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Pizza lovers took a bite out of the Big Apple.
Thousands of food fanatics gathered Saturday to sample pies from Dave Portnoy’s favorite pizza joints around the world — with some fans driving hours to attend the Barstool Sports founder’s third annual assemblage of gourmands.
The One Bite Pizza Fest, dubbed “the world’s greatest gathering of pizzerias,” lured more than 10,000 to Randall’s Island.
The savory all-you-can-eat event had over 40 of Portnoy’s highest-rated pizzerias slinging smaller slices.
“It’s the only opportunity to eat and meet the best pizzerias and pizzaiolos in the country,” New York City food influencer Danny Mondello, known as “Cugine,” told The Post.
“Lotta action, good vibes, and plenty of gluten to satisfy your cheat day.”
Portnoy was seen making the rounds greeting vendors and fans like Alexia Tischler, 41, a hospice veterinarian from Long Island.
He spotted Tischler’s shirt — featuring Portnoy’s dog, Miss Peaches, resting upon a slice of pepperoni — and he asked to take a picture of it.
“I said, ‘No, I made one for you,'” she told The Post. “I know he doesn’t like pepperoni, but it was the best clip art slice I could find. Dave is kind of addicting to watch, and he brings light to small businesses.
“I’m going to try all of the pizza.”
Jeremy Gibbs, 38, drove all the way from Albany to make sure he was the first person in line for Saturday’s festival. “Last year, I estimated it cost me about $1,000 to get here and stay in a hotel to eat pizza,” Gibbs, who works in cybersecurity, said.
“Zaza,” a Stamford, Connecticut, pizza place, “was the best I had last year,” he admitted.
Brooklyn’s Di Fara, which earned the pizza pundit’s highest rating — a staggering 9.4 — participated in the edible event, as did Manhattan pizzerias Prince Street Pizza and John’s of Bleecker Street.
Di Fara, which celebrates its 60th year in business later this month, anticipated serving 10,000 slices Saturday.
“He would love it,” said owner Margaret DeMarco, 82, when asked what her late husband, Domenico, would think of Portnoy’s impressive rating. “I’m very proud of him. Everything had to be perfect. He loved his job. He was about pleasing his customers.”
Amy and Paul Skaggs, trekked in from Indianapolis, Indiana, donning pizza-related clothing and accessories. Jackie Catapano, 30, a school aid from Long Island, was spotted wearing pizza glasses and a pepperoni pizza-collared shirt.
“Pizza is my favorite food,” Catapano enthused.
John Mastroianni, 26, who hails from Woodstown, New Jersey, wore a pizza outfit while his wife, Serena Mastroianni, 26, wore a pizza peel costume.
“I make pizza and mine was her favorite, lucuntil she had” referring to Brooklyn’s Lucali. “I love pizza so, so much.”
Wally Santos, 65, from The Bronx, also known as Mr. Positive, mapped out his day before the gates opened.
“I want to go to 8 stands: I want to go to John’s on Bleeker, I want to try [Frank] Pepe’s from New Haven,” he said. “I like Di Faras the best, with Lucali as a close second.
“I skipped breakfast to get ready for today.”
English (US)