Raised between New York and Alabama, Carlucci has earned numerous international accolades, including “Pizza Maker of the Year” in 2023. His philosophy blends technique, quality ingredients, and community dedication. Founder and leading figure of the World Pizza Champions.
Born in the Bronx and raised in Carmel, New York, Joe Carlucci began working in pizza at the age of 14–15, starting as a dishwasher and quickly moving to pizza maker in a local pizzeria. In 2000, he met his mentor, Tony Gemignani—fourteen-time world champion—who guided him for more than two decades.
He moved to Alabama in 2008 to work for a restaurant in Huntsville, later opening a food truck and, in 2020, launching “Valentina’s Pizzeria & Wine Bar,” named after his daughter. The business has since expanded to a larger location.
Carlucci is a founding member of the “World Pizza Champions,” an international organization promoting pizza-making through competitions and educational projects.
He has been featured on major TV shows including The Today Show, Martha & Snoop, Master Chef Kids, and Best In Dough.
His pizza is characterized by the use of Caputo flour imported from Naples, dough fermenting up to 72 hours, hand-stretched mozzarella, in-house cured meats, and family-inspired recipes such as his grandmother’s meatballs. Popular pizzas include “The Godfather” (with salami, sausage, bacon, and meatballs) and “The Valentina” (sweet sauce, caramelized onions, cherry tomatoes, basil).
Joe emphasizes teamwork: “Without my staff, I am nobody. Every person counts, even the dishwasher”. His daughter Valentina also plays a role in his story: she holds a pizza-tossing record herself and appeared on shows like Master Chef Kids.
