Chicago Style Pizza

topic posted Mon, January 7, 2008 - 8:10 PM by 
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This may be a bit pedestrian and not worthy of the Foodie tribe, but I REALLY enjoy chicago style pizza. That's not true, enjoy is too weak of a word, I FANTASIZE about it out here on the west coast.

Pizzeria Uno was a semi-annual pilgrimage for me when I lived in Iowa, which like many other midwestern experiences has fallen by the wayside as I migrated to the right and then the left coast. This weekend I finally made it back to Chicago for the first time since 2002. Let me tell you friends, the pizza did not disappoint. The crust was had a nice cornmeal flavor with just the right amount of firmness, the sauce was rich without being watery, and the sausage flavorful without being greasy. My only disappointment was the beer, but they only had Sam Adams, so what can a guy do?

So here's my question for you all. Does anyone know how to make a Chicago style crust? i mean a real authentic style crust that's thick without being soggy. I've had it outside the second city, but it never turns out the same way as a pizza actually made IN Chicago. As such I'd like to venture an attempt at home =)
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  • Re: Chicago Style Pizza

    Mon, January 7, 2008 - 10:55 PM
    I used to get a bunch of them shipped from Gino's East. We had figured out how to bake them properly by the 2nd pizza.

    Sadly, that store has closed and I have not tried the other stores, but I remember being particularly impressed by the stuff from that one shop.

    I have not found a useful substitute on the west coast.

    I remember eating at Uno, Due, Eduardos, varios Gino's outlets, and Lou Malnati's over the years. Plus various things from Vienna beef (the #4 dogs, but moreso the polish and the italian beef), and Kronos gyros.

    H
    • Re: Chicago Style Pizza

      Tue, January 8, 2008 - 8:43 AM
      Hmmm, if Gino's west shipped than maybe Unos will. They were selling frozen pizzas to go, so maybe for a few bucks more...

      I also remember Due, and Gino's East before they moved out of the biker bar like establishment and into more polished surroundings.
  • Re: Chicago Style Pizza

    Tue, January 8, 2008 - 7:06 AM
    I know I have seen Unos in California. Maybe they aren t everywhere yet.

    I saw this thing on the food network or something about Chicago pizza vs. New York pizza. It was funny. People are very territorial about their pizza styles. They took pizzas to firehouses in NY, Chicago & California to see what the conoisseurs of take-out pizza, firefighters, had to say. Some of the comments were great.
    • Re: Chicago Style Pizza

      Tue, January 8, 2008 - 8:47 AM
      Hey Samantha, I did have one in California and it just wasn't the same. =(

      Oh I'm very territorial about my pizza styles, but I'm territorial to two styles not just one! I love real chicago style and thin Neapolitan/New York style (preferably from a wood fire oven)...and nothing in between. The soggy doughy crap sold in most places around this country just disappoints me every time. ;-)

      That television show sounds hilarious, I'll try to track it down!
      • Re: Chicago Style Pizza

        Tue, January 8, 2008 - 9:49 PM
        I'll admit I have never actually been to Chicago so I haven't had the real thing! So Uno, as it is nationally, isn't really like Chicago pizza?

        I have similar nostalgia for the Mexican food of California now that I'm on the eat coast.
        • Re: Chicago Style Pizza

          Wed, January 9, 2008 - 4:56 AM
          In my limited experiences it hasn't been the same..of course maybe I'm just cranky and biased that way.

          I know what you mean about cal-mex food, you can teach food service people the recipes but they won't know the soul of it.

        • Re: Chicago Style Pizza

          Wed, January 9, 2008 - 6:30 PM
          uno is a watered down reproduction of the real thing
          chain restaurant portion-controlled sillyness
          • Re: Chicago Style Pizza

            Wed, January 9, 2008 - 7:47 PM
            I seem to have good luck at the "original" basement location, the chain Unos leave me wanting. It's also the most accessible place I know in Chicago...though if anyone can direct me to another (and better) pizzeria near downtown I'll add to my list for my next visit. =)
  • Re: Chicago Style Pizza

    Tue, January 8, 2008 - 12:44 PM
    there are very few places outside of chicago that can do it well ...

    but i love a good one with extra cheese and chunky tomatoes and sausage

    oh yeah baby

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