Travels to New Haven, Chicago, and New York.
In the United States, a new urban signature style is gaining popularity – Detroit.
Ahead of National Pizza Day on February 9th, here’s a quick look at the history of Detroit-style pizza and why this pie is becoming so popular.
For those unfamiliar, Detroit-style pizza is a square pie with a crunchier crust than New York pizza.
The website for Buddy’s Pizza, the restaurant that claims to have invented Detroit-style pizza, states, “Influenced by the square Sicilian-style pizza, Detroit-style pizza always delights pizza lovers with its unique layered structure and exquisite presentation. Inspiring,” it says.
Unlike standard pizza, which covers the sauce with cheese and tops it with additional toppings, Detroit-style pizza does the opposite.
“The pepperoni is placed directly on top of the dough, so the rich flavor of the meat is absorbed into the dough,” says Buddy’s Pizza.
Detroit-style pizza uses Wisconsin brick cheese on top of the pepperoni instead of the more common mozzarella, Parmesan, or a blend of the two.
“First made in the late 1800s and named after the bricks used to press the curds, brick cheese is derived from white American cheddar, but is grown at higher temperatures to contain more fat. amount and different protein structures are produced,” says Wisconsin Farmers on the Dairy Products Association website.
According to a Wisconsin dairy farmer, Wisconsin brick cheese has a “slightly soft taste and a clean aftertaste.”
According to Buddy’s Pizza, sauce is spread on top in three wide stripes and the pizza is baked.
Although this form of pizza may seem unusual, it has remained extremely popular for nearly 80 years since it was first created.
“[It’s] Perhaps it’s the crunchy edges and bottom and the pillowy soft inner dough. “This is a great way to get pizza to people,” Jeremy Damask, owner of Pai Sai Pizza in Detroit, told the website Wealth of Geeks. The company sells 700 to 1,000 Detroit-style pies each week.
“We have a lot of out-of-towners who come especially for the Detroit-style pizza. I think the vast majority of reactions have been very positive,” Damask said.
Although the pizza now known as “Detroit-style” was invented in the 1940s, the name didn’t actually come into being until the 1980s, Wealth of Geeks said.
“First described as such in trade publications in the 1980s, the term became more popular when a former Metro Detroit-owned Texas pizza shop called its product Detroit-style pizza. It has spread,” they said.
In 2024, Detroit-style pizza can now be found across the United States, far beyond its origins in Michigan’s largest city.
“When you think of pizza, a lot of places come to mind, like Chicago and New York,” Emily Daunt, vice president of communications and brand strategy for the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association, told Wealth of Geeks.
“But Michigan is home to nationally known franchises like Little Caesars, Domino’s, Hungry Howie’s and Jet’s Pizza, as well as nearly 3,000 other pizzerias in the state, so this is a big deal for Pie. It’s a pretty big part,” she continued.
Detroit itself is leaning into the popularity of its famous pizza.
In October, an organization called Visit Detroit launched the Detroit Pizza Pass, which people can sign up for on their cell phones.
“Passport holders can earn points by checking in at participating pizza locations and redeem them for exciting prizes (Detroit Pizza Hut, aprons, shirts, stickers) in the Rewards Store,” says Visit Detroit says.
“Detroit’s pizza tradition is unlike any other, and with the Detroit Pizza Pass, visitors can taste it all. It’s a celebration of our city’s culinary creativity and an invitation to I can’t wait to take you on a delicious journey,” said Visit Detroit Chairman Claude Molinari.
