Then it was on to Newark.  
Long a Bloomfield Avenue landmark, Dickie Dee's waited at the corner of N. Sixth Street.  It was so crowded we barely could enter and arrange ourselves at a table.

 
 
 

And who should we find waiting there but Rico Roman!  As he had already eaten there but had skipped Buff's, he agreed to act as observer, keeping an eye on Doris, who was there to keep an eye on us.

 
 

Inside, we saw manager Rick D'Innocenzio hard at work, as well as his faithful right-hand man J-Bird.  

 
The judges sampled the Dee's dogs and rendered the following judgements:

Lucia declared the bread "better," and said the potatoes had a "better flavor but could be thinner."  She lauded the more generous portion of peppers and onions but found the dog itself "shriveled and cooked dryer" than Buff's.  She also had a Diet Pepsi and used three napkins.

Bob called the bread (from DiPaolo bakery across Bloomfield Avenue) "excellent," but declared the potatoes "too thick."  The peppers and onions were "excellent," but the seats were "too small."  Bob had a C&C orange soda with his meal and used three napkins.

Fred likewise found the potatoes "too big, and too many of them."  The dog, he said, was "rubbery," but the portion of peppers and onions was "just right."  The bread, he added, was "good."  He had no beverage here and said he used only one napkin.

Don called the potatoes "too big and too chunky" but admitted the sandwich "tastes good."  He then back-pedaled and called it "acceptable."  Don also had no beverage here and used two napkins.

This writer found the Dee's dog superior in every way.  "It held together 'til the end," and although the dog itself was a bit shriveled, it was "nonetheless tasty."  The vegetables, which here are kept separate until construction, were considerably tastier -- "not at all greasy like at Buff's."  The meal was complemented by a Yoo-Hoo, and five napkins were used.

Doris enjoyed a sausage sandwich here at Dee's, calling it "OK," with "lots of peppers.  It was good."  She then confided that she enjoyed the Dee's sandwich better than the Buff's.

 
Before voting, though, Rick was nice enough to pose with the judges.

 

 
The Voting

Although some judges declared the contest close, each declared a preference:

Lucia: Dickie Dee's
Bob: Dickie Dee's
Don: Jimmy Buff's
Fred: Jimmy Buffs
This writer: Dickie Dee's

The Winner:  Dickie Dee's!


And so it was that, having completed the mission, our panel of expert judges dispersed to their repective dominions, confident that each had done his or her best to settle the age-old question once and for all.  All agreed that the only thing that would have improved the occasion was the participation of our late comrade Mike McLafferty, for whom the event is named.  This dog's for you, Mike.

Our congratulations to Rick and his staff at Dickie Dee's, who now have bragging rights to the best Italian hot dog in Essex County.