NJ’s best pizza and meatballs will be crowned on Feb. 1 as Redd’s Bar and Restaurant in Carlstadt, New Jersey hosts Pizza Bowl V. Pizzerias and restaurants spanning across the Meadowlands region will compete to see which emerges victorious.
The competition has been running for five years now, having been created by Guy Madsen, the founder of Jersey Pizza Joints on Facebook, which has amassed over 120,000 followers. The goal of the event is not to just crown the best slice in the Garden State, but also boost small businesses and raise money towards a charitable cause in the Tunnels to Towers Foundation.
The Tunnels to Towers Foundation raises money to help provide mortgage-free homes to the families of fallen first-responders during 9/11. The Foundation recognizes the life and bravery of Stephen Siller, an off-duty firefighter that ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in 60 pounds of gear to help as 9/11 unfolded. Siller unfortunately lost his life in this heroic act, but his sacrifice will never be forgotten.
Madsen chose this charity because it represents a time when the country was able to come together and unite as one to help fight a greater issue. The event began around the same time as COVID when many were dealing with similar struggles and needed a sense of unity. In addition to emphasizing this point of unity among our nation, Madsen also wanted to honor the lives of the heroes that sacrificed their lives on that day. The Tunnels to Towers Foundation offers a good cause that checks off both of the boxes that Madsen wanted. To date, the event has helped raise roughly $35,000.
“I started this group during COVID when everything was closed and it was all gloom and doom in the world,” said Guy Madsen. “The goal was to really bring a community together and to support small businesses. When I threw my first event, it was to say that we could get back together again. We were forced to be apart. So the reason that I chose Tunnels to Towers is every American should support that charity because firefighters put 65 pounds of equipment on to go to work to keep their lives safe.
The event’s pizzerias chosen to participate were selected by thousands of voters on Jersey Pizza Joints, with each region getting four representatives. The participants can be found listed below.
North:
Turano’s Pizza Kitchen (Livingston)
Vinnie’s Mootz (Lyndhurst)
Barcelona’s (Garfield)
Grumpy’s Pizza (Saddle Brook)
Central:
Zoni’s Brooklyn Brick Oven Pizza (Middletown)
Capricci’s Pizzeria (Howell)
Maruca’s Tomato Pies (Seaside Heights)
The Gallery (Asbury Park)
South:
Riccardo’s Pizza (Brown’s Mills)
Nonna’s Pizza (Deptford)
Kate and Al’s Pizza (Columbus)
Gena’s Pizza (Magnolia)
One winner will be crowned amongst each region, with there also being an overall winner crowned. Last year’s winner was Vinnie’s Mootz, who will look to go back-to-back, but as Madsen has said “on any given Saturday, anybody can win”.
While the winners are returning to the competition there will also be newcomers, in the form of Barcelona’s in Garfield, NJ. The local pizza institution will be participating in the event for the first time hoping to bring home the crown. Three-time champion Johnny Speciale of PizzAmore who has dominated the meatball section of the event will not be participating this year, giving way to a new victor.
Additionally, in honor of the Goodfella’s 35th anniversary, two members of the cast will be making an appearance. The two actors are Chris Serrone, who played young Henry and Joe D’Onofrio, who played young Tommy.
The event’s primary goal, however, is to provide guests with a good time filled with great pizza, while simultaneously helping to support small businesses. The charity aspect of the event also plays a significant role.
“We urge the Meadowlands community to support in any small way,” said Guy Madsen. We’re all made up of small businesses and I know it’s tough but any little bit can help our true heroes and would be appreciated.”
To find more about the event, visit Pizza Bowl V – Best Pizza in Jersey Trophy to benefit Tunnels to Towers Tickets, Sat, Feb 1, 2025 at 12:00 PM | Eventbrite.