Round 3: The Semi-Finals
Top: D'Andrea's vs. Pizza King; Bottom: I Love NY vs. Pasquale's
It's crunch time as the four remaining pizzerias in the Tournament of Pizza head into the semi-finals. Anyone left in the field could take the title -- it's all a matter of execution. And this round's challenge is a bit different than the first two: we ordered broccoli ricotta white pizzas. Yep, the red sauce stayed on the sidelines for this one.
Could the pizzas hold up to going sans tomato? Would anyone making a costly mistake? Who will face off for the title?
There's only one way to find out. Pizzas, please.
A quick recap of the last round: D'Andrea's emerged from the Saratoga Bracket with a win over Caputo's. Pizza King won the Schenectady Bracket after dominating Home Style. I Love NY eeked out a win over Red Front in Troy. And in the Albany Bracket, Pasquale's topped Inferno.
| D'Andrea's | 0 |
| Pizza King | 3 |
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Post game: The King reigns again. This matchup wasn't close. While the judges liked the ricotta on D'Andrea's pizza, they found the rest of the pie lacking. They criticized the broccoli ("broccoli a little undercooked", tasted like "frozen broccoli") and the overall feel of the pie ("too dry" , "no taste"). Pizza King scored on almost every element of its pizza. The judges praised its crust ("nice crisp bite"), veggies ("bright green broccoli" that "tastes fresh") and cheese ("nice texture"). PK also scored with its use of what appeared to be roasted garlic, though one judge commented it might have gone a little overboard. |
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| I Love NY | 0 |
| Pasquale's | 3 |
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Post game: Another 3-nil match, and this one was a surprise as I Love was regarded as one of the favorites to take the title. But ILNY didn't bring it in this round. The judges marked its pie down for being "like a puffy cracker with cheese and toppings." The broccoli, in particular, didn't go over well. "Doesn't even taste like broccoli," wrote one judge. Said another: ""the broccoli looks better than it tastes." The judges weren't so sure about Pasquale's on first look, either. The pie actually looked undercooked -- one judge even described it as "ugly." But they liked what they tasted. Pasquale's cornmeal-dusted crust continued to draw praise. Its broccoli ("seems like real broccoli") and cheese ("nice") also scored points. Wrote one judge afterward, "[I] enjoyed the different look and feel." |
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So now we're down to just two. In a showdown between Schenectady and Albany, Pizza King will take on Pasquale's for the title on Thursday.
And what's the challenge for the final round? Pizzeria's choice. Yep, the two shops will offer up what they think is their best pie.
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Comments
I don't think that the competition has been fair IMHO. I think that the same variety of pizza should have been eaten throughout the competition.....yes...one could say that it would be boring...but for consistency sake....it would then be a truer decision of who makes the best pizza....all this tells us is who made the better cheese, pepperoni and now broccoli. How do you know that one of the earlier contestants wouldn't have had a killer brocolli that would beat all the remaining ones?
... said l on Nov 4, 2008 at 1:20 PM | link
I don't think AOA ever claimed that this was scientific experiment with constants and variables and a control group and whatnot. I think they've done a great job of making it fun. On a different note, I'm disappointed with I Love NY. There is one around the corner from my office in North Greenbush and they have amazing white broccoli and ricotta pizza. I guess I may have to try Pasquale's...
... said Emma on Nov 4, 2008 at 2:09 PM | link
Hey, look what I just found: http://secondratesnacks.com/
Oh, the sciency-foody goodness! Give you guys any ideas for the next tasting, eh? (If there were a winking, finger licking icon, you can bet I would have put it in)
... said Albany Jane on Nov 4, 2008 at 2:12 PM | link
You mean this wasn't a controlled scientific study complete with measurable hard data and objective results?
Quick, somebody dial 9-1-1!
... said Pantaloons on Nov 4, 2008 at 4:33 PM | link
Everybody gets fired up over their favorite pizza, especially when it gets destroyed in the pizza tournament. Pizza King and Pasquale's are left, anyone taking bets on the winner in the last round? I guess that probably should have happened earlier.
... said Alex on Nov 4, 2008 at 6:16 PM | link