2020 PEC Challenge Tournament: 1st ROUND: Red Bank Green Region

It's bracket time!  We're going to start off the voting by each region by day, starting with the Red Bank Green Region.  Most if not all of these places will deliver, so if you're stuck at home and want to try some of these places, now might be a good time.  Not only will you get to enjoy the wonders of pork roll, egg, and cheese while you work from home but you'll also be helping out a local business getting through this crisis.  Without further ado, the matchups.

#1 Johnny's Pork Roll v #16 Bagel Oven

Johnny's burst onto the food truck scene slinging nothing but pork roll sandwiches, turning success into a storefront in Red Bank last year instantly becoming one of the state's most celebrated pork roll purveyors.  Bagel Oven, on the other hand, should still be considered one of the best bagel shops in Red Bank, but stumbled on the pork roll, egg, and cheese this year.  A classic staple for many life-long Red Bank residents.  Johnny's -34.5

#8 Windward Deli v #9 Bagel Station

Bagel Station might get more play for it's proximity to the Red Bank train station, but don't sleep on Windward Deli.  This might come down to a roll vs bagel preference but I'm expecting this to be a close matchup.  Windward Deli -5.5.


#5 Brooklyn Hot Bagels v. #12 Gem's Middletown

Gem's has a rabid following which could lead to a decisive upset, but in my opinion, Brooklyn Hot Bagels have such an impressive bagel as well as a good looking PEC.  Brooklyn Hot Bagels -1.5. 

#4 AJ's Deli v. #13 Willow Deli

Two delis that really came down to the bread.  In one corner, AJ's Deli in Shrewsbury, which really impressed with their sandwich in an incredibly tough market, and the other Willow Deli in Little Silver.  AJ's Deli -10.5.

#6 Marta's Deli v. #11 Town Bagel and Grill

A Cinderella run is not out of the question for Marta's Deli, who's Red Bank's West Side's top PEC provider but can Eatontown's Town Bagel and Grill stop them in their tracks with their thick cuts of pork roll.  Marta's Deli -3.5

#3 Inbetween Cafe v. #14 Atlantic Bagel Middletown


My childhood neighborhood bagel shop runs into Inbetween Cafe who came in as the final entrant in this year's bracket with a buttered PEC.  A tough matchup for Atlantic Bagel for sure because Inbetween Cafe is coming in as one of the hottest teams in the tournament. Inbetween Cafe -14.5. 

#7 Valdetino's v. #10 Pat's Market 

Unfortunately, I don't believe this superb PEC was able to save Valdetino's which appears to have been shut down but we will keep their memory alive with a run.  Pat's Market has some extremely stiff competition in Joyce's four doors down from them.  Valdetino's -10.5

#2 Bagelmasters v. #15 Atlantic Bagel Rumson  

A local legendary spot vs a local chain of bagel shops, Atlantic Bagel makes their 2nd appearance in the bracket in what could be an unlikely matchup against their Middletown location in the Sweet Sixteen.  Bagelmasters has long established themselves as a fan favorite in the Red Bank Green, even getting an endorsement from Man v. Food's Casey Webb. Bagelmasters -25.5