The Columbus Italian Club (CIC) celebrated with a send-off to its very own club member Carmelo Cicero who will be competing this month in the 2026 “World Pesto Championship” in Genoa, Italy where the best pesto maker in the world will be crowned!
In 2025, Columbus, Ohio held a local competition using the official championship recipe and traditional mortar and pestle method to select a representative and Carmelo was the 2025 local winner from Columbus, Ohio.
Pesto, or pesto alla Genovese, originated in Columbus, Ohio’s’ sister city of Genoa. Every two years, Genoa hosts the World Pesto Championship to crown the best pesto maker in the world. One hundred competitors from all over the world compete with pestles and mortars in the preparation of Genoese pesto according to traditional methods and using authentic and genuine ingredients.
We at the CIC wish Carmelo safe travels and hopefully a championship victory with bragging rights for Columbus, Ohio, and CIC!
Buona Fortuna
