2014 Hoffman Estates Jaycees Best Pizza Contest winners announced

The Hoffman Estates Jaycees held its 14th annual Best Pizza Contest in November at the Schaumburg Township Hall. Ten area restaurants participated and the winners have been determined.

• Pan/thick crust pizza: winner, Georgio's Chicago-style deep dish spinach and cheese; runner-up: Jets' Italian sausage supreme

• Thin crust pizza: winner: UNO's wild mushroom; runner-up: Riccardo's pepperoni and sausage

• Specialty pizza: winner: Wa-Pa-Ghetti's Hawaiian; runner-up: Moretti's Buffalo chicken

James Coli, operating partner of Georgio's Chicago Pizzeria & Pub says, "We were very happy to hear that we won best pan pizza award. We strive to make our Chicago-style pizza the best there is. Our recipes date back decades to the original Chicago-style pizza in Chicago. We would like to thank the Jaycees for putting on the contest, as well as everything else they do for the community, and look forward to competing for years to come."

As the general manager for UNO Pizzeria and Grill, Chris Gilmore says, "This event provided by the Hoffman Estates Jaycees is an excellent way to support the community, and UNO Pizzeria and Grill is proud to be a part of that."

Joe Mastro of Wa-Pa-Ghetti's Pizza says, "Thank you all so much. Wa-Pa-Ghetti's Pizza is honored to have been chosen as the winner in the Specialty Pizza category.

"We have been a family owned and operated business for over 30 years and we are dedicated in serving our customers the best quality pizza we can make. Thank you for asking us to participate in the Hoffman Estates Jaycees Best Pizza Contest 2014; it was an honor and a privilege. We look forward to your next event."

The Hoffman Estates Jaycees would like to thank all the participating restaurants:

Buona in Hoffman Estates; California Pizza Kitchen in Schaumburg; Domino's Pizza in Hoffman Estates; Georgio's Chicago Pizzeria & Pub in South Barrington; Jets Pizza in Schaumburg; Moretti's Ristorante & Pizzeria in Schaumburg; Riccardo's Ristorante in Schaumburg; Rosati's Pizza in Schaumburg; UNO Pizzeria & Grill in Schaumburg; and Wa-Pa-Ghetti's Pizza in Wheeling.

In addition, the Hoffman Estates Jaycees would like to thank the community for their attendance and support, the volunteers who spent countless hours working on this project, and Schaumburg Township for allowing the Jaycees to use the space. More than 150 people showed up to support the event this year.

The 15th Annual Best Pizza Contest is tentatively planned for Nov. 5, 2015. Participants, sponsors, donors and, of course, the winner and runner-up of each category will be recognized via advertising through multiple channels, including fliers, handouts, websites, social media and press releases, unless they choose to be anonymous.

Anyone interested in participating or becoming a sponsor should email the Jaycees at contact@hoffmanestatesjaycees.org.