Eat Up! – Gino’s East Pizzeria

Chatty as I am, there’s no way I could do justice to the rich culinary culture of Chicago in a single post, so I’ve decided to start small. (Not that deep-dish pizza and “small” have anything to do with each other!)

Ah, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. Is there any food more sinful that isn’t somehow deep-fried? Actually, with a full complement of protein (sausage), dairy (cheese), grain (crust) and fruit (tomato sauce), deep-dish pizza packs a lot of nourishment into its calorie content, so you shouldn’t be wary to have a slice or two the next time you pass through the Windy City.

Invented by the Pizzeria Uno in 1943, Chicago-style deep-dish pizza is a beast unto itself. It starts with a thick oil-based dough which is stretched up the side of a deep pan. After par-baking the crust, the bottom is layered with a solid wall of cheese, then a layer of meats, typically Italian sausage, then the veg and finally the tomato sauce which will be thicker, heartier and tangier than your average takeout sauce. The result is a dense, ooey, gooey and ridiculously delicious pizza that can fill you up in one slice and will have you breaking out the knife and fork.

Of course, you can get all manner of toppings, or in this case fillings, but we encourage you to start simple. With so much going on in every bite, you might find the simpler the pie, the more you’re able to enjoy the basic ingredients. Also be warned that pizzas of this mass take time, far longer than your typical takeout. When you head to the parlor, be prepared to spend at least an hour.

Now, Pizzeria Uno may have invented the prodigious pie, but our informal office survey has declared the reigning king of Chicago-style deep-dish to be Gino’s East. Another popular choice, with roots back to 1954, Gino’s has the price, the atmosphere, and of course the pizza to win over us all.

Now here’s the best part: you can have a great trip to Chicago and have an authentic Chicago-style deep-dish pizza at Gino’s East for next to no effort when you stay at the Embassy Suites Chicago – North Shore / Deerfield. A fine choice in Chicago area hotels, the ES Deerfield has a Gino’s East location on-site. They even have pizza packages for their rooms. Awesome!

Eat well, traveler.

Logo used with permission.

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