Westchester Chef Is a Finalist in California Pizza Kitchen's 2014 Annual Pizza Chef Competition

For a while, it looked look like Tavo Illesca, pizza chef at California Pizza Kitchen in Scarsdale, NY, was a long shot to win CPK's 2014 annual pizza chef competition. 

He was pitted against pizza chefs from 250 American CPK locations in 32 states and eleven chefs from other countries. In addition, he had entered a rendition of  CPK's Santa Fe pizza, a pizza dropped nationwide from the CPK menu years ago.

But after the number of contestants dropped from 205 to twelve and then to six, Illesca was still in the running.

Now, he is one of the final four contestants. 

On March 18, 2014, a board of judges will begin tasting to determine a winner at a bake-off in Laguna Beach, California. The grand prize is $25,000.

The pizza competition is one of the activities in a four-day, annual company meeting to be attended by 700 CPK executives, employees and suppliers.

A party to wish the chef success

General Manager Frank Basile, a resident of Stamford, CT, said the Scarsdale restaurant will hold a celebration to support Illesca on Saturday, March 15 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Illesca's Santa Fe pizza will be available for ordering all day and the regular menu will be available.  Beverage service will be augmented with a special margarita. The public is invited to attend.

"Broken Bow Brewery will participate with beer tasting and the distribution of souvenirs," Assistant General Manager Yvonne Spotts said. Parties of eight or more people can make call-ahead reservations.

Ingredients in the Santa Fe pizza include chipotle black beans, poblano peppers, Monterey Jack cheese, cheddar cheese, Queso Quesadilla cheese, red onions, seasoned pork carnita, tortilla chips, avocado salsa verde, and crema. 

Illesca grew up in Guatemala and has been with CPK for close to ten years.

The restaurant chain was started in 1985 by Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax in Beverly Hills, California. 

It sells more than 14.5 million pizza pies a year and some of its wares are available in many airports, sports stadiums and colleges; CPK take-home treats (made by Nestle) can also be found on many grocery shelves.  

California Pizza Kitchen is in the Archway Mall, 365 Central Park Avenue, Scarsdale, 914-722-0600. It opens seven days a week at 11 a.m. On Monday through Thursday and Sunday, It closes at 10 p.m. On Friday and Saturday, it closes at 11 p.m. 

California Pizza Kitchen (corporate), 12181 Bluff Creek Drive, Playa Vista, CA, 90094, 310-342-5000, www.cpk.com