Mmmmmm... Pizza.

BoogieDowner received an interesting email this morning discussing pizza joints in the Bronx. While we didn't think it was fair to bring up such a delicious topic so early in the day, it's close enough to dinnertime now to let the debate begin.

Here are one reader's thoughts on the topic:

"A popular debate in my house centers around the best Bronx pizza. I think we've narrowed it down to my wife's pick, Patricia's (either one, but we prefer Morris Park) or my choice Louie and Ernie's. Either way, Tosca's on E Tremont gets a respectable bronze (service is way spotty though!)."

We at BoogieDowner have a healthy appreciation for the pizza at Rocco's, right on Bedford Park Blvd. and Webster Avenue. Our love affair began back in college after late nights at the Jolly Tinker and has continued on all these years. We also like Giovanni's on Arthur Avenue... Brick oven pizza service in the back dining area used to be a nice, cheap night out, but we got a bit peeved when they stopped giving out bread with pizza orders. Cheap bastards!

So now we'd have to say our absolute favorite pizza is Antonio's, a newish casual Italian place on Belmont Avenue at Crescent Avenue (one minute walk from Arthur Avenue). The wait staff there is unbelievably friendly and the prices are good too.

Thoughts? Anyone care to share great places in their neighborhoods that may not get all the fame of glory of Tosca, but are just as good?

*FYI, the pic of "Bronx Pizza" is actually from San Diego - evidence of the mythic nature of Bronx pizza's reputation. Stay classy, San Diego, we appreciate the flattery*

~ErLu

Bon Appetite!

A BoogieDowner reader, Anita from Bronx Underground, sent us a heads up about a food tasting event at the Castle Hill YMCA on Tuesday, September 9th from 6 to 9pm.

Sorry about the lack of detail on this... there doesn't seem to be any information online about the event. Even the name of the night is in question! There is an ad in Bronx Times Reporter that refers to it as "Taste of the Bronx." But the nice fella I talked to at the YMCA called it "Bon Appetite." Whatever it's called, it sounds pretty great. There are 20 different restaurants from around the Bronx, including Patricia's Pizza and Pasta in Morris Park and Tosca Cafe in Throgs Neck, all under one roof!

The cost is $75 for Y members and $100 for everybody else. Questions? Call (718) 792-9736.

I've reached out to the event organizer for more details, and will report back if I hear anything else. Please give us a shout if you know anything about this event or have been to it in the past.

Getting There: Take the Bx22 bus to Castle Hill Avenue/Norton Avenue. Walk south for about 4 minutes on Castle Hill Avenue to Hart Street.

Thanks Anita!

~ErLu