National Pizza Day is February 9th and one Midwestern city is poised to take over as America's favorite slice of pizza.
According to Statista, pizza restaurant sales reached an all-time high of $46.9 billion in 2022. In the first quarter of 2023, a survey found that pizza was the most ordered type of fast food in the United States and the most ordered type across all age groups.
While many of the leading chains like Domino's, Pizza Hut and Little Caesars sell round pies ranging from New York style to Chicago deep dish, Michigan City style pizza is becoming increasingly popular.
Detroit-style pizza is a rectangular pan pizza characterized by a thick, often crispy and chewy crust.
The pie is said to have been invented over 75 years ago at Buddy's Pizza in the Motor City by Gus Guerra and a group of friends.
Detroit-style pizza is a rectangular pan pizza characterized by a thick, often crispy and chewy crust
In 1946, Buddy's baked the cakes in forged steel pans borrowed from local automobile factories.
“Influenced by the Sicilian-style square pizza, Detroit Style Pizza continues to impress pizza lovers with its unique layered structure and stunning presentation,” the restaurant’s website says.
“The style turns traditional pizza on its head by starting with double-risen dough that fits perfectly into a square shape – a process that allows the dough to rise and be stretched twice – followed by the reverse layering of the toppings. “
The toppings are placed directly on the dough and then topped with a Wisconsin brick cheese blend created specifically for Buddy's.
According to the Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, brick cheese is deliciously mild when young, with just a hint of nuttiness. However, give it some time to age and it moves into more complex, spicier and even spicier territory.”
Finally, three strips of sauce are spread over the pizza before it is put into the oven to bake.
Chicago-style pizzas can be prepared in a variety of ways, including the usual deep bowl (pictured) or stuffed pie, as well as a thin-crust version
New York Style Pies are large, hand-tossed, thin-crust pizzas that are pliable enough to fold
'[It’s] probably the crispy, crunchy edges and bottom with the pillowy soft interior dough. “It's a great way to get the pizza to the people,” Jeremy Damaske, owner of Pie Sci Pizza in Detroit, which sells 700 to 1,000 Detroit-style pies a week, told the website Wealth of Geeks.
“We have a lot of people from out of town who come here specifically to eat Detroit-style pizza.” “I would say the vast majority of the response is very positive,” Damaske said.
Motown-style pizzas are available across the country and have earned their reputation as a top pizza destination.
According to a report published by Pizza Hut, the average American consumes a whopping 288 slices each year.
Overall, people in the US eat pizza three times a month, with North Dakota leading the way at 3.5 times a month.
The report was commissioned by Pizza Hut between December 22, 2023 and January 5, 2024 and surveyed 5,000 American adults.
St. Louis pizza is made with a thin crust and cut into squares rather than wedges
California pizzas are a twist on the New York style with toppings from Golden State cuisine
Other popular cuts include New York Style, Chicago Deep Dish, California Pizza and St. Louis Pie.
New York Style Pies are large, hand-tossed, thin-crust pizzas that are pliable enough to fold.
Chicago-style pizzas can be prepared in a variety of ways, including the usual deep-dish or stuffed pie, as well as a thin-crust version.
California pizzas are a twist on the New York style with toppings from Golden State cuisine.
St. Louis pizza is made with a thin crust and cut into squares rather than wedges.