Hundreds of people packed the big white tent behind Oakeside, Bloomfield's cultural center, yesterday for the 2004 Bloomfield Pizza Challenge. The atmosphere, sardine-like; the mood festive -- unless you worked for a pizzeria, and had to wait on Belleville Ave. for a fresh carload of the white boxes. To this observer, it seemed as if the challenge was as much one of logistics -- having enough hot pies ready for the tasters -- as it was one of taste.

After sampling a half dozen 1/16-pie slices ourselves, we ran into Mayor Raymond McCarthy, who kept the name of his favorite pizzeria a state secret. We also watched a little of the ballot counting, and while we didn't see any hanging chads, we did witness one ballot being disqualified for having more than one pizzeria checked off.

And the winner: Cosimo's Trattoria & Authentic Brick Oven Pizza, located at 194 Broad Street - ½ block north of Bloomfield High School.

Of course, there were those who preferred a more mellow Sunday afternoon, sunbathing in Brookdale Park.

September 27, 2004 in Our Favorite Diversions | Permalink