Greene County News Report
BEAVERCREEK – LaRosa’s Pizzeria asked LaRosa’s team members to submit new calzone recipe ideas earlier this year to be judged in the “LaRosa’s Next New Recipe Challenge: A Calzone of Your Own.” With more than 200 impressive entries from which to choose, Mark LaRosa, president and chief culinary officer, and LaRosa’s Menu Advisory Team selected Tyler Wlazlo, a Fairborn native and Beavercreek LaRosa’s employee, as the winner.
Judges based criteria on the overall fit with LaRosa’s menu, use of quality ingredients, overall taste, preparation and presentation. The winners were chosen, each receiving a cash prize. Wlazlo’s recipe will be featured on the LaRosa’s menu beginning in September. This is the third year for the program.
LaRosa paid a surprise visit to LaRosa’s Beavercreek to congratulate Wlazlo as the winner of the “LaRosa’s Next New Recipe Challenge: A Calzone of Your Own” with a tray of cookies and a $2,000 check . Wlazlo has worked for LaRosa’s for three years, serving multiple positions including cook, server, driver and his current positions as an assistant manager.
He enjoys the food he prepares and the opportunity to interact with his coworkers and customers. Tyler’s winning entry was a Baked Buddy Calzone, an extension of an existing hoagy recipe on the menu. Recipe ingredients include capocolla ham, salami, pepperoni, melted provolone cheese, red onions, pickles and an Italian dressing brushed on top.
“As soon as I saw the contest information, I just walked around in the kitchen trying to decide what customers would like,” Wlazlo said. “I basically took the ingredients for the hoagy and put them inside a calzone to give a spin on the current menu item.”
He plans to use the cash prize toward his summer vacation to Disney World. When he is not preparing food and assisting customers in LaRosa’s Beavercreek location, he spends his time in the classroom, working toward his mechanical engineering degree at Wright State University. Wlazlo feels eager to see his winning recipe featured on LaRosa’s menu.
“I just really appreciate the opportunity,” he said. “I enjoyed participating in the competition and I’m glad my recipe was chosen.”
