Local Chef Representing USA in World Pasta Competition

San Diego chef Accursio Lota of Solare Ristorante is one of just two chefs chosen to represent the USA at the Barilla Pasta World Championship in Italy, which will be held in the cities of Milan and Parma from September 27 to 29. Lota, a native of Menfi, Italy, is among 20 chefs from around the globe who will be competing in the sixth annual edition of the event.

Lota’s culinary background includes work in Italy, including at the Four Seasons Hotel in Milan; in San Diego, the chef cooked at The Marine Room and ran an underground dinner pop-up before joining Liberty Station’s Solare in 2012.

A panel of five Michelin-starred Italian chefs will be judging and whittling down the chef pool. The first day of competition is themed the “future of pasta”, and will give contestants an hour to reinterpret a traditional recipe. Lota shared that he’ll be doing a retake on spaghetti carbonara. On the second day, the remaining chefs competing to move on to the finals will have 30 minutes to reinvent spaghetti al pomodoro, or spaghetti with tomato sauce. In addition to bragging rights, the winner will contribute to a course featured at the well-regarded Alma International School of Italian Cuisine in Parma.