Where is America’s best pizza? Lawmakers slice into an old debate

One of the nation’s most contentious debates came to Congress on Wednesday. “What is the pizza capital of the United States?”

The answer depends on who you ask.

Connecticut Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D) sparked conversation by hosting an event on the House steps and declaring New Haven, Connecticut, the best place for a slice. After handing out boxes of famous Frank Pepe’s Pizzeria, New Haven’s pride and joy since 1925, DeLauro delivered a speech on the House floor proclaiming Connecticut as the “Pizza State” and New Haven as the “Pizza Capital of America.”

“There’s something special about New Haven apitza,” she said on the House floor, using the local pronunciation of the city’s apitza. “Some say it’s the coal fires, some say it’s the brick ovens. Some say it’s the charring. Some say it’s the water we use to make the dough. Personally, I think it’s the dedication to craftsmanship over generations.”

“Words can’t describe something that only you can experience. If you think other pizzas are as good as New Haven pizza, you haven’t tried New Haven pizza.” said Rep. Jim Himes (Democratic), who also represents Nutmeg. he told The Hill. “Connecticut is the Tom Brady of pizza.”

Others called out to me, although they weren’t very fast.

Lawmakers representing districts in New York, the Chicago area and suburban Detroit criticized Mr. DeLauro’s declaration, lashing out at the popular pizza joint in each district as the best in the long-running debate over which place has the best cheese pie. insisted.

“It’s ridiculous,” Rep. Marc Molinaro (R-New York), a self-described pizza “expert,” told The Hill. “They’re fooling themselves and setting themselves up for total disappointment. New York is the pizza capital of the world.”

Molinaro said his first job was at a pizza shop, where he worked for 10 years, “throwing dough,” and learned the secrets of New York pizza while on the job.

“I know why New York pizza is better than theirs. It’s the water, the dough, and the personality,” he says. “Our pizza has its own personality.”

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who hails from the Bronx, responded simply to DeLauro: “I vehemently oppose it.”

Heading towards the Midwest, people near Chicago and Detroit tell a different story.

Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky, whose district includes parts of Chicago, said Chicago deep-dish style is the best pizza and criticized DeLauro, whom she called a “dear friend” despite their bitter differences, for having “bad taste in pizza.”

“I adore my dear friend Rosa DeLauro, but I honestly had no idea she had such poor taste in pizza. There’s no question that Chicago deep dish reigns supreme,” Schakowsky said. “I think I need to give her a taste of real pizza!”

Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) agreed, supporting the tavern style, which offers Chicagoans a thin, crispy alternative to heavier burgers, as well as the infamous but controversial deep-dish style.

“I respect and appreciate all the advice my mentor, Congresswoman DeLauro, has given me, but when it comes to pizza, she’s wrong,” Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-IL) chimed in. “The pizza capital of the world is in Chicago, in the Midwest, 868.4 miles from New Haven. She should try deep dish pizza or tavern style pizza.”

But for lawmakers representing Michigan, especially when they’re competing against candidates from New Haven, New York and Chicago, Detroit’s Pan Style Pizza is the best option for a slice of pizza.

Rep. Lisa McClain (D-Mich.), vice chair of the Republican conference, beat out her rivals in the campaign for that quad corner of the Motor City.

“Detroit style pizza is hands down the best pizza in the country,” McClain said. “New Haven and New York pizza is too thin. Chicago pizza is basically lasagna. Detroit style is light and crispy and done the right way. It doesn’t get any better than this!”

“My friend in Connecticut can’t win. We’re advocating pizza in our cars,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.).

She listed several pizza chains based in Michigan: Domino’s Pizza, Little Caesars, Hungry Howie’s and Jet’s Pizza.

“We really appreciate different styles of pizza,” she added. “There’s no way Jose can claim that title in Connecticut.”

But not every lawmaker wanted to weigh in on which city has the best pizza in America. Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York, who represents part of Long Island, gave DeLauro some reservations, noting her high ranking on the powerful Appropriations Committee.

“Listen, New Haven has great pizza. I love Rosa DeLauro and she’s the top Democrat on spending, so I always praise her pizza,” he said.

Meanwhile, Rep. Dan Goldman of New York recused himself from the debate and focused squarely on his belief that New York has the best bagels since founding the House Bagel Caucus last year. He told The Hill that he intended to do so.

“The only thing I can tell you is, having gone to college in New Haven and having enjoyed New Haven pizza so much, I’m going to stick to my firm view that New York bagels are the best,” says Goldman, a University of New Haven graduate and Yale University graduate from New Haven. “I can only focus on one food.”