Local chef becomes first American to win Rome’s highest pizza honor

A Pacific Northwest pizza chef and restaurant owner is the first American to be awarded the Premio Follie Lifetime Achievement Award at the Pizza World Cup in Rome.

Will Grant, the owner of That’s A Some Pizza in Bainbridge Island and Sourdough Willy’s in Kingston, earned international recognition with one of the highest honors in the pizza industry, according to KIRO 7.

The Premio Follie Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a lifetime dedicated to crafting and innovating pizza. The award is named after Mario Folliero Senior, a prominent figure in Italian pizza history who wrote the first collection of stories and poetry about pizza. Grant was presented the award by Folliero’s descendants, Mario and Alfredo Folliero.

“My life has been dedicated to the Italian ‘Arte Bianca,’ the art of white flour,” Grant said, according to KIRO 7. “To be from the West Coast, using ancient sourdough techniques and being non-Italian, this latest award is very humbling and at the same time really groundbreaking in the world of pizza.”

Will Grant’s journey to being named a Premio Follie award-winner

Since Grant began making pizzas as a kid, he has helped open 16 restaurants and is the owner and instructor of the Pacific Northwest School of Pizza.

Along with the prestigious award, Grant coached his pizza team to two first-place victories against seven other countries in the same competition earlier this year.

“To be able to bring and coach two amazing teams and watch them take first place was an immense feeling of pride,” Grant said, according to KIRO 7. “Seeing them succeed on that stage, representing American pizza in the heart of Italy — that’s what it’s all about.”

One of Grant’s ventures, That’s A Some Pizza, was founded in 1984 by Lee and Marti Grant. Notably, this location has a sourdough starter that has been in continuous use since the pizza shop opened for business.

In total, Grant has won several pizza awards throughout his years as a chef, including:

• 2025 Premio Follie Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2023 Ranked #7 Pala pizza in the world
• 2023 Ranked #3 Sandwich in the world
• 2023 Guinness World Record holder
• 2022 Ranked #6 Pasta in the USA
• 2022 Ranked #3 Bagel in the world
• 2022 Ranked #2 Calzone in the world
• 2019 Ranked #8 Pizza in Europe
• 2018 Ranked #19 Traditional Pizza in the world
• 2018 Best Pizza in the Northwest Region
• 2017 Caputo Cup Non-Traditional Champion (Best Pizza in USA)

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