Pizza Lovers Flock to Annual Festival
On Saturday, pizza enthusiasts gathered in droves to indulge in slices from some of the best pizzerias, following the favorite picks of Dave Portnoy. Yep, this was the third annual pizza event hosted by the Barstool Sports founder, and it certainly attracted quite the crowd.
Dubbed the “world’s largest gathering of pizzerias,” the festival took place on Randall’s Island, drawing over 10,000 attendees eager to taste their way through a plethora of offerings.
More than 40 top-rated pizzerias showcased their small slice masterpieces, all in the spirit of sharing. This event, known as the One Bite Pizza Fest, was all about sampling and enjoying the great food together.
“This is the only chance to connect with the best pizzeria and pizza makers in the country,” said Danny Mondello, a New York City food influencer, also known as “Cugine.” He added, “There’s a lot of action, good vibes, and plenty of gluten to satisfy your cheat day.”
Portnoy was spotted mingling with vendors and fans alike, including Alexia Tishler, a 41-year-old hospice veterinarian from Long Island. She sported a shirt featuring Portnoy’s dog, Miss Peaches, lounging on a slice of pepperoni. Tishler mentioned, “I said, ‘No, I made it for you.’ I found the best clip art slice I could. Dave sheds light on small businesses, and sure, I’ll try all the pizzas!”
Jeremy Gibbs, 38, hailing from Albany, couldn’t contain his excitement as he claimed to be the first attendee at the festival, even making a running dash to get there. He humorously recounted, “Last year, I figured it would cost around $1,000 to eat pizza here and book a hotel,” as he works in cybersecurity.
Stamford’s “Zaza” was a standout for him last year. Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s Diara pizzeria impressed critics with a remarkable rating of 9.4 and aimed to serve up 10,000 slices during the event.
Owner Margaret DeMarco, who will celebrate her pizzeria’s 60th anniversary soon, expressed pride in her late husband’s legacy and the high standards he upheld. “Everything had to be perfect. He adored his job and made it a priority to please his customers,” she shared.
People traveled from far and wide, like Amy and Paul Scuggs from Indianapolis, who donned pizza-themed attire. Jackie Catapano, a 30-year-old school aide from Long Island, was spotted in pizza glasses and a pepperoni-covered shirt. “Pizza is my favorite food!” she exclaimed passionately.
Also representing the pizza spirit was John Mastroanni from Woodstown, New Jersey, dressed in a pizza outfit while his wife complemented him with a pizza skin costume. “I made pizza that was her favorite,” he mentioned with a grin.
Wally Santos, 65, from the Bronx, also known as “Mr. Position,” meticulously laid out his plans for the day before the gates even opened. “I want to hit eight stands: I have to check out John’s on Bleeker Street and try Frank Pepe’s from New Haven,” he declared. “I even skipped breakfast to gear up for this!”
