Results for the 11th annual Pizza Taste-Off

The Interact Club’s Annual “Pizza Taste-Off” saw its 11th year of success. Through much preparation and hard work, the club raised $1,700 for the American Cancer Society.

“This past week, the pizza taste off was another big success. Although we were short handed in some areas the effort to help where it was needed was keen on the overall outcome,” said Co-President Chris MacDonald.

This year’s “Pizza Taste-Off” featured not only donated pizzas from Gloucester, but from a wider stretch of Cape Ann. These contenders included Cape Ann Pizza of Essex, Sam & Joe’s Pizza of Danvers, and many more local pizzerias.

The Cruiseport ballroom was filled to the brim with people following the scent of freshly made pizza and homemade cookies. The array of pizza options made for a difficult choice among the crowd of families, teachers, kids, and parents.

The boxes were covered to conceal their locations, but true connoisseurs could differentiate the harmonious blend of crust, tomato sauce, and cheese.

While a varied crowd brought varied tastes in pizza, the votes were cast and the consensus was made. The 2018 “Pizza Taste-Off” winner of best sauce, best crust, and best overall pizza went to Surfside Subs in East Gloucester.

Surfside Pizza offers a unique quality of thin crispy crust, tomato sauce, parmesan, and fresh buffalo mozzarella, traits that clearly pleased the crowd.

It wasn’t an easy choice though.

“Every piece tasted so good,” said GHS student Mario Santos.