Father Of 2 Becomes First Malaysian To Participate In Pizza-Making Competition In Italy
His team ranked fourth overall in the competition.
By Parvinsivam Thirunamakarasu — 26 May 2023, 12:50 PM
A Malaysian influencer recently took his hobby to the next level by representing the country in a pizza-making competition in Naples, Italy
Jofli Abu Bakar, also known as Jofliam or Jo, who has over 300,000 followers on Instagram, started making pizzas as a hobby during the Movement Control Order (MCO), reported Bernama.
According to Astro Awani, in 2021, he then started taking orders and selling his pizzas on Instagram, and once even went viral for handing out free pizzas to flood victims.
He is now well-known among his followers for his hard-to-get wagyu beef pizzas that they can order at RM150 per box.
Recently, he represented Malaysia in the annual Tutto Pizza competition in Naples, together with his friends, Salvatore Miele and Vincenzo Di Nuzzo
The three of them were one of 50 teams competing in the annual event.
Jofliam explained that he originally intended to bring his team from Malaysia, but was unsure if the right equipment would be provided during the competition, which is why he contacted his Italian friends for help.
"I asked him to join me, and he was happy to represent Malaysia. We know Italians are very patriotic. So, if Salvatore was willing to represent Malaysia, it is an honour for me," said Jofliam, as quoted by Bernama.
He revealed in an Instagram post that he funded the full cost of the competition with his own money.
From left: Salvatore Miele, Vincenzo Di Nuzzo, and Jofli Abu Bakar at the Tutto Pizza competition in Naples, Italy.
Image via The VibesJofliam's team placed in the top 16 and ranked fourth overall
According to Bernama, the top 16 teams have the opportunity to participate in an Italian reality show called Master Pizza Champion.
Besides that, the father of two also received recognition as a pizza maker by the Associazione Pizzaiuoli Napoletani (Association of Neapolitan Pizza Makers).
He shared that his inspiration to join the competition came from his eight-year-old son, who was always full of admiration every time Jofliam prepared wagyu pizzas for his customers.
