Libertyville pizza comes up just a little short

Laurel Panega's sausage pizza recipe wasn't named the nation's best during a nationally televised competition Sunday, but it did earn the Libertyville resident some special recognition.

One of the Weekend Today show hosts named it his favorite of the five finalists whose creations were served on the NBC program.

Panega's pizza lost out to a white-pizza recipe from Bloomington, Minn. The winner, Lisa Kielas, gets an all-expense paid trip for two to Italy that includes a tour of the Cavit winery, which sponsored the event.

Reached by phone in New York City after the broadcast, Panega said the contest was exciting.

"I intend to make all the recipes," she said of the other finalists' pizzas.

More than 7,000 amateur cooks hopefuls submitted entries for the contest, which was judged by editors of Bon Appétit magazine.

Panega went to New York for Sunday's broadcast with two friends from a local dinner club. She said they spent time sightseeing before the big show.

"I had so much fun, it made up for (not winning)," Panega said.