The Man behind these Michelin star pizzas

From debatable pizza toppings to hot chips on pizza – there are no boundaries that haven’t been crossed when it comes to the beloved Italian dish.

Pizza has been privy to some experimental applications, and this concept is no exception. 

Enter Michele Benigna – a visual artist from New Zealand who is taking the delicious wheel and giving it a Michelin star touch.

Benigna has applied an artistic eye to reinvent dishes that have been awarded three Michelin stars in the past.

“I wanted to combine my passions and elevate pizza to the level of fine dining by recreating these culinary masterpieces and shooting them like art,” he tells 9Honey Kitchen.

Michele has taken dishes that were made famous by Gordon Ramsay, Heston Blumenthal, Daniel Humm, Massimo Bottura and Gualtiero Marchesi – and transformed them into doughy goodness.   

“I love that Heston is self-taught and questions everything,” he says.

Not only has this Michele appropriated these signature meals, but he’s incorporated sound to heighten the sensory experience.

“I decided to not only recreate this dish visually but through sound, so I put a piece of music on my website for you to enjoy while viewing my photos.”

But the series standout for Michele is the pizza inspired by the Italian dish of the century: Ages of Parmigiano Reggiano in Different Textures and Temperatures by Massimo Bottura. 

“He is considered one of the top chefs on the planet; I've always loved how he presents iconic traditional dishes in a totally modern way,” says Michele.  

Michele’s version plays with cheese and focuses on textures and consistencies on a base infused with parmesan broth.

For more information on Michele’s photography and inspiring dishes – head here to his website.