First Mahoning Valley Pizza Cook-Off is Sunday

March 17, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

By SEAN BARRON

news@vindy.com

BOARDMAN

Get ready to sink your teeth into what many people hope will become another tasty Valley tradition.

This time it’s the first Mahoning Valley Pizza Cook-Off competition, which will bring more than a dozen area pizza establishments and businesses together in an effort to create the best-tasting and creative pizza — and to raise money for the Potential Development Program.

The fundraiser gets under way at 4 p.m. Sunday at The Embassy, 5030 Youngstown-Poland Road.

Potential Development, established in 1953, serves eligible preschool and school-age children with developmental delays, challenging behaviors and autism spectrum disorders from three sites in Mahoning and Trumbull counties.

The United Way agency also offers support services that include speech, occupational and physical therapy, as well as free weekly parent groups.

“The pizzerias have donated their time and talent” to the three-hour event, said Paul Garchar, Potential’s executive director.

Thirteen eateries and businesses will participate in the cook-off fundraiser, each of which plans to donate 15 pizzas with 10 slices each, Garchar noted.

For $10, attendees receive two slices and a salad; each additional piece of pizza is $1, he explained.

Five judges will rate the pizzas in the categories of traditional cheese, gourmet, non-red (vegetable, for example) and Briar Hill.

The scheduled judges are Bob Hannon, president of United Way of Youngstown/Mahoning Valley; Rich Morgan of WKBN-TV 27; Stan Boney, news anchor with WYTV Channel 33; Eric Wolford, Youngstown State University’s new head football coach; and state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Canfield, D-33rd.

They will be judging the food on the dough as well as the taste of the sauce, toppings and crust, Garchar noted.

In addition to a winner for each category, he said, a People’s Choice Award will be in the mix, where attendees will get to vote for their favorite pizzerias.

Garchar said he hopes the cook-off will become a yearly event for his agency.

For more information, go to www.mvpizzacookoff.com. For tickets or to reserve a table, call (330) 788-0588.

IF YOU GO

What: The Mahoning Valley Pizza Cook-Off, featuring several area pizza establishments competing for the esteemed Maestro Di Cucina title for Best Local Pizza.

When: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday

Where: The Embassy, 5030 Youngstown-Poland Road, Boardman.

Cost: Tickets are $10 per person; reserved tables are $100, which includes eight tickets. For tickets, call (330) 788-0588 or go to www.mvpizzacookoff.com.

PARTICIPANTS

Avalon Gardens

Belleria Pizzeria

Bruno Bros. Pizza

Cocca’s Pizza

Gordy’s Tuscan Cucina

Ianazone’s Homemade Pizza

Inner Circle Pizza

Mahoning Valley Lanes

Pizza Joe’s

Sunrise Inn

Tangier’s

Wedgewood Pizza

Westgate Pizza Co.