Laredo Pizzeria Competes in Montreal Pizza Fest

Janet Zapata of Laredo's 550 Pizzeria brings regional flavors to an international pizza competition.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Mexican Food

Bold vector editorial illustration of a handcrafted pizza on a metal peel, representing a culinary competition and artisanal craft. — Janet Zapata of Laredo's 550 Pizzeria is representing South Texas at the international Pizza Fest Challenge in Montreal this week. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Laredo-based 550 Pizzeria is participating in the Pizza Fest Challenge held at the Marché Bonsecours in Montreal. The shop's owner, Janet Zapata, is showcasing a pizza creation dubbed Laredough against more than 100 international competitors.

Why it matters

The entry aims to highlight South Texas culinary traditions on a global stage. Zapata hopes to leverage her experience from a previous world championship victory in Las Vegas to secure a win in Canada.

The Laredough entry features a blend of chorizo, chicken, and tomatillo sauce. The competition currently involves over 100 participants competing at the Marché Bonsecours venue.

The players

Janet Zapata

She is the owner of 550 Pizzeria in Laredo and a previous world pizza championship winner in Las Vegas.

550 Pizzeria

This Laredo-based restaurant is representing South Texas food traditions in an international contest.

The details

Janet Zapata, who owns 550 Pizzeria in Laredo, Texas, developed her unique pizza style to incorporate regional Mexican-inspired ingredients. She is currently facing off against a field of over 100 global chefs during the event in Montreal.

October 26, 2026: 550 Pizzeria competed in the event in Montreal.
October 27, 2026: Competition results are expected.

Culture Shift

The participation of regional pizzerias in global events follows the industry trend of elevating localized food traditions to international culinary status. This evolution mirrors a broader shift away from standardized fast-food pizza toward highly localized and authentic regional interpretations.

Residents of Laredo can look forward to potentially celebrating an international win by a hometown business this week. The Laredough pizza entry showcases how local ingredients like tomatillo sauce are gaining recognition in global culinary circles.

The takeaway

Zapata's participation demonstrates the value of bringing regional South Texas flavors to the international stage. Local chefs often find success by grounding their creative recipes in the specific cultural traditions of their hometown.