Food, life

A Question about Pizza

Lori

Chicago hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches and best of all deep dish pizza. Oh, how I missed those hometown specialties when I lived in Florida.

I didn’t eat hot dogs at all when I lived in the freak-show Sunshine State, because anything other than Vienna Beef tastes like bologna to me. I don’t like bologna.


I ate pizza in Florida every once in a while, and I needed to resort to one of the usual chains. Dominoes, Little Caeser’s, Pizza Hut (blech), Papa John’s (my usual Florida choice), etc. There are a lot of pizza chains, but none come close to the delectable Chicago joints.

The Chicago pizza chains started out as small mom-and-pop establishments, places like Giordano’s, Uno’s, Lou Malnati’s. There are plenty more lone pizza places here, just as good, selling both deep dish and thin crust.


Speaking of thin crust pizza . . . in Chicago it’s always cut in squares. If it’s cut in triangles, they are not serving Chicago pizza. What’s that you say? Something about folding pizza slices? Umm, no. Thin crust is crispy, not foldable or oily (unless one tops it with a lot of greasy meets).


Here’s my question, now that I’m back in the Chicago area, I don’t understand it when I see a Dominoes or Papa John’s delivery vehicle. With literally hundreds of local Chicago haunts to order five-star pizza, who on earth orders one that tastes like it was made by Chef Boyardee?

I don’t get it.

Is there a particular food or restaurant that your local town/city is known for? Would you order that same food from a cracker-jack chain?

Published by Lori

Observer, thinker, learner, analyzer, and author. Love dogs. Enjoy cooking, laughing and spiritual centering.

21 thoughts on “A Question about Pizza”

    1. Oh that fresh fish sounds glorious. I miss that from Florida. You probably wouldn’t buy fish & chips from Long John Silvers. In case you aren’t aware, it’s a fast food seafood restaurant in the U.S.

      Thanks for sharing, Andrea. Have a lovely weekend.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. We have a restaurant in town known for its giant sweet rolls. They are bigger than your hand. Bigger than two hands. People come from far & wide for these sweet rolls. When we were raising kids we’d sometimes buy one and slice it for a treat during camping. Haven’t eaten one in many many years. Wouldn’t eat one at a fast food chain either. 🙂

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    1. Ooh, those sweet rolls sound heavenly. You’ll have to let me know where they are if I ever make it to your neck of the woods (unintended pun). Thanks for sharing, Kathy. Have a nice “new-jeans” weekend. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Not literally in answer to your question, but still relevant, I think: When we lived in the Bay Area we had some guests who we took to Fisherman’s Wharf, etc. Whenever we’d go into the City, we relished the street carts filled with fresh clam chowders and other delectable treats…they however sought out the new McDonald’s (newly opened on the Wharf in the 1980’s) for their needed ‘nourishment’…UGH!

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    1. McDONALD’S!! Sorry, I don’t ever yell, but what the heck? Maybe they’re the same ones ordering Dominoes instead of Gino’s.

      Thanks for sharing, Laura.

      Liked by 1 person

        1. Ahh, the southside. So, this is open still today from 1959? Pretty cool. Far from me. I only went through Harvey when we used to drive to Indiana to see my in-laws. Is that where you grew up?

          Liked by 1 person

          1. Well, Uncle Al sold it in the ’90’s I think – and I can’t vouch for the sausage quality at this point!!!!HA! Cousins drove delivery trucks during their teen years!
            Most of the Family are Southsiders, but Dad was the independent rebel…he moved us to the North suburbs while I was growing up for safer living conditions in the mid 60’s (amazingly very diverse community) then to Colorado in 1969 related to his own achievements in his working situation.
            Hence, I claim dual roots!

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            1. Interesting. My dad didn’t like change, so we lived in one house throughout my childhood. When we outgrew that four room house, he put on an addition so we didn’t have to move. We were in the NW burbs. (Aside: would you believe he just moved to Wisconsin? Go figure.).

              I enjoyed learning more about you. Thank you for sharing.

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  4. Why anyone in Chicago would buy any pizza from Dominoes or Papa John’s or Pizza Hut is beyond me!

    Best dog? Gene & Jude’s in River Grove. They have NO ketchup on the premises. If you want it, they first, berate you, then tell you there’s a McDonald’s next door. That’s Chicago!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. I know, right? Pizza Hut. Ack!

      The last time I was in River Grove was at Thirsty Whale. Ha. Dating myself, now. I used to live closer then. It’s a bit of a drive for me now, but I’ll have to make it out to Gene & Jude’s sometime.

      Ketchup? What’s that? 😉

      Thanks for the nice comment, David.

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    1. Hi Jill. I know Chicago is known for deep dish, but the thin crust places are just as good. We have an excellent one right near my house that I have to avoid, otherwise I’ll keep putting on the lbs.

      Sweet tea and ribs. I’ll have to remember that next time I’m NC. Thanks for sharing, Jill. 🙂

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    1. Hi Anneli. In Florida we had lots of choices, too, but none good. So my kitchen was the best place to eat. Here, I still eat in my own kitchen to be healthy, but every once in a while I indulge.

      And you’re right, pizza squares are much more manageable. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I haven’t visited Chicago for a few years now but I remember the pizza as being heavenly. I love thin crust and it was sooo good. 🙂

    I’m a big believer in supporting local business (apart from the fact that in Chicago local = delectable) and I don’t get that either. Maybe it’s cheaper? Maybe it’s newbies and they just don’t know where to order? But then again, maybe it’s a choice. I’m blown away by someone who will eat a fast food burger over homemade. I am back in the north and right now, the best resto I know is in my kitchen. 🙂

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    2. Hi Lynette. I think maybe Little Caeser’s is about the only one that might be cheaper. All the other cracker-jack pizza chains are comparable to the independents.

      I know what you mean about your own kitchen. That’s pretty much how I felt about eating in Florida. My own kitchen was better than the restaurants. In Chicago I still cook because I need to eat healthy but indulge on occasion.

      Thank you for sharing, and if you’re ever back in Chicago, let’s meet at a pizza place. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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