The Pizza Olympics!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
West Milford Presbyterian Church
1452 Union Valley Road, West Milford
West Milford, NJ July 16, 2008:Sustainable West Milford's PIZZA OLYMPICS was a huge success! On the afternoon of Sunday, July 13, West Milford's Second Annual 'Pizza Tasting Challenge' drew over 300 local residents to sample pies from five local pizzerias and vote for their favorite cheese pizza. There were also four home made entries: a loaded baked potato pie (the WINNER), a green chili pie, a vegetarian pie, and an organic vegan pie.
To be fair, the professional category judging was based on plain cheese pizza, but some pizza places showcased their specialty pizza at the end of the event for feedback and marketing purposes.
The voting was incredibly close and all of the pizzarias worked hard to make sure tasters had lots of hot pizza to sample throughout the 2 hour event.
Participating Pizzerias
- Demarco's Pizzeria & Restaurant (GOLD WINNER)
- Joey, Vito & Michael's Gourmet Pizzeria & Restaurant (SILVER WINNER)
- Suzy's Tomato Pizzeria (BRONZE WINNER)
- TJ's Pizza
- Pizza Station
Raffle price donations generously donated from:
- The Depot
- Fitzulas Gift Shop
- Lakeland Auto Parts
- Town Cycle
- Trinkets and Treasures
- Photo Express
- Evergreen Farms
- Century 21 – Marilyn Lichtenberg
- Coldwell Banker – Johanna Torres
- Mary Lenoir
- Green Elements
The winners were announced by our own Mayor Bettina Bieri at the end of the day and a total of $1,700 was raised for Sustainable West Milford to continue their educational efforts to create a sustainable community here in West Milford.
Lot's of good feedback came from participants, volunteers and pizzarias on how to make next year work even better. A few changes we will make is to spread the pizza places around the room so folks can line up where they like instead of slowing down the line in the door. Another will be the addition of large tents and seating outside in the front and back with speakers positioned out the window so folks can hear the raffle prize drawings and music.
Freelance photographer Sandy Stucki put together a slideshow of pictures from the Pizza Olympics and an interview with Wendy. Click here to view it.
