The Boys and Girls Club of St. Marys will host the Best Pizza in Elk County Contest on Thursday, featuring eight local eateries.

By Amy Cherry
Daily Press Staff

Whether it’s enjoyed with pepperoni or extra cheese, Chicago or New York style, homemade or store bought, pizza remains a staple of American cuisine.

The Boys and Girls Club of St. Marys is taking advantage of this popular treat as it prepares to host the 2008 Best Pizza in Elk County Contest on Thursday from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

Advance tickets are now on sale at the club for adults and children, under the age of 10. Tickets will also be on sale at the door.

Lisa Coppolo, Boys and Girls Club board president, proposed the idea for the family type event.

Among the participants are Rick’s Dough Boys, Pizza Hut, Dominio’s Pizza, DeLullo’s Deli, Johnson’s Grocery, Don’s Pizza, Smith’s Pizza Palace Plus in Emporium and Jireh Lanes in Kersey.

Attendees will have the opportunity to sample pizza from some of the area’s best pizza eateries and vote on their favorite.

Originating as a part of Italian cuisine, pizza has become popular in many different parts of the world. In the U.S. there are a variety of regional specialties such as New York style referring to thin and flexible pizza often eaten folded in half of stacked together; Chicago offers a deep dish pan pizza which is typically layered with tomato sauce and is stuffed with mozzarella cheese; California pizza is usually made with non-traditional ingredients including a considerable amount of fresh produce such as bean sprouts and shaved carrots and Hawaiian pizza features Canadian bacon, better known as sliced ham, and pineapple.

The dish may also be prepared by baking it in gas, electric deck or conveyor belt ovens, as well as in wood or coal-fired brick ovens or at home on a pizza stone.

The business garnering the most votes from those in attendance will be crowned as the “ Best Pizza in Elk and Cameron Counties” for 2008.

All proceeds of the event benefit the programs and services offered to young people of the community by the Boys and Girls Club of St. Marys.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting the club at 781-1910.