Franchised pizza chain Eagle Boys PizzaÕs executive chef Melanie Townsend has been named one of Australia’s top five pizza chefs at the recent Australian Global Pizza Challenge 2010. Townsend’s Strawberry and White Chocolate Dessert Thingie won first place in the specialty/dessert category.

The Australian Global Pizza Challenge 2010 showcased the nationÕs top individual pizza makers — whether they were from pizzerias, restaurants and hotels or just a home enthusiast. Entrants were encouraged to submit their commercially-viable recipes within the following four categories: chicken or meat, seafood, vegetarian, and speciality/dessert.

The top 20 finalists were invited to Melbourne to recreate their recipes in cook-off heats for the Australian Global Pizza Challenge title.

Townsend said “My special recipe was the Strawberry and White Chocolate Dessert Thingie we launched in stores a few months ago. It stunned the judges and won the Specialty/Dessert category. It was also first time a pizza chain has done so well in the competition.”