Buzz
April 5 marks National Deep Dish Pizza Day. While it may be some time since the event, there's always a good reason to enjoy one of Chicago's beloved dishes. But who is the mastermind behind it?
Sadly, the true inventor of this iconic pizza remains unknown, as there is no official record. However, what is certain is that Pizzeria Uno, a Chicago-based chain, plays a key role in its history. Tracing the origins of the pie leads back to a 19th-century mansion located at 29 E. Ohio St., which is now the home of Pizzeria Uno, as reported by the Chicago Tribune.
Business partners and mansion residents Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo initially aimed to open a Mexican restaurant. However, after test runs left Riccardo feeling unwell, the plan was scrapped. Since Riccardo was Italian, the duo pivoted to pizza as their backup plan.
Initially named The Pizzeria, their restaurant opened in 1943 with the aim of offering a Chicago-specific, Americanized version of pizza. The outcome was a hearty, cake-like pizza with melting cheese and sausage in the middle, all topped with a savory sauce.
Of course, Chicagoans were no strangers to pizza before the deep dish phenomenon. The first American pizzeria opened in Manhattan in 1905, and pizza quickly gained popularity after World War II. While pizza was common in Chicago during the '40s, the pie from The Pizzeria (which later became Pizzeria Uno in 1955) gained fame for its distinct design and impressive heft.
Although Sewell and Riccardo are credited with founding the restaurant that made deep dish famous, they likely weren't the creators of the innovative pizza style. Neither had cooking experience, making it improbable they came up with an entirely new recipe themselves.
So, who could the elusive chef behind the iconic Chicago pizza be? A strong candidate is Adolpho "Rudy" Malnati, Sr., an Italian-born bartender at Pizzeria Uno. His son, Rudy Malnati Jr., possesses a 1956 news clipping that credits his father with establishing Pizzeria Uno. In 1991, Rudy Jr. opened his own renowned pizzeria, Pizano's.
Other employees from Pizzeria Uno are also thought to have contributed to the creation of the deep dish style. Many went on to serve up their own versions of the pizza at various establishments. Alice May Redmond, a former Uno's cook, later moved on to bake pies at Gino’s East.
Sadly, the identity of the person who created the iconic Chicago delicacy may remain a mystery. "It's a riddle, hidden inside a pie crust. With each passing day, it seems to slip further away from history," said Jeff Ruby, co-author of *Everybody Loves Pizza*, in an interview with the Chicago Tribune.
(Note: This article originally appeared on April 5, 2015—National Deep Dish Pizza Day!)
