Jon Stewart rails on Chicago-style pizza

In case you missed it, Jon Stewart went off on a very funny rant last night about Chicago-style pizza. Unfortunately, I cannot imbed it here but it's definitely worth a view. The pizza portion begins at about 3:20 into the clip.

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I saw the John Stewart rant about Chicago pizza & hotdogs. I lived in NYC for nearly 20 years, and never developed a taste for New York pizza. Somehow, I just don't think pizza should be flacid.

The Rahmfather has responded

Rahm Emanuel has sent a clear message to Jon Stewart.

"Jon, deep dish with dead fish," reads the handwritten note above two deep dish pizzas topped with anchovies. "Love, Rahm."

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tcdup wrote:I saw the John Stewart rant about Chicago pizza & hotdogs. I lived in NYC for nearly 20 years, and never developed a taste for New York pizza. Somehow, I just don't think pizza should be flacid.

Pizza is a category, not a thing. It's like steak; you can have filet, ribeye, skirt steak, "minute" steak with added variation as to source (e.g. Wagyu). A good example of New York style can be very enjoyable and sometimes, in context (e.g. grabbing a slice on the way to Yankee Stadium), it can be truly great.

So consider me an adherent to "there's no such thing as bad sex or bad pizza." I like all pizza Chicago has to offer, be it cracker crust, pan, stuffed, Spacca Napoli's Neapolitan, Jimmy's New York style. You name it. (And I have a nostalgic yearning for frozen Tombstone pizzas cooked up in a toaster oven behind the bar in any number of Wisconsin backwoods taverns in the 70's. I may have been too young to drink - legally - but just the right age for pizza.)

Personally, I just thought the rant was hilarious, which is why I posted it here.

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ronnie_suburban wrote:Personally, I just thought the rant was hilarious, which is why I posted it here.

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It was one of his better bits. The accent really drove it home.

It was pretty funny . . . but he went too far when he took shots at Chicago hot dogs!

Kman wrote:It was pretty funny . . . but he went too far when he took shots at Chicago hot dogs!

I agree; that was uncalled for. "Tomato soup in a bread bowl" was pretty funny.

Phil Rosenthal, in tomorrow's Tribune business section:

What diminishes Chicago is not a TV comedian's critique of local cuisine, experts concluding a tall building is no longer the tallest, or any number of affronts this city seems to take almost daily at the judgments of others. It's our response that defines us, and our track record is spotty.

Hah. It's a pretty typical criticism of deep dish (I mean, who hasn't heard the argument "it's not pizza, it's a casserole"?) but it was very well played. (Plus, I can't say I'm a huge fan of deep dish myself--plus, it's not cornbread at most places, and the picture looks to me like a Giordano's stuffed pizza, which I guess is a variety of deep dish, but not quintessential Chicago deep dish.) Shit, I'm already thinking about this too much. Anyhow, funny stuff from a funny guy.

Binko wrote:Hah. It's a pretty typical criticism of deep dish (I mean, who hasn't heard the argument "it's not pizza, it's a casserole"?) but it was very well played. (Plus, I can't say I'm a huge fan of deep dish myself--plus, it's not cornbread at most places, and the picture looks to me like a Giordano's stuffed pizza, which I guess is a variety of deep dish, but not quintessential Chicago deep dish.) Shit, I'm already thinking about this too much. Anyhow, funny stuff from a funny guy.

What he said, but I do have a reply for Jon. What more do I need to add?

Enjoy.

Remarkable video, ddickson. Thanks for posting it.

Jon Stewart Calls a Truce, Declares Chicago Pizza 'Very Tasty'

David Hammond wrote:Remarkable video, ddickson. Thanks for posting it.

Yes. Truly awesome!

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dicksond wrote:
What he said, but I do have a reply for Jon. What more do I need to add?

Enjoy.

Great video. My mom was born in Chicago and grew up on Lake Shore Drive. The year of this video would be about one year before mom got married. I'm sending the link to her, as I'm sure she'll love it. Thank you.