Sweet 16 Cut in Half, Leaving Cheesy Crumbs of 8 in Its Wake
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As most of us know, the innocent, laughter-filled days of Sweet 16 only last so long. In the blink of an eye, carefree frolicking quickly turns into looking for a job and weathering the grind of caring for a family. A metaphor for life? Perhaps. In actuality, something altogether more doughy and cut-throat: admittance into the 2019 Pizza Cup round of the Elite 8!
Scan the QR Code below with WeChat to vote in 2019's Pizza Cup Elite 8 ballot!
Where there are eight victors, there must be eight casualties, which this year includes farewells to a whopping four contenders from last year's Top 12. Big upsets include the ousting of 2018's #6 rank and overall winner of 2017, Pie Squared, who appears to have had a falling from grace of sorts, as well as that of perennial favorites Annie's (#5 last year) who has been booted by Great Leap. Last year's #4 The Local has also been stiff-armed by that feed-an-army pizzeria, #12 Tube Station. Having just entered the pizza game, Jing-A (unranked) is off to a strong start this year, pushing out newbies Turkish Feast.
Jing-A's new pizza offerings sure aren't go unnoticed by you lot
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Less surprising are the dominant showings by 2018's #3 and the kings of Neopolitan pizza Bottega, who shut out Eatalia (#7). Elsewhere, last year's winner Gung Ho! put an end to Baozza's cheese dreams despite their having a seemingly endless line at this year's Pizza Festival. Likewise, many will be sad to say goodbye to Oh Yeah! Brewing, who wooed the crowd with an incredible mushroom and truffle pizza at the event.
The results as they happened
Gung Ho! beat back Baozza
Great Leap stomped Annie's
Pizza Saporita slammed Pie Squared
La Pizza squeaked by MIAM MIAM
Bottega pummeled Eatalia
Jing-A Taproom outpaced Turkish Feast
Q Mex roundhoused Oh Yeah!
Tube Station ousted The Local
In our poll, we also quizzed voters as to which of Beijing's craft beers they enjoyed knocking back with a slice. Jing-A cut a strong first place followed by Great Leap and Slow Boat.
Beijing's most popular craft beers (percent of voters that have tried this beer):
Jing-A Brewpub (35 percent)
Great Leap Brewing (32 percent)
Slow Boat Brewery (24 percent)
Boxing Cat Brewery (24 percent)
Panda Brew (16 percent)
Arrow Factory Brewing (16 percent)
Beersmith (15 percent)
Legend Beer (12 percent)
Peiping Machine (9 percent)
NBeer (8 percent)
The losers of the Sweet 16 then join the other 2019 knockouts for a final tally that looks something like this.
17. Kro's Nest
18. Pizza Hut
19. Papa John's
20. 3 Little Pigs by Andy's Craft Sausages
21. Pyro Pizza
22. Domino's Pizza
23. Pizza Marzano
24. TIAGO
25. The Rug
26. Paddy O'Shea's
27. Laker's
28. Saizeriya
29. Yummy Box
30. The Cheesecake Factory
31. Green Cow City Cafe
32. Lily's American Diner
33. Plan B
34. Luga's
35. 1st Floor
36. Georgia's Feast
37. Tribe
38. Big Pizza
39. Mao Mao Chong
40. The Veggie Table
41. Pizza Factory
42. Grandma's Kitchen
43. Xian at East, Beijing Hotel
44. Mr Pizza
45. Fiume
46. Scott's Family Ristorante Italiano
47. Legend Beer
48. Eudora Station
49. Tavola Italian Dining
50. Lievito Gourmet Pizza and Bar
51. Jazz-Ya
52. NBeer Pub
53. Assaggi
54. Charlie's
55. The Mozza
56. Bocca Della Verita
57. MIO at Four Seasons Hotel
58. Fella's
59. Pizza Now
60. Cafe Ruhe
61. La Cucina
62. Pizza by LMPlus
63. Ponte
64. BUONA BOCCA Italian Bistro
65. Ummm Kitchen
66. Joe's Bar & Kitchen
67. La Mezzaluna
68. QS
69. Peiping Machine
70. Peter Pan
71. Casa Gusto
72. Nine Road Pizzeria
73. Via Roma at Kempinski Hotel
74. Red Rose
75. Unico
76. Dongli Brewery
77. Nasca Cafe
78. Jushi Pizza
79. PIZZA FUOCO
80. CUP ONE
81. MustGuette
82. PBD Pizza Bar
83. Bene at Sheraton Grand Dongcheng Hotel
84. Passby Bar
85. Pinvita
86. Flypizza & Hoodadak Chicken
87. Leos Pizza
88. Hisewel Brew-pub
89. Pomona
90. Agrilandi
91. Casalingo
92. Whale's Pizza
93. BLT
94. Byone
95. RADICI
96. Tomcado
97. Atta BJ
98. Four Aces
99. PIZZAgram
Knockout Round Schedule
Elite Eight: Opens Friday, Nov 1, 3pm; closes Tuesday, Nov 5, midday
Final Four: Opens Tuesday, Nov 5, 3pm; closes Friday, Nov 8, midday
Championship Round: Opens Friday, Nov 8, 3pm; closes Tuesday, Nov 12, midday
Beijing's Best Pizza crowned: Tuesday, Nov 12, 4pm
So what are you waiting for? Get voting before midday Tuesday!
Sherpa's, the official sponsor of the 2019 Beijing Pizza Cup, are offering new users RMB 50 off (min. spend RMB 99) food delivery and RMB 10 off any movie ticket purchased through the Sherpa's App. Simply scan the QR below and follow the instructions.
Photos: the Beijinger, Uni You
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