Round 1: Saratoga
The Saratoga bracket.
Round 1 of The Tournament of Pizza opens in Saratoga. The matchups of cheese pizzas: Marino's vs. D'Andrea's and Broadway Pizza vs. Caputo's. Can the institution topple the funky crosstown rival? How will the downtown upstart handle the suburban stalwart?
There was only one way to find out.
The judges assembled in Congress Park for the tasting.
Scoring for these "games" is pretty straightforward. The judges pick the pizza they liked best after a blind side-by-side tasting. Pizzerias get a point for each judge who votes them the best of the match-up. Most points wins.
| Marino's | 1 |
| D'Andrea's | 2 |
| Post game: D'Andrea's was able to edge the old Saratoga standard, but it was close. The judges praised Marino's "great sweet sauce" and "good cheese/sauce bread ratio." D'Andrea's came out on top, though, in part because of its "crisp, very thin crust." | |
| Broadway Pizza | 1 |
| Caputo's | 2 |
| Post game: There wasn't much of a book on Broadway Pizza entering this contest -- it just opened this past summer. The judges weren't fans. "Not good," wrote one judge. Broadway gotted tagged for "too much garlic powder" and for being "too cheesy" with a "too sweet" crust. Caputo's prevailed, but it didn't seem like a strong showing. Wrote one judge, "Crust is thin, but too tough." Commented another on Caputo's: "kind of bland." | |
After a strong showing against Marino's, D'Andrea's will take on Caputo's in the second round of the Saratoga Bracket.
Tomorrow in The Tournament of Pizza: Schenectady.
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Comments
The best pizza in Saratoga can be found at Nunzio's. How did you decide which pizza got to represent S'toga?
... said Kyle on Oct 22, 2008 at 11:32 AM | link
i'd also like to know how the contenders were chosen... i agree that the pink store/nunzio's makes a good pizza, but it doesn't come close to Pope's!
... said jen a. on Oct 22, 2008 at 10:30 PM | link
What about Pope's? I my nine years in Saratoga, Pope's pizza was my favorite.
... said jh on Oct 23, 2008 at 11:27 AM | link
Exactly, jh... What about Pope's!?
Personally I love D'Andreas, but I won't begrudge Pope's a high standing, and especially a right to compete!
... said Kurt on Oct 23, 2008 at 2:29 PM | link