With last night’s win, Pizza Stop – located just outside Roselle Park’s border on South Michigan Avenue – becomes a two-time champion of the Knights of Columbus 2015 “Best Pizza Around” contest.
Beating out seven other local competitors, the Kenilworth pizzeria got the most number of votes from a packed house of pizzonados (pizza aficionados) who took part as judges for the third installment of this sold-out event. The contest’s first winner was Roselle Park’s own Costa’s in 2013.
Mayor Carl Hokanson along with First Ward Councilman Eugene Meola and Second Ward Councilman Joseph Petrosky were among those who tasted then shrugged their shoulders, tasted then nodded with surprise, tasted then licked their lips, compared notes with fellow table mates, and marked each entry with critiques.
Highlights included a 50/50 raffle, pastries, desserts, soda, coffee, and even an impromptu singing of Happy Birthday to a three-year-old resident celebrating his next chapter in life. (Editor’s Note: Our family personally thanks everyone for making ZZ’s night).
The list of contestants were:
- Big Apple Pizza, 700 Boulevard, Kenilworth, NJ (link)
- Costa’s Pizzeria, 120 Chestnut Street, Roselle Park, NJ (link)
- Fresca Pizza, 404 West Westfield Avenue, Roselle Park, NJ (link)
- Lil John’s Pizza, 1424 Morris Avenue, Union, NJ (link)
- Pizza Stop, 209 South Michigan Avenue, Kenilworth, NJ (link)
- Pompeii Pizza, 211 East Westfield Avenue, Roselle Park, NJ (link)
- Tony’s Pizza Delight, 1331 Magie Avenue, Union, NJ (link)
- Valentino’s, 201 East Westfield Avenue, Roselle Park, NJ (link)
The coordinating husband and wife team of Bryan and Ann Marie Peterson, along with the Knights of Columbus and volunteers from the Church of the Assumption, made the night another successful event.
Ann Marie Peterson stated, “It’s a perfect venue for the pizzerias to interact with 200 pizza loving fans & potential customers. They use their best marketing tool – their pizza! We promoted the participants in the Parish bulletin, Parish website, and a variety of Facebook pages, encouraging everyone to show their support and appreciation of these pizzerias.”
Husband and Grand Knight Bryan Peterson commented on the event’s origin and impact, “It is amazing to think an idea that started when we wanted to order pizzas for our Free Throw event and turned into a debate about which pizzeria was the best. Someone said we should have some kind of tasting competition. Now we have a great community event that brings so many people together. It was great to look out and see so many people enjoying themselves and having fun as a community.”
