Following 5 rounds of voting, readers have chosen their 8 favorite Valley pizza shops.
Thanks to our MassLive.com community, the road to Springfield – and Agawam, Amherst, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Northampton and West Springfield – is complete.
Readers of The Republican, MassLive.com and El Pueblo Latino, through a spirited nominating process and five rounds of voting, have chosen The Elite 8 of the 2011 Valley Food Championship Pizza Playoffs.
You have done your civic duty. Thanks!
You have elected your eight favorite pizza shops in the Valley. And now we entrust the decision to determine the one and only 2011 Valley Food Championship Pizza to – can you hear their stomachs growling? – our hungry judges from The Republican newsroom.
Arts and entertainment editor Ray Kelly, sports reporter Pam McCray and photographer Don Treeger – will visit each of the Elite 8 pizza shops in head-to-head critiques. They'll head to two pizza shops per week, based on the matchups you can view in the bracket below, tasting two pizzas from each shop – a basic cheese pizza plus whatever each pie maker wishes to create for them.
Over the next four weeks, Ray, Pam and Don will judge the quarterfinal matchups and send four winners to the semifinals. After that, they'll return for semifinal and then championship matchups.
Throughout their judging, Ray, Pam and Don will critique each pizza on identical criteria, including cheese, crust and sauce.
We'll have more details at www.masslive.com/pizza on the schedule of judges' visits in the next couple of days – because we know you'll want to be there to offer support.
For now, here are the results of our Round 3 voting, plus a look at the Elite 8 bracket:
NORTH REGION
Joe's (Northampton) defeated Pizzeria Paradiso (Northampton)
Antonio's (Amherst / Easthampton) defeated Roberto's Restaurant (Northampton)
SOUTH REGION
Red Rose Pizzeria (Springfield) defeated Frankie & Johnnie's Pizza (Springfield)
Pizza Shoppe (East Longmeadow) defeated Family Pizzeria & Restaurant (Springfield)
WEST OF THE RIVER REGION
Liquori's Pizza (West Springfield) defeated Amadeo's Restaurant & Pizzeria (Holyoke)
Pizza Guy (Agawam) defeated Capri Pizza (Holyoke)
EAST OF THE RIVER REGION
John's Pizzeria & Restaurant (Chicopee) defeated Dugout Cafe & Pizza Shop (Chicopee)
Milano's Pizzeria & Restaurant (Chicopee) defeated Gregory's Pizza Pub & Restaurant (Wilbraham)
Elite 8 Bracket:
QUARTERFINALS |
SEMIFINALS |
CHAMPIONSHIP |
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