When it comes to pizza, for Enrico Aguila, it was love at first bite.
"You don't have to go to New York for good pizza. It's right here in Southwest Florida," said Aguila. "My wife gets, like, 'Ugh! Pizza again?' because when we go on trips, we'll hit like 10 different pizza spots."
What started as his first job growing up in Hollywood, Florida, would quickly turn into his pizzaiolo destiny.
"I ended up in a little mom-and-pop restaurant as a busboy and waiter," said Aguila. "One day, the pizza guy was so backed up, and the owner asked me to go back there and help him." "I was like, 'OK.' I didn't know what the hell I was doing."
Twenty-six years later, his own shop off Cleveland Avenue is in high demand. Aguila and his team often make around 400 pies a day.
MORE : Uncle Rico's Pizza places third in international competition
Locally, Uncle Rico's is known for its exquisite crust. And now, nationally, it's known for much more. This year, Enrico joined the U.S. Pizza Team, a national team of pizza professionals who competed at the International Pizza Expo in Las Vegas.
"It's like, wow," said Aguila. "You're rubbing elbows with these champions that I've been following for years, and you finally see them, and you get to talk to them. They're so cool, and they give you tips."
Aguila entered his cheese slice in the expo this year. It won third place in the Southeast region.
"My joy is watching the people eating the pizza and nodding their head like, 'Yeah, this is good stuff,' you know?"
Aguila's wife, Cira, is proud. "I knew he could do it, though," said Cira.
Despite his success, Aguila is still that kid from Hollywood, just grateful to do what he loves.
"At the end of the day, it's just pizza," said Aguila. "Don't bust your brains over it. Don't argue who has the best one. It's just pizza."
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