Deep Dish Pizza Day

Deep Dish Pizza Day is April 5th

There is no food more universally loved than pizza. Deep Dish Pizza Day is to celebrate the thicker, more gooey side of this versatile food. Deep-dish pizza, also known as Chicago style, was invented in Chicago in 1943. The creator of this delicious type of pizza was Ike Sewell, who also founded the famous Pizzeria Uno that has since become a national chain. This dish was an instant success and inspired the creation of hundreds of other deep dish pizzerias across the country. Deep dish pizza, for the few who may not know, is often characterized by one defining feature. The crust, instead of being the smallest part of the pizza, takes center stage for this dish and can often be up to three inches high. To compensate for this larger amount of crust there is an increase in sauce and cheeses making this dish hearty and filling. So grab a napkin, grab a friend, and tuck into this fantastic dish on April 5th!

History of Pizza

Since the beginning of time, people have loved pizza, although it hasn’t always looked like the pizza we know today. Pizza is believed to have originated from focaccia, a flat bread that people often put various toppings on. The word pizza first appeared in 997 A.D in Gaeta and other parts of Italy. Before World War II, pizza was mainly eaten in Italy. After various countries were stationed here and discovered this dish it spread quickly and became a global sensation.

In the United States, pizza first appeared in the late 19th century with the influx of immigrants from Italy. This dish was popular among Italian populations but didn’t become popular throughout the country for a long time. The first reference to pizza in American writing was in 1904 in an article in the Boston Journal. Two immigrants from Naples named Giovanni and Gennaro Bruno came to Boston and opened a pizza shop. This was the first pizza shop of its kind in the Boston area. Later, Giovanni’s son moved to Chicago and opened the first pizzeria in Chicago, further spreading pizza throughout the United States. The first pizza shop ever in America was opened in 1905 by Gennaro Lombardi. His pizzas were not what we typically think of pizza today. Instead, his pizzas were just tomato pies wrapped in string and wax paper and sold to factory workers for their lunch breaks. After World War II, when pizzas became more popular throughout the globe, pizza has become a cultural staple of America. It’s first appearance in American culture was in an episode of Popeye the Sailor in the 1960’s. Today, there are hundreds of pizza chains and privately owned stores. Everyone has their personal favorite, but we can all agree that pizza is good no matter where you get it from. Deep Dish Pizza Day is a day to celebrate the cheesier side of this dish. If you don’t have a Pizzeria Uno nearby, there are a wide variety of pizzerias who make their own spin on this dish, or you can make your own!