Watertown's First Annual Pizza Contest
December 5, 2013
Falls Avenue Senior Center
311 Falls Ave., Oakville, CT
Watertown’s inaugural Town-wide Pizza Contest announced
By Robby PiazzaroliPublished:Thursday, November 21, 2013 7:08 AM EST
"Town Times"
WATERTOWN — The art of making pizza has been a time-honored tradition in Watertown and Oakville since the 1920s. Since then, the pizza industry in town has grown to more than 15 establishments offering their version of the classic pizza pie.
The Oakville-Watertown UNICO Chapter, a national Italian-American service organization originally founded in Waterbury, came up with a new way of celebrating the area’s love of all things pizza; the inaugural Watertown Town-wide Pizza Contest.
While some residents groan at the site of another pizza restaurant opening in town, it’s undeniably impressive that the roughly 22,000 residents of Watertown and Oakville can support almost 20 successful pizza places.
“Everyone has their favorite pizza in town and everyone claims to have the best,” said Bob Ruscitto, Oakville-Watertown UNICO president. “Now, the pizza places in town have a way to really test who’s the best, a contest that’ll give the winner bragging rights for the year.”
The UNICO Chapter will sponsoring the event at the Senior Center on Falls Avenue in Oakville on Thursday, December 5, for the town’s first-ever pizza contest. Hoping for the contest to grow, making it an annual event, Mr. Bob Ruscitto has plans for next year’s contest to be held in conjunction with October’s Italian Heritage Month. Chapter members have been busy getting every restaurant and food establishment who offers pizza in town to participate in the event.
“We really want this to be a success, both for the restaurants and for the town,” said Mr. Ruscitto. “We’re all pretty excited about it. I think it could be something really fun to do in town. We want as many restaurants as possible to enter, so if your place is in Watertown or Oakville and pizza is on your menu, then give us a call.”
Each restaurant will submit a plan cheese pizza and one “specialty pizza” of their choice, for a blind taste-test from a panel of judges. Judges will include local celebrities and a few lucky members from the community as well. Pizza entries will be anonymous to the judges, allowing for taste and presentation to speak for itself. Even the slices will be individually cut to “eliminate visual recognition of pizzas,” since each restaurant has its own well-known style and cut. Categories of judgment include honorable mentions of “Best Crust,” “Best Sauce,” “Most Unique Pizza” and an “Overall Winner.” Plaques and a trophy will be handed out, allowing that restaurant to prominently display their win.
“This could be a great way for restaurants to try out one of their craziest pizzas,” said Mr. Ruscitto. “Maybe it’ll win most unique and they’ll include it on their menus. I think this could be a great opportunity for feedback from locals.”
Mr. Ruscitto hopes many people from the community show up to support the contest, with pizza and drinks available to those who attend. If there is anyone interested in being a judge or if a restaurant has not been contacted to participate, call Mr. Ruscitto at 203-592-6820 or e-mail [email protected].
The inaugural Watertown Town-wide Pizza Contest, sponsored by the Oakville-Watertown UNICO, will begin at roughly 6:30 p.m., with judging at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, at the Falls Avenue Senior Center, 311 Falls Avenue in Oakville.
December 5, 2013
Falls Avenue Senior Center
311 Falls Ave., Oakville, CT
Watertown’s inaugural Town-wide Pizza Contest announced
By Robby PiazzaroliPublished:Thursday, November 21, 2013 7:08 AM EST
"Town Times"
WATERTOWN — The art of making pizza has been a time-honored tradition in Watertown and Oakville since the 1920s. Since then, the pizza industry in town has grown to more than 15 establishments offering their version of the classic pizza pie.
The Oakville-Watertown UNICO Chapter, a national Italian-American service organization originally founded in Waterbury, came up with a new way of celebrating the area’s love of all things pizza; the inaugural Watertown Town-wide Pizza Contest.
While some residents groan at the site of another pizza restaurant opening in town, it’s undeniably impressive that the roughly 22,000 residents of Watertown and Oakville can support almost 20 successful pizza places.
“Everyone has their favorite pizza in town and everyone claims to have the best,” said Bob Ruscitto, Oakville-Watertown UNICO president. “Now, the pizza places in town have a way to really test who’s the best, a contest that’ll give the winner bragging rights for the year.”
The UNICO Chapter will sponsoring the event at the Senior Center on Falls Avenue in Oakville on Thursday, December 5, for the town’s first-ever pizza contest. Hoping for the contest to grow, making it an annual event, Mr. Bob Ruscitto has plans for next year’s contest to be held in conjunction with October’s Italian Heritage Month. Chapter members have been busy getting every restaurant and food establishment who offers pizza in town to participate in the event.
“We really want this to be a success, both for the restaurants and for the town,” said Mr. Ruscitto. “We’re all pretty excited about it. I think it could be something really fun to do in town. We want as many restaurants as possible to enter, so if your place is in Watertown or Oakville and pizza is on your menu, then give us a call.”
Each restaurant will submit a plan cheese pizza and one “specialty pizza” of their choice, for a blind taste-test from a panel of judges. Judges will include local celebrities and a few lucky members from the community as well. Pizza entries will be anonymous to the judges, allowing for taste and presentation to speak for itself. Even the slices will be individually cut to “eliminate visual recognition of pizzas,” since each restaurant has its own well-known style and cut. Categories of judgment include honorable mentions of “Best Crust,” “Best Sauce,” “Most Unique Pizza” and an “Overall Winner.” Plaques and a trophy will be handed out, allowing that restaurant to prominently display their win.
“This could be a great way for restaurants to try out one of their craziest pizzas,” said Mr. Ruscitto. “Maybe it’ll win most unique and they’ll include it on their menus. I think this could be a great opportunity for feedback from locals.”
Mr. Ruscitto hopes many people from the community show up to support the contest, with pizza and drinks available to those who attend. If there is anyone interested in being a judge or if a restaurant has not been contacted to participate, call Mr. Ruscitto at 203-592-6820 or e-mail [email protected].
The inaugural Watertown Town-wide Pizza Contest, sponsored by the Oakville-Watertown UNICO, will begin at roughly 6:30 p.m., with judging at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, at the Falls Avenue Senior Center, 311 Falls Avenue in Oakville.
1st Annual Pizza Contest…….
Watertown/Oakville's Best Pizza 2014
Best Specialty, Best Crust, Best Sauce, Best Taste, Best Cheese and Best Overall
Looking for the winners??
Check out the Town Times……12/12/13
Thank you to all who participated:
***Rizvani's
***3 Guys Flippin' Pies
***Dimitri's
***Pizza Hut
***Paradise
***Pit Road
***Pasta Heaven
***Anthony's
***Nonna Lucia's
***Oakville Pizza
***Martino's
Put your best slice forward!!
Watertown's Inaugural Pizza Contest….
In search of … best crust….best sauce…most unique.
Please contact Bob Ruscitto @ 203-592-6820
or @ [email protected]
Read more about it here.
Watertown's Inaugural Pizza Contest….
In search of … best crust….best sauce…most unique.
Please contact Bob Ruscitto @ 203-592-6820
or @ [email protected]
Read more about it here.