-year-old professional diver from Garbagnate Milanese.

Camilla Pizzorno, a 22-year-old student and aspiring psychologist, is the new World Champion of pesto Genovese made with a mortar. She’s from Pegli, a delegation from western Genoa.