Two Canadian pizza chefs rank among world's top 100 artisans

Two Canadian pizza chefs have made the 2026 Best Pizza Awards list of the world's top 100 artisans, a recognition that prioritizes culinary craftsmanship over commercial agendas.

Ryan Baddeley of Pizzeria Badiali in Toronto's west end placed 59th on the ranking. He opened the neighbourhood pie joint in 2021, and it has since become iconic enough to partner with major brands like Miss Vickie's and Shake Shack. According to the Best Pizza Awards, Baddeley and his team "deliver a refined yet nostalgic approach to pizza by the slice, blending the bold, comforting spirit of New York-style classics with the finesse of Italian-inspired specialty pies."

The second Canadian chef to make the list is Cédric Toullec of Lou Pécou Artisanal Pizzeria in Halifax, who ranked 92nd. Toullec was born and raised in Marseille, where his grandparents taught him to cook with high-quality ingredients. At Lou Pécou, the dough is made with a mix of 100 per cent organic flours, topped with local vegetables and cured meats.

According to the Best Pizza Awards, Toullec is a master artisan pizzaiolo who approaches tradition "with a forward-thinking approach," driven by a simple belief: "a great pizza needs nothing more than honest ingredients and sincere care." His work is rooted in sustainability and authenticity.

The rankings are determined by a panel of expert voters selected by the Best Chef Awards platform, including food journalists, gastronomy experts, pizza chefs, and industry professionals. The panel votes for the pizza chef, not the pizzeria — and to be eligible, a chef must actively work at a venue where their pizza can be tasted.