Beer crust was the secret

A dessert pizza with the beer crust, caramelized honey apples and whipped cream was part of the winning meal in a contest sponsored by Canadian Pizza Magazine. which is produced by Annex Publishing, based in Simcoe, Ontario.

The title Pizza Chef of the Year was won by Diana Coutu, who, with her husband Pierre, owns Diana's Gourmet Pizza in Winnipeg. Her entry included a honey whole-wheat beer crust pizza topped with seasoned white chicken and roasted red peppers. She also prepared lasagna-stuffed red peppers and a pizza with romaine lettuce. None of the items in the entry is available on her restaurant's menu.

Ms. Coutu is to compete in an international invitational pizza-making contents in Las Vegas in March and hopes to be a member of a Canadian pizza team entered in the world pizza championship in Salsamaggoire, Italy, in April.

Canadian Pizza Magazine has a circulation of 9,500 and is a trade magazine serving the retail pizza industry.