On the heels of a very successful event last year, Higher Limits, Windsor's downtown cannabis lounge, is bringing back Pizza Fest.
"We had over 1,000 people come through our place over the weeks that we were doing the festival," says co-owner Jon Liedtke. "We crowned one winner -- and it was Sam's Pizzeria and Cantina."
Sam's may face more competition this year. While 12 pizzerias took part in the festival last year, Liedtke hopes to attract even more this year.
"I think it's going to be more because we've already had a few that have reached out to us," he says. "I'm hoping we can get somewhere between 16 to 20."
The concept is simple. Over the course of four rounds, the pizzerias compete in a tasting contest. Guests at Higher Lounge pick their favourites before the top three compete for the crown the final night on November 27.
Sam's Pizzeria and Cantina returns October 2 to take on Primo Pizza and Downtown Pizza Co.
"Windsorites love pizza. We know that Windsor has the best pizza in the world, quite frankly," says Liedtke. "It was really crazy that there was never a Windsor pizza festival competition."
"There's pizza competitions, like big ones in Las Vegas and Toronto where Windsor pizza companies go to compete, and they bring home titles and awards," he continues. "But, there was never one here locally, so we stepped up."
The pizzerias benefit too.
"We saw a huge increase in business in the weeks after we won, and deliveries doubled," says Ralph Mattano of Sam's.