OT…UM Football Alumnus is Pizza World Champion…Really

Submitted by MGoUberBlue on

Jeff Smokevich, a member of the NCAA Championship Team of 1997 from Birmingham, was awarded the Best American Pizza Maker in Italy last month.  He owns Brown Dog Pizza in Telluride, Colorado and cooks the best ever pizza pies………the square Pizzas are similar to Buddy’s in Detroit, but much more creative with current recipes:

http://www.worldpizzachampions.com/team/jeff_s.php

Jeff opened Blue Pan Pizza in Denver a couple of weeks ago:

http://www.westword.com/restaurants/blue-pan-pizza-partners-jeff-smokevitch-and-giles-flanagin-turn-adversity-into-success-6789651

He is a really good guy and will duscuss Michigan football anytime that you visit either of the restaurants.

Moe

July 9th, 2015 at 2:09 PM ^

I thought this was going to be a competitive eating champion.  Now I'm much more hungry and want to visit Telluride.

On a related note, anyone ever been to Tony's Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco?  Going there for work next week and Tony is an 11 time winner.  Wondering if it's worth the hype.

quigley.blue

July 9th, 2015 at 2:15 PM ^

Yes, very good, definitely worth the visit, get the mussels there too.  EDIT: delfina also a good option for pizza.  Near Bi-Rite (ice cream) and not far from Flour + Water (good but busy dinner spot) and Tartine (not your traditional super sour sourdough, but many consider to be the best bread around)

GunnersApe

July 9th, 2015 at 2:48 PM ^

I miss that and Detroit Egg rolls. I've been stationed in all four corners and cannot get a proper egg roll unless I'm in the Detroit. Pizza, I have been converted to the NY/Boston style but egg rolls.... oh I miss you bean sprout with the vinager sauce. 

LSAClassOf2000

July 9th, 2015 at 3:12 PM ^

I live downriver and there are several places that carry the bean sprout egg rolls fortunately. In the city, Tai Hing at Holcomb and Jefferson does a nice one as well. One thing that is kind of interesting is that you don't have to get too far outside of Detroit before the switch to cabbage seems to happen. Kim's Gardens in Novi used to do the bean sprout ones, I believe, but the last time I was up that way, the menu had changed a bit. 

Wolverine Devotee

July 9th, 2015 at 2:47 PM ^

 

Jeff Smokevich, a member of the NCAA Championship Team of 1997

 

There is no such thing as an NCAA Football Championship unless you're talking about Youngstown State from that year.

Jeff Smokevich was a member of the 1997 National Championship team. The NCAA has nothing to do with the FBS/1-A championship.

WolvinLA2

July 9th, 2015 at 4:29 PM ^

I actually disagree with your correction and think the OP was correct.  Just because the NCAA doesn't actually award the championship, it doesn't mean they aren't champions of the NCAA.  Even today with the playoff, the winner is the champion of NCAA FBS division. 

When the media votes on the All Big Ten teams and Big Ten POY, are those guys not really All Big Ten because the honor isn't given out by the Big Ten?  

Wolverine Devotee

July 9th, 2015 at 3:09 PM ^

What does that have to do with anything? I don't go there and never will because I'm not worthy of going there. 

I was just trying to help out. Sorry you're so sensitive.  

Heavy DDS

July 9th, 2015 at 3:35 PM ^

Was just down in Telluride for Bluegrass festival and stopped in at The Brown Dog.  Awesome Pizza and great Michigan atmosphere.   Glad they are in Denver now right by my house.