Eating good pizza for a good cause in Palatine

While the Bears were tasting victory Sunday over the Minnesota Vikings, attendees at the Palatine Jaycees' annual Best Pizza Contest were tasting the wares of local pizza parlors.

The event, held at Durty Nellie's Bar and Grill, featured local favorites such as Vini's and Pizza Bella putting their best dough forward.

Palatine Jaycees President Will Hinshaw said organization hoped to raise $2,500 from the contest. The money is put into a fund that helps pay for annual events like Hometown Fest and the Christmas tree sale.

Jen Hickman, one of the event's chairs and a member of the Jaycees board, said Sunday was chosen to tie the event in with the Bears' game.

"It's a nice tie. Pizza, beer, Bears. It's a good time to come out," she said. "Even if the Bears are losing, at least they are having fun drinking beer and eating pizza."

Consumption among attendees was prodigious. David Trilling said he ate at least 16 slices.

"I have a big appetite," he said.

"I don't get full. I'm a walking garbage can."

For Trilling, a Palatine native who recently moved to Bartlett, it was a chance to stay in touch with the community, while giving his young children a chance to run around.

Trilling, who showed his Bears love by wearing a Mike Singletary jersey, said he enjoyed the sausage and specialty pizzas, which included one with Alfredo and bacon.

His family has had a longtime involvement with the Jaycees, Trilling added.

"My parents were in the Jaycees when they were younger. My sister is in it now. It's a great cause," he said.

Even Packers fans had a good time.

Elmer Piper of Hoffman Estates, who was wearing a Packers jersey, said this was the second time he has been at the event in the last three years.

Wearing a Jared Allen jersey, Rich Stocker, a teacher at Sundling Junior High School, attended with his wife, Linda.

"We always come every other year," he said. "It's a good cause. The pizza's great. It's a good town for pizza. We enjoy the Bears, unfortunately."

Sunday's event is one that pulls the community together, Stocker said.

"You don't have anybody here that's from seven towns away just to come and eat pizza."