SATURDAY, APRIL 2: IT'S DOWN TO TWO >>>
Over the past three weeks, the Weekly Volcano challenged 64 of the South Sound's best pizza joints to go slice-to-slice in a showdown of culinary combat. Some fell easily by the wayside, either due to inferior skills or simply because they faced a superior opponent. Slice by slice, we ate our way down to yesterday's Final Four: Apollo's Pizza, The Fan Club, Katie Downs and Rollies Tavern. It was do-or-die, win-or-fly, bring-your-best-pizza-pie. After the last pie emerged from the oven, nearly 7,000 people voted. There's a rumor that regional government officials might change our "South Sound" to "South Round."
Apollo's Pizza & Pasta vs. The Fan Club Sports Bar
Apparently, it's all in the cheese. Yesterday, we added a comment section in the voting process and cheese dominated the answers in regards to why people love Apollo's Pizza & Pasta. While crust was the word in favor of The Fan Club, cheese popped up over and over as 65 percent of the voters clicked on Apollo's Pizza & Pasta sending the Olympia pizza joint into Monday's Championship game. Congratulations to The Fan Club, a 15th seed (!), for an impressive run.
Katie Downs Waterfront Restaurant vs. Rollies Tavern
Katie Downs received a number one seed by our readers through preliminary voting in February. And the Tacoma waterfront restaurant proved worthy of the title, knocking out Alfred's Café, Engine House No. 9, Puget Sound Pizza and Upper Crust Bistro & Bakery to grab a Final Four slot. Rollies, the popular hangout at the end of McChord Air Field, secured a number two seed in the East Region, and putting the hurt on The Right Spot, Vince's, Aversano's, and Trackside Pizza, before facing Katie Downs in the Final Four. The Weekly Volcano Steno Pool called it the game of the tournament, which is hard to argue with a one and two seed battling it out. When the last pizza pie hit the table, and a lead it never gave up the entire day, Katie Downs grabbed 66.5 percent of the votes.
Sponsored by al Forno Ferruzza Traditional Sicilian Cuisine
Here we go. Apollo's Pizza & Pasta out of the South Region will face Katie Downs Waterfront Restaurant, the top pie out of the Greater Downtown Tacoma Region, Monday, April 4 when the polls open around 9 a.m. Online voting runs until 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. the voting opens back up live at the Tournament of Pizza Final Party at The Schooner, 5429 100th St. SW in Lakewood. Ballots will be handed out, which will also serve as raffle tickets. The live vote will close at halftime of the NCAA Men's Tournament final and the South Sound Pizza champion will be announced.
So, pack the car and eat at Katie Downs one night and Apollo's Pizza & Pasta the other night. Compare notes with your neighbors. Then come Monday, vote here on Spew then join us at the Schooner.
Thanks again everyone for voting.
LINK: What's up with this pizza tournament?
LINK: Oh hell yes I want the Weekly Volcano newsletter!
