What is Detroit Style Pizza?

EVERYONE wants to know "WHAT IS DETROIT STYLE PIZZA?" 

Detroit style pizza is also known as Detroit deep dish pizza, Detroit pan pizza, Detroit red top pizza or Detroit square pizza. Most people outside of Detroit have never even heard about our Motor City secret, but that’s OK, because if you like pizza, you’ll love Detroit style pizza!

 

Detroit style is a style of pizza developed in 1946 in Detroit, Michigan. It’s a square pizza descended from Sicilian style, with a light airy crispy crust, layered with mozzarella, white cheddar and Wisconsin brick cheese blend, toppings, and a rich tomato sauce enhanced with fresh basil and oregano. The square shape is the result of being baked in square steel pans, which were designed to hold small automotive parts in Detroit’s automobile factories.

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The crust of Detroit style pizza is exceptionally unique, because it’s a higher hydration level similar to focaccia dough, proofed well, then baked in a well oiled steel pan, giving the edges of the crust a fried, buttery, crunchy texture, while the inside of the dough has a light, airy texture.

HOW WE MAKE IT:

1. We start with a light, airy focaccia style dough, letting it proof for hours

2. Place Wisconsin brick, mozzarella & white cheddar cheese blend on top, all the way to the edges

3. Add the toppings over the cheese

4. Sprinkle on Motor City pizza sauce

5. Bake at 500 degrees for around 12 minutes, until the cheese edges are caramelized

 

Amazing flavor! One bite of the real, authentic Detroit style pizza says it all: it’s unlike any pizza you’ve ever tasted before. The crispy edges, soft and chewy inside crust creates a one of a kind, delicious consistency, and the flavor is the reason why people are craving Detroit style pizza nationwide!

HOW DETROIT STYLE PIZZA STARTED:

In 1946 Detroit’s industrial plants resumed manufacturing automobiles after years of producing tanks, Jeeps and B-24 bombers, in support of America’s war effort. 1946 was the year Gus Guerra proved that Caddy’s and Fords weren’t the only brilliant innovations to roll out of Detroit, he created the world’s first Detroit style pizza, on the corner of Conant and Six Mile on the east side.

 

Buddy’s Rendezvous, a Prohibition era speakeasy (“a blind pig,” in Detroiter lingo) that he had turned into a legitimate business, Gus recognized the returning soldiers hunger for something different. His wife prepared pizza dough from the recipes of her Sicilian mother. He covered the dough with pepperoni, cheese and a rich tomato sauce. The 1st authentic Detroit style pizza was born. Detroit style pizza quickly became a neighborhood favorite, then slowly became a staple of Detroit’s best cuisine. Today, dozens of pizzerias in Detroit and beyond continue to serve authentic Detroit deep dish pizza, a true slice of Americana.

HOW DETROIT STYLE PIZZA SPREAD:

Buddy’s Rendezvous eventually became “Buddy’s”, while different owners, cooks and chefs have copied Gus’s original pizza recipe and carried it to new restaurants. All of them are thriving and each has its own loyal fan base.  Asking Detroiters who has the best Detroit syle is a great way to start a quality argument!

 

As the economy in Michigan has struggled recently, native Detroiters have relocated all over the country. In recent years this style of pizza has seen a huge growth in popularity around the United States as native Detroiters have started spreading the word about our secret pizza style. Now America's finest pizza is finally available in America's Finest City!