Get ready! New Milford Pizza Palooza kicks off Sept. 1

By Deborah Rose

For those who love pizza, prepare yourself for New Milford Pizza Palooza.

Pizza Palooza, a town-wide pizza crawl, will kick off Sept. 1 and run through Oct. 9.

It comes on the heels of the town’s inaugural Ice Cream Crawl, which ended Aug. 25.

“We’re pretty nuts about pizza,” said resident Dan Keeler who, with his wife and three children, enjoy dining out for a pie, or getting pizza for takeout.

Keeler said each family member has their own favorite pizza place, which gives the family many opportunities to try businesses all over town.

“My kids love pizza,” he said, citing John’s Best, Brickhouse and Italia Mia as among their favorites.

To date, 12 businesses are on board for Pizza Palooza. A few more may be added in the next few days.

The event invites patrons to visit numerous participating businesses that specialize in pizza to experience the variety of styles, crusts, toppings, and tastes.

Those who purchased pizza at six of the participating businesses and keep their receipts can receive a gift and be entered to win one of three pizza-themed gift baskets (more details are below).

Three pizza-themed gift baskets will be presented as drawing prizes. The grand prize is a basket of gift cards from each of the participating businesses. The second- and third-place baskets will include a variety of pizza-making products and tools.

“I love that the town is trying to promote small businesses,” said Jim Classey, owner of All Aboard Pizzeria & Ice Cream Parlor.

“Most people are pretty loyal to a particular pizzeria and (now) it's great that we will see some new faces coming in to give us a try for the first time," he said.

WHAT KIND OF PIZZA IS AROUND TOWN?

New Milford restaurants and businesses that serve pizza can fulfill the likes of just about every pizza enthusiast, whether customers look for the "right" texture of the dough, the style of the pie, or the toppings.

Located near Veterans Memorial Bridge at the intersection of Routes 7 and 202/67, The New Milford Pizza Station serves artisanal hand-crafted New England-Style pan pizza, which is often referred to as “Greek” pizza.

Unlike most pan pizzas, this business’ pizza has a thin and crisp crust. 

Gluten-free crust is also available.

In addition to the traditional toppings, the Pizza Station also serves up specialty pies such as The One with Truffle Oil (with ricotta, mozzarella and truffle oil), The One with Fig (with ricotta, mozzarella, green apples and fig jam) and The Burger One (with ground black angus, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup and mayo drizzle).

Further south on Route 7, Italia Mia caters to customers who enjoy their traditional and specialty pies.

Some of their specials include Caprino (roasted red peppers, artichoke, goats cheese and fresh mozzarella), Pugliese (caramelized onion, prosciutto and fresh mozzarella), and Clams Casino (baby clams in garlic, bacon and red roasted peppers).

Across town, along Route 202, is Colosseo, which is Keeler’s favorite.

“It’s the nostalgia of the flavor,” he said of why he likes the restaurant’s pizza.

Like other restaurants that serve pizza, Colosseo caters to those who enjoy a variety of flavors.

Gourmet pizzas include the BLT (mozzarella and bacon topped with tossed romaine lettuce and diced tomato, and Caesar dressing), the Al Tonno (cheese pizza, imported Sicilian tuna and onion), and All’Arucola (prosciutto, tomato, mozzarella, parmigiano and fresh arugula).

Traditional pizza toppings are also available. Colosseo also sells Sicilian Pizza, pizza by the slice, and gluten-free pizza.

Vilson Vatic, owner of Scooter's Bar & Grill, just began serving New York Style pizza and round Sicilian pizza at his restaurant.

He's got 28 years in the restaurant and pizza industry. He recently sold Portafino's Pizza & Pasta in Brewster, N.Y., but he remains owner of Five Brothers Pizza & Pasta in Brewster.

He said he serves 12-14" personal New York Style pizza, as well as a unique round Sicilian pizza.

A grocery store isn’t usually known for serving pizza, but Big Y does, and many shoppers find their pizza a favorite.

Big Y is especially known for its party pizzas, large, rectangular pizzas cut into small squares that mean patrons get pizza pieces with crust and without.

In addition, round pies and slices are available, with special “Slice of the Day” flavors that change throughout the week, including chicken stir fry, taco and cheeseburger deluxe.

The New Milford Pizza Palooza will give everyone a chance to find something they like, or want to try.

Resident Gina Barberio raves about John’s Best and Italia Mia, while her son, Gianni, enjoys Soho Pizza. 

“And Bravo is great for New York Style Pizza,” Barberio said.

“Love the garlic knot signature on Bravo pizza,” she added.

WHAT BUSINESSES ARE PARTICIPATING SO FAR? MORE MAY BE ADDED!

·      All Aboard Pizzeria & Ice Cream Parlor

·      Big Y Pizza

·      Bravo NY

·      Brickhouse Pizza & Restaurant

·      Colosseo Bar Ristorante Pizza

·      Italia Mia Restaurant & Pizza

·      John’s Best Pizza Restaurant

·      New Milford Pizza Station

·     Pronto Pizza

·      Salinas Restaurant Pizza & Bar

·      Scooter's Bar & Grill

·      Soho Pizza

HOW DOES THE PIZZA PALOOZA WORK?

·     Interested customers are invited to visit any six of the participating businesses to purchase pizza. Keep the receipts.

·     Each individual who wants to receive a customized pizza-themed gift – and then be entered into a drawing to win a pizza-themed gift basket – MUST take a selfie with their pizza.

·     Selfies must be posted in the comments under the pinned New Milford Pizza Palooza post on the NewMilfordNow Facebook page, OR posted on Instagram with NewMilfordNow tagged, beginning Sept. 1, 2023.

·     When customers have visited six businesses, they should bring their receipts to the Mayor’s Office at Roger Sherman Town Hall, 10 Main St., Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to receive their New Milford Pizza Palooza gift and the tickets to enter the drawing to win a pizza-themed gift basket.

Notes:

Groups of friends (and families) are welcome to do the Pizza Palooza. If an individual purchases pizza for a group of people (or family) and has the receipt, each person in that group or family who wants to do the Pizza Palooza must post a selfie.

For more information about the New Milford Pizza Palooza, including questions about where to post selfies, DM NewMilfordNow on Facebook or Instagram, or email Deborah Rose at drose@NewMilfordNow.org.