Pizza Puff

Is there already a Thread on this? I couldn't seem to find one.

Maybe some history on the Chicago fast food guilty pleasure staple?

All I know is $3.99 (typical dog stand price) is outrageous, with them usually $1 frozen, or $1.29-$1.50 at the Jewel deli counter (although if they weren't fried in the previous ten minutes, they can be soggy grease-balls).

Some info from Iltaco's website:

Established in 1927, originally named (IL) linois (TA) male (CO) mpany, was known for making the most delicious tamales in the frozen food business. Condiments and hot tamales were supplied to the old push cart vendors in the financial district of Chicago as well as throughout the city. Iltaco Foods tried their luck at manufacturing other products like chili, tacos, and Italian beef and eventually introduced the one and only "Original" Pizza Puff. Initially, the product was distributed throughout the Chicagoland and Midwest.

I haven't had one in years but when they're right, they're righteous!

=R=

I like em for the most part.

My favorite being from Carlitos Way Pizza (RIP) on archer and haynes in Bridgeport. This thing was homemade and was only $3.50 and was amazing. It was basically one of the Panzarottis which is basically a Calzone, but, he called em pizza puffs.

Better believe ill go for a quick Pizza Puff combo at Johnnie O's with fries and a pop for $3.25 on the way home after work. Just something about them ill always like. Some much more than others.

ronnie_suburban wrote:Some info from Iltaco's website:

Established in 1927, originally named (IL) linois (TA) male (CO) mpany, was known for making the most delicious tamales in the frozen food business. Condiments and hot tamales were supplied to the old push cart vendors in the financial district of Chicago as well as throughout the city. Iltaco Foods tried their luck at manufacturing other products like chili, tacos, and Italian beef and eventually introduced the one and only "Original" Pizza Puff. Initially, the product was distributed throughout the Chicagoland and Midwest.

I haven't had one in years but when they're right, they're righteous!

=R=

Nice. I always knew they were a Chicago creation.

Also you are correct! when right, they are a perfectly righteous snack on the go.

One of my guiltiest of pleasures. I pretty much made it through high school lunch on a diet of pizza puffs and coke at ETHS in the late 80s.

When I worked in Bannockburn one of my favorite lunches was a hot dog and pizza puff from Dear Franks or the same from The Dogout. Maybe why I put on a few pounds.....

My go-to late night sop at my dearly departed Wicker Park dog ~located at the crotch in the apex of the Flat Iron Building, back when, you know, the neighborhood was cool. It was like $2 and some change for a palate-searing puff stuffed in a bag overflowing with their excellent house cut fries. Douse that $hit with their plentiful hot sauce from the big ass squeeze bottle= $$$.

Also, cool that the Italco factory is just down the street from me, south of Grand off Noble St.

Mmm, craving one right now...

Bluto11 wrote:When I worked in Bannockburn one of my favorite lunches was a hot dog and pizza puff from Dear Franks or the same from The Dogout. Maybe why I put on a few pounds.....

I generally tend to lose weight when I eat puffs. Well, I guess I'd have to get net weight comparisons after a few hours. I LOVE those things, but I only eat one every few years or so these days. My guts just ain't what they used to be. I'm still considered the billy goat of the fam, but puffs are my belly's kryptonite. Dammit, I'm kinda thinking it's been a while...

SOOOOO -

Our vendeteria at the ol workplace has a machine filled with some frozen atrocities, including the famed Iltaco Pizza Puff. In a rush, bought one a few days ago, and nuked it up in its handy dandy "crisping sleeve." Scarfed it down, and loved it, although it seemed MUCH spicier than I recalled from days of yore. Checked the packaging in the trash. I'd been duped. "TACO Puff!"

It was muhfkn fantastic, yo.

So I shared this story with a few cubicle inmates, and wound up on the Iltaco site.

GYROS PUFF? RUEBEN PUFF?l

I suspect them to be horrid, BUT got to thinkin'...If the pizza puff and taco puff are grossly delicious, then why can't a gyros or rueben puff follow suit?
Any intel?????

seebee wrote:SOOOOO -

Our vendeteria at the ol workplace has a machine filled with some frozen atrocities, including the famed Iltaco Pizza Puff. In a rush, bought one a few days ago, and nuked it up in its handy dandy "crisping sleeve." Scarfed it down, and loved it, although it seemed MUCH spicier than I recalled from days of yore. Checked the packaging in the trash. I'd been duped. "TACO Puff!"

It was muhfkn fantastic, yo.

So I shared this story with a few cubicle inmates, and wound up on the Iltaco site.

GYROS PUFF? RUEBEN PUFF?l

I suspect them to be horrid, BUT got to thinkin'...If the pizza puff and taco puff are grossly delicious, then why can't a gyros or rueben puff follow suit?
Any intel?????

A couple years ago we had a short discussion of gyros puffs.

I believe the one I managed a bite of was made by a company other than Iltaco. I'd describe it as grossly atrocious.

That thing looks terrifying