SONOMA, CALIF. — Bread Bakers Guild Team USA recently won first place at the Sigep Bread Cup in Rimini, Italy, beating out teams from Australia, France, Germany, England, Israel, Italy, Portugal, Russia and Slovenia. The event is an international baking competition to promote, celebrate and expand the art of artisan baking within Italy and throughout the world.

The four-member Team USA included Harry Peemoeller of Johnson & Wales University in Charlotte, N.C.; David DeCesare of Hearth Wood-Fired Bread in Plymouth, Mass.; John Tredgold of Semifreddi’s in Alameda, Calif.; and Michael Rhoads of the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vt.

The four team members worked together to compete in four categories: traditional bread, healthy bread, cake and artistic bread piece.

In addition to taking first place, Team USA won the prize for Best Traditional Bread, a Walnut Levain developed by Mr. Rhoads.