A few notes on Chicago deep dish pizza

A slice of pizza glowing in the warm midday light. But, this is no ordinary pizza! It’s a Chicago deep dish pizza. Therefore, overflow is expected Encased in a sturdy, buttery, golden crust, the stack of layers reveals itself as soon as you dig in. There is a layer of melted mozzarella (about 2lb per small pizza – we like to be generous ), then veggies of choice, then pepperoni or Italian sausage, if you so wish. An abundant, flavor-packed, luscious tomato sauce is poured over the top, its garlicky oregano-packed aroma a work of delicious wonder.

Did you know that April 5th is National Deep Dish Pizza Day? Over the years, my appreciation of, and fascination with, this fantastic Chicago classic has gone from strength to strength – see these pics, featuring my own deep dish vegetarian creation 🙂

According to the BBC, “Throughout the late 1800s and early 1900s, Neapolitan immigrants arrived in the US, like many Europeans of that time, in search of factory jobs. Before long, Chicago was home to a thriving community of first and second-generation descendants, hungry for the thin pizzas that represented their culture and culinary roots. Eventually two entrepreneurs, Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo, decided to create something different: an Italian-American version of pizza. In 1943, the pair opened Pizzeria Uno in the Chicago’s Near North Side neighbourhood, serving a new style pizza with a deeper dish, crunchier crust and inverted layers – a far cry from the classic Neapolitan version” (BBC, “The Deep Rooted History of Chicago’s Deep-dish Pizza”)

Fast forward to present, and Chicago is home to several restaurants well-known for their exceptional deep dish pizzas. One of these is Giordano’s, that has been making its world-famous pies for 50 years, ever since its founders, immigrant brothers Efren and Joseph Boglio, introduced their mother’s stuffed pizza recipe to Chicago. After opening its first location in Chicago’s historic South Side in the spring of 1974, Giordano’s has grown to over 60 restaurants nationwide.

To mark its 50 year anniversary, Giordano’s is offering a 50% discount on any pizza purchase every Tuesday for dine-in guests at all of its full-service locations, now through May 28, 2024. Moreover, in recognition of 50 years of great service, food, and tradition, the mayor of Chicago has officially declared April 5, 2024 as Giordano’s Pizza Day. How awesome is this? 🙂

Years ago, when I had just started blogging, I attended the official opening of Giordano’s carry-out and delivery location in Glenview, IL. It was an event I would never forget, not only because of the delicious food I tried, but also because of the special guest I got the chance to meet: basketball legend Scottie Pippen. You can read my review of this one-of-a-kind experience here.

While the history of Chicago’s deep dish pizza is still not settled (as indicated in the BBC article above), I think we can agree that this pizza is a great invention, and a thought-provoking capture of Chicago’s history, which has deliciously withstood the test of time.

Are you a fan of deep dish pizza? Let me know in the comments 🙂

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