Ice House Pub Voted Winner Of Mountaintop's 'Best Pizza Contest'

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By ELAINE BERNSTEIN
Correspondent

Is Mountaintop becoming a new destination spot for pizza? Possibly so, if the “Best Pizza Contest” held at the recent “Go Joe XIII” event is any indication.

“Go Joe” is the annual charity bicycle ride of WNEP meteorologist Joe Snedeker. Local organizations are encouraged to hold events at minifestivals at each of Snedeker’s stop to help raise funds for St. Joseph’s Center in Dunmore.

On July 21st, the “Go Joe” tour made an official stop in Wright Township. The Mountain Top Welcome Club and the Rotary of Mountain Top joined forces to sponsor a contest in which the public could sample pizzas from various local restaurants and vote for their favorites.

Seven restaurants participated in the contest. Participating in the pizza contest were Ice House, Januzzi’s, King’s, Luigi’s, III Guys, Tony’s and Wheels. Each of these restaurants provided at least six pizzas to the event free of charge.

Ice House Pub was declared the winner, amongst a very competitive field. Each restaurant had strong supporters, and many festival goers reported having a very difficult time in casting their ballots.

Restaurants “Incredibly Generous”

“All of the restaurants were incredibly generous,” stated Welcome Club Event Chair Lisa East.

“However, Luigi’s and III Guys deserve special mention for their donations, East continued. “ In particular, III Guys went above and beyond what we had asked them to do. They sent eleven pizzas, many of them specialty ones.”

Whistlestop Pizza could not participate in the contest due to a prior committment. However, the restaurant donated an equivalent amount of large pizza gift certificates, which were sold during the event in order to raise additional money.

Welcome Club Services Chair, Shannon Williams, is a veteran of many of the group’s recent fundraisers, all of which involved obtaining donations from local businesses. “It is almost unheard of to have 100% participation, but every restaurant that we had personal contact with agreed to help out,” she stated.

Williams noted that local businesses often express regret in not being able to donate to community organizations each time they are asked, but “we understand that everyone can’t give each and every time. ”

“It just seems like everyone saw this community event and cause was a wonderful thing, and we are so appreciative that they all stepped up to help us out,” Williams stated.

A Plate Full of Pizza Samples

For a $1 donation, the public received samples of pizza from each restaurant. Because it was a fundraiser, participants were encouraged to “vote with their wallets” by purchasing additional ballots for $1 each.

“In order to raise the most money, this is one time we encouraged people to stuff the ballot box,” stated Williams.

The seven samples filled the paper plates; leading several festival goers to comment that they couldn’t finish every last bite. Each restaurant’s pizza was identified a specific toothpick, to help the diners in identifying their favorites.

Many pizza eaters had a very difficult time in making their decision in voting. There was much hesitation noted before tickets were dropped into specifically labeled containers.

“I really couldn’t decide,” stated Elizabeth Popp. “I finally narrowed it down to two restaurants, and went back and purchased an additional ballot so I could vote for both.

A Decisive Victory

Although each restaurant had its strong supporters, Ice House Pub had a decisive victory, winning by over twenty votes.

Owner Tracey Marso proudly announced the victory that evening on the restaurant’s Facebook Fan Page.

Ice House sent over two different pizza varieties, the “straight up bar pie, “ a traditional cheese pizza, and their “buffalo chicken pizza.” Several festival goers commented that the buffalo chicken pizza was the determining factor in casting their votes. “All of the pizzas were good,” one stated, “but the buffalo chicken pizza really stood out as being different and delicious.”

A Sucessful Fundraiser

At the end of the event, Rotary President Dave Suitch and Welcome Club President Elaine Bernstein presented WNEP’s Tom Clark with checks totaling $627, as the result of the combined efforts of both groups.

“We can’t thank the Rotary enough for their help,” Bernstein stated. “We never could have run this contest without them.”

Suitch also had positive things to say about the collaboration, and noted that the groups will consider cosponsoring events in the future. “I have lots of ideas for projects where we could work together,” he stated.

Perhaps a pizza contest re-match is in order in the future? Stay tuned.

This is part of the July 28, 2010 online edition of The Mountaintop Eagle.

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