Justice Scalia rules: Deep dish is not pizza
Deep dish pizza has really been taking it on the chin lately. First we learn that 91% of the time, Chicago residents order regular pizza, not deep dish pizza. Then Jon Stewart went on a rampage against deep dish pizza, calling it "a f***ing casserole." And now comes the news that Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has officially ruled that deep dish pizza is not technically pizza.
Scalia was addressing the Union League Club of Chicago's 126th annual George Washington's Birthday celebration at the time. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, Scalia commented that deep dish pizza is "very tasty, but it's not pizza."
Many people have been quick to point out that this ruling is not official, and is therefore non-binding. However, the facts are the facts: a Supreme Court Justice has gone on record with this assertion.
As early as 2011, Scalia is quoted as saying that he believed deep dish pizza should be called "tomato pie," and not pizza. He clarified that "real pizza" is Neapolitan style, with a thin crust, and chewy, crispy texture.
Scalia, who was born in New Jersey and raised in New York, has also said that New York's pizza is "infinitely better" than Chicago's traditional pizza offerings.
Scalia also spoke out against America's educational deficits, lamenting the fact that kids these days don't even read The Federalist Papers in school, and extolling the virtues of "a course of study rich in American history and the glories of the American system of government." It was probably a pretty good speech, but all anyone really remembers is the bit about the pizza.
I have to give the man credit; it takes a lot of guts to make fun of Chicago style deep dish pizza IN CHICAGO. No record was made of the audience's reaction, but I am willing to believe it was not great.
Image courtesy Flickr/British Mum