Albert Lea got a visit from the best pizza tosser in the world this week.

Tony Gemignani, a five-time international pizza-throwing champion and captain of the U.S. Pizza Team, stopped by Green Mill Wednesday and the Community Child Care Center and YMCA on Thursday.

At the child care center, Gemignani showed Jane Anthony’s class in the Gumball Room how to toss pizza dough &045; and threw some tricks in, as well.

Her students watched with wide-eyed amazement as Gemignani tossed the dough up, spun it on his fingertips, threw it up behind his back and caught it.

&uot;That’s sweet,&uot; said one 5-year-old.

Twelve years ago, Gemignani opened up a pizza business with his brother in California. Three years later, Gemignani said he decided to enter a pizza-making contest, and ever since, pizza performance has been his job.

Gemignani has performed on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno and the CBS Early Show, and has done many charity events throughout the nation and world.

A few years ago, he was approached by Green Mill to do television advertisements for them. Ever since then, he has been flown out to do a show at every new restaurant. Albert Lea’s Green Mill opened last month.

Thursday, after his appearances in Albert Lea, he was off to show his skills to television stations and crowds at the Minnesota State Fair.

Gemignani said he loves his job.

&uot;I get to travel all over and make people smile,&uot; he said.

He added that what he enjoys most is visiting children’s hospitals. &uot;I see these kids who are sick, and what I do makes them happy,&uot; he said. &uot;That makes me happy.&uot;

The children at the Community Child Care Center were definitely happy.

&uot;We told the students about it a few days ago,&uot; Anthony said. &uot;They were really excited for it.&uot;

After Gemignani left, Anthony handed dough out to the children, who pulled out pots and pans and mushed it around, pretending they were cooking.

&uot;I liked it when he rolled it down his shoulders and flipped it into his hand,&uot; Jonathan Sevcik, 5, said.

Ehrich Alt, 5, said he liked it when Gemignani spun the dough through his legs.

&uot;That was cool,&uot; he said.

(Contact Peter Cox at peter.cox @alberlteatribune.com or 379-3439.)