Roberta's Pizza Czar Challenges Patch: Prove NYC Beats Portland

NEW YORK CITY -- A Brooklyn pizza czar has challenged Patch to prove New York, and not Portland, is the greatest pizza city in America.

Patch's debate with Anthony Falco, the highly esteemed international pizza consultant and Former Roberta's pizza maven, stemmed from his declaration to an Oregon food critic this month that Portland was America's "greatest pizza city."

Falco, whose expertise and talent helped make Roberta's one of New York's most iconic pizzerias, told Patch it's about the flour.

"I’m impressed by the skill and execution of the dough, and the quality of the ingredients," Falco said of Portland pizza. "Any place in NYC using bleached and bromated flour is completely disqualified to me."

But Patch was not convinced and the debate continued via email:

Mr. Falco: I’m not the first to recognize pdx greatness: https://www.foodandwine.com/news/portland-best-pizza.

Patch: Nice try, but nope.

Mr. Falco: Lot's of people are saying nope! Not too many people naming pizzerias that have better pizza. ;)

Patch: Can I accept that as a challenge?

Mr. Falco: You can.

So now we need your help. We need you to fill out this completely scientific survey and prove once and for all New York is the greatest pizza city on this side of Napoli...and maybe on the other side, too.

We'll publish the results next week and hopefully a pizza czar will eat his words. Or at least some very good pizza.

Photo of Bleecker Street Pizza courtesy of Kevin McCormick