Obama's 'Pizza Policy Is Going To Have To Change': Lou Malnati's Owner

CHICAGO — The news is hitting Chicago deep dish pizza makers' eye like a big pizza pie.

President Barack Obama is having 140 people over to the White House Friday night for a some deep-dish pizza _ St. Louis deep dish pizza.

It seems during his campaign he had pizza from a restaurant called Pi in St. Louis. That's the story Pi assistant manager Lindsey Tornetto tells.

Whatever happened, the restaurant says the owner and his partner packed dough, cheese and pizza pans in their suitcases and flew to Washington.

It all has Marc Malnati _ owner of 30 Lou Malnati's Pizzarias in the Chicago area _ shaking his head. He says he likes Obama's economic policy, but thinks the president's pizza policy should change.

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Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com

Comments

[Myshkin57]

Lou Malnati's is my favorite pizza and I always make a point of going there when I'm in Chicago. I have no idea why a Chicagoan would get pizza from St. Louis when there are at least a few pizza places in Chicago better than pretty much any other pizza places anywhere else in the world.

[regulargal]

I've lived in both St. Louis and Chicago each for more than 15 years. I have long prefered St. Louis thin crust pizza over Chicago deep dish.

[LauraVW]

I bet Capt. Richard Phillips would like a piece of that pizza. Some people get to have all the fun.

[cmarmonhalm]

Should we all starve until the captain returns?

[NCYvonne]

The owner was on MSNBC. He said his girlfriend lives in DC. He was going to visit her anyway . . . via commercial plane (so not adding to the carbon footprint, as some wingers claim to worry about).

He pointed out that this is not costing the taxpayer a dime. The president stopped in his parlor on the campaign trail and said he loved his pizza. So the owner offered to do this for the president and the president accepted.

The owner is paying for EVERYTHING himself, including plane tickets--because he "loves the preisdent and it's an honor to do this for him."

It's also great advertisement for his business. No other way would he make national news.

[hotwire]

No, he loves the publicity, that's what he loves, period.

[NCYvonne]

And you know this how?

[Jorge Trimboli]

My dear friends...the day that you have the opportunity to taste São Paulo's pizzas you will change your pizza concepts. How could I do for Mr. Obama and his cute family taste this extraordinary Brazilian-Sao Paulo's pizza? I am just following U.S.' recommendations: global commerce for everybody!

[NyPrincess]

St. Louis? He should have ordered it from NY. Everyone knows we make the best pizza!

[RedKnuckles]

Exactly! I grew up in Michigan, now live in Portland, and pizza is my favorite food. NY pizza is the absolute best!

[rdiaz921]

I have lived in Michigan and in NY. I travel to Chicago.

New York City pizza is the $hi..it.

[NyPrincess]

Ah, no it's not. It was put to a test against Chicago pizza and NY pizza won hands down. Perhaps your palate just needs to mature a bit.

[JustMe133]

I don't blame Obama. Here in Al I crave a decent pizza from NY. They just can't make them down here!

[seasun]

As a New Yorker, I must say NY produces some of the best Pizza in the US.

Having said that ,I have to admit that I like the First Family's style. They are making sure to spread their endorsements across the nation, and that is a good thing in my book.

I never had a St. Louis Pizza but I hope the President's guests enjoy it.

Buen provecho!

[Ramirez]

Has anyone thought about the carbon footprint?
******

Obamas fly in chef 860 miles... just to make pizza
By Mail Foreign Service
Last updated at 12:37 PM on 10th April 2009

When you're the president of the United States, only the best pizza will do - even if that means flying a chef 860 miles.

Chris Sommers, 33, jetted into Washington from St Louis, Missouri, on Thursday with a suitcase of dough, cheese and pans to to prepare food for the Obamas and their staff.

He had apparently been handpicked after the President had tasted his pizzas on the campaign trail last autumn.

'It's surreal, it's a huge honour,' said Mr Sommers, who owns Pi restaurant in St Louis. 'It will be a casual lunch and hopefully we'll have a chance to say hello to the president.'

Mr Somers was accompanied by this business parnter Ryan Mangilardo who will help prepare the dinner for 140 this evening.

It will feature his signature dishes - ten deep dish and ten thin crust creations. He is also planning a pizza especially for the president - the Hyde Park topped with chicken and hot sauce.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1168940/Obamas-fly-chef-860-miles-White-House--just-make-pizza.html

[NCYvonne]

Wrong on all counts.

The owner's girlfriend lives in DC. He was going to visit her anyway . . . via commercial plane. He also was on MSNBC yesterday and said that this is not costing the taxpayer a dime. He is paying for EVERYTHING himself because he "loves the preisdent and it's an honor to do this for him."

So there!

[kennybean]

Bravo Yvonne!

[gi]

Thank you NCYvonne for putting Ramirez on check point, but that pizza from his link sure looks good.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1168940/Obamas-fly-chef-860-miles-White-House--just-make-pizza.html

[KimB3329]

I've been hearing a lot of complaints about "carbon footprints" lately. How do the advocators expect us to travel? By boat and train? (no sarcasm intended)

[Independent voter]

Sorry folks, but having lived in CHicago and St. Louis I can say with some authority that St. Louis style pizza is cr/ap. Reminds me of a motza cracker with ketchup. Even the little bit of cheese is funky - not mozarella

[poiuyty]

Obama should build a wood fired earth oven and learn to make his own pizza.

[gi]

It won't be the same.

[booboo111]

Follow up report "Prez suffers flatulence attack after eating St. Louis pizza. Michelle locks him out of bedroom!" READ IT HERE FIRST!

[RockySoldier]

Chicago has always had the best pizza. Chicago will always have the best pizza.

And the best hot dogs. And the best Italian beef. And the best presidents.

Second city? That's what New Yorkers called Chicago because they knew that given the choice. everyone would choose to live in Chicago over New York.

[Kranje2008]

I could not agree with you more!!

[RedKnuckles]

Chicago pizza is very good, NY pizza is clearly the best in poll after poll. Give me a wide slice of heaven on hand tossed dough anytime. Chicago dogs are absolutely the best, hands down, though.

[flatus]

Deep dish pizza would be more accurately named with "tomato quiche".

[Myshkin57]

I thought a quiche was something egg-based.

[ArthurTwoShedsJackson]

Chill out, Chi Town! MO will go blue in 2012, almost did in 2008. Let St. Louis have a bit of glory for a change!

[Independent voter]

I campaigned for Obama in rural MO. It isn't going blue, believe me.

[NCYvonne]

Funny. I remember people saying the same thing about NC, IN and VA six months ago.

[Myshkin57]

McCain only won it by .12%. It hardly seems like Missouri would be impossible to turn blue.

[Yaaawn]

Try saving some tax payer money and get it locally

[benne]

I'm sure it was donated and that the restaurant's business has skyrocketed because of it.

[Grammy3]

Even if not donated, the President pays for his own food -- the fed only pays for state dinners.

[NCYvonne]

The pizza owner is footing the bill.

[Mattie]

perhaps the pizza owner could donate this food to a food shelf or homeless shelter, and Obama could get pizza in DC, what a complete waste!