TOP 2009: Round 1: Troy
Troy is the next stop in Round 1 of the 2009 Tournament of Pizza, sponsored by Sunmark Federal Credit Union. The matchups for this round of cheesy showdown:
Purple Pub vs. I Love NY
Jimmy's vs. Vintage
Can the Watervliet tradition topple last year's bracket winner? Will the 'Burgh represent against Latham?
Let's eat! The judges gathered in downtown Troy to taste...
(There's a new scoring system this year.)
Purple Pub vs. I Love NY
| Purple Pub | I Love NY | |
| Crust | 7 | 14 |
| Sauce | 11 | 13 |
| Toppings | 11 | 12 |
| Overall taste | 25 | 24 |
| Totals | 54 | 63 |
Post game:
This match was a little closer than the score might indicate. Reigning bracket champ I Love NY scored a decisive win in the crust category. The judge's praised I Love's crust for its yeasty-ness and "nice taste" -- though it was perhaps a bit chewy. The Purple Pub's flat, crispy crust just kind of, well, fell flat with the judges -- one said it had an odd oily taste.
In what might speak to that certain ineffable quality about pub pizza, the Purple's pie actually scored a win in the overall taste category. One judge called it "greasy and yummy." And another judge praised it for the way its flavors came together. The losses in the other category were just too much -- and I Love NY advances with what one judge said was "a solid NY-style pie."
Jimmy's vs. Vintage
| Jimmy's | Vintage | |
| Crust | 7 | 6 |
| Sauce | 5 | 10 |
| Toppings | 10 | 9 |
| Overall taste | 17 | 14 |
| Totals | 39 | 39 |
Post game:
This was a grudge match -- and, fittingly, it lead to the TOP's first-ever tie
Neither offering lit up the judges. Jimmy's did win some praise for its crispy crust that one judge said might have been a touch overdone. And Vintage scored a decisive advantage in the sauce category -- the judges called it "tasty," "garlicy" and "lightly herby."
Jimmy's took the match on the first tie-breaker -- its 17-14 advantage in the overall taste category was enough to earn it a spot in the second round.
Up next
I Love NY charges into the sausage round with the tournament's second-highest score so far (only Nunzio's 67 in the Saratoga bracket was higher). Jimmy's will be looking to pick it up a bit.
Tomorrow: the Tournament of Pizza heads to Albany.
Big thanks to Renée and skfl for hosting the Troy bracket!
Say Something!
We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.
Comments
RE: I Love...
Didn't they change their name a little while ago due to some lawsuit by somebody or somesuch? If this is the place on 4th that I'm thinking of, I think they're called "I Love Pizza of Troy" or somesuch now. Anybody know the details?
... said Slacker on Oct 21, 2009 at 5:08 PM | link
WHOA. Anyone who's actually had I Love knows that it's really, really good pizza. After eating at Brown's, then going to the Wake, then stumbling to the Ruck, then CRAWLING to I Love completely hammered (after most likely witnessing or participating in a fight at The Ruck). Sober, I Love pizza is pretty mediocre.
Kinda makes me feel bad for the other participants here that scored so much lower.
... said the fuj. on Oct 23, 2009 at 8:30 AM | link