Did Michelle Obama Call New York Pizza 'The Best'? The Pizza War Continues (POLL)

Chicagoans might have to sit down for this one.

For years, the battle between New York and Chicago pizza has raged on. Though some argued that a floppy New York slice is best, we knew it was no match for our cheesy deep dish, crisp thin crust and delicious sauce. When Chicago native Michelle Obama headed to the White House, we were glad to have a first lady repping the Windy City, but during a Thursday trip to a New York pizzeria, Obama uttered the words no food loving Chicagoan wants to hear: "It's the best pizza, and I'm from Chicago."

Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha and their grandmother Marian Robinson all were in New York Thursday to check out a musical and eat lunch at Grimaldi's, a popular pizzeria beneath the Brooklyn Bridge.

Ralph Harajda, a waiter at Grimaldi's, told the New York Times blog that Obama was "very pleasant to serve" and a "very generous" tipper. No problems there.

"They loved everything," Harajda told the Times. "I think they said it was better than Chicago pizza."

Gasp!

The Chicago Tribune was as shocked by the statement as the everybody else, so they followed up with Grimaldi's.

Harajda told the Tribune that the group had three large, thin-crust pizzas (one sausage, one pepperoni and one plain) and one small vegetarian pizza, asking for mushrooms, sweet peppers and onions, plus a side of anchovies. He also clarified his statement to the Times.

"No, what she said was, 'It's the best pizza, and I'm from Chicago.' She liked the pizza very, very much. They were pleased."

Any better? Not so much. But the game of telephone continued. From the Tribune:

Owner Frank Ciolli thinks he heard the first lady say it "was fantastic and delicious."

"But she didn't say Chicago pizza wasn't good," he added.

But his daughter, restaurant manager Gina Peluso, said the first lady told her: "I have to tell you, this pizza is great -- and I'm from Chicago."

"She didn't say it was better," according to Peluso.

While the pizza debate continues, Ciolli told the Tribune he would like the President to weigh in on his pizza:

"I said any time they want, if we have the ability, we'd like to deliver a pizza at the White House."

Quick Poll

Which city has better pizza: New York or Chicago?

New York

Chicago

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Comments

[EdRea]

05:52 PM on 03/31/2010

Believe it or not, American pizza originated in New Haven with Italian immigrants around the turn of the 20th century, and what is called NY pizza is THAT pizza. I haven't had Chicago pizza yet, but a piece of NY pie folded over on itself is HEAVEN.

[Thefamilyvan]

01:55 AM on 03/31/2010

Chicago pizza is the best. Period. The Chicago first lady is the best. Period. The Chicago President is the best. And that's final. Chicago 3, New York 0.

[roquelaure]

12:29 PM on 03/29/2010

This poll is gonna be skewed because NY is so much bigger than Chicago.

I'm sorry, there's no contest. ALL of Chicago's various forms of pizza are the best in the world. Mrs. Obama was just being polite.

P.S. Our hot dogs are the best too.

[OrangeCatholic]

10:10 PM on 03/28/2010

Why do people so easily forget that New York makes thick crust? It's called Sicilian. And now they have medium crust, it's called Grandma. Also has sauce on top of the cheese. If you put fresh mozz on it, it's called Brooklyn. If it has no cheese, it's called marinara. If it has no sauce, it's a white pie.

Technically, a thin-crust pie is called Neapolitan. Nobody says that, but it's printed on nearly every pizza menu.

Really. From the way some people talk, you'd think Chicago invented bread. Do they make ziti slices out there, or am I S.O.L. when I visit Chicago?

[GrafZeppelin127]

09:50 PM on 03/28/2010

4 words:

L&B Spumoni Gardens, Bensonhurst.

[freespeech2]

08:41 PM on 03/28/2010

I am shocked ate the violent imagery and fiery rhetoric used in this article.
The "pizza battle... rages on".
Surely we can be civil in the debate over deep-dish vs. thin crust?

Unfortunately, regional passions run deep, and the historical animosity between Chicagoans and New Yorkers continues unabated. The Anchovy Party, a bi-partisan group of self-proclaimed "pizza-loving Americans", has threatened to demonstrate in both Chicago and New York. The party claims that big-city pizza does not represent the tastes of most American citizens

More liberal Californian pizza afficianados have denounced the Anchovy Party as "bought and paid for by the major pizza chains" and plan a counter-protest in San Francisco promoting diversity of toppings.

I urge Ms. Obama and the current Administration not to fan the brick oven flames of pizza hysteria and to use their platform constructively.

God Bless America

[John Doxey]

05:56 PM on 03/28/2010

Here's the deal:

NY pizza-okay

Chicago pizza-THE BEST-trust me

KC bar-b-q (might as well get this argument going)-THE BEST

Memphis bar-b-que-not so much

Texas bar-b-que-okay here and there (but just okay)

North Carolina bar-b-que-sorry, doesn't make the cut

[docron]

05:40 PM on 03/28/2010

To be honest, pizza in Italy is far better than either New York or Chicago. But until I get back to Florence, I'll vote New York thin crust. Crispy with 'shrooms, easy on the cheese.

[jerryfromcalifornia]

04:10 PM on 03/28/2010

As a Californian I can not lay claim to the best pizza......But I can't wait to eat pizza when I'm in NJ ot NYC......Chicago not so much.
Our Mexican food is the best.
jerry belairca

[Keypinitreel]

02:49 PM on 03/28/2010

Chicago's deep Dishes are so thick they can pass for Lasagna, Chicago has to be the best... good food and A LOT of it.

[47th]

02:40 PM on 03/28/2010

Chicago pizza, thick or thin crust, makes life better!

[bar1ed]

10:58 PM on 03/27/2010

Noting like a cold beer, and cold slice of pizza for Sunday breakfast after a lost Saturday night.

[docron]

05:41 PM on 03/28/2010

Cold slice is the best breakfast ever. Any day of the week.

[TheModernBunny]

01:52 PM on 03/27/2010

I've never been to either city, so I couldn't say which pizza is best.

All I know is I now want pizza. Anyone's pizza, lol.

[EminemsRevenge]

10:54 AM on 03/27/2010

When i went to Chicago the first thing i wanted to taste was their oh-so-famous pizza...the result was like Geraldo opening Al Capone's vault--for you young'uns:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Mystery_of_Al_Capone's_Vault

NYC got the BEST pizza and bagels simply because of our water...an excellent chef i knew told me that!

[Santo2]

08:49 AM on 03/27/2010

If you TRULY want to experience the best "Apizza" (Which is the correct word to be used), one need only go to Wooster St, just on the fringe, of the downtown area of New Haven Connecticut. There you will find the three greatest emporiums of the art of making "Apizza".
They are (Not necessarily in this order), Pepe's Apizza, Sallys, and The Spot.

Once experienced, there will be no doubt.

[docron]

05:45 PM on 03/28/2010

Apizza is correct only in Neapolitan dialect. In most of Italy today, pizza is correct, largely because the Florentine dialect is pretty much "Italian" today. But anyway you say it, New Haven pizza is the closest thing I've had to the original in Italy. Better than either Chicago or New York!

[Santo2]

05:54 PM on 03/28/2010

Thanks for the affirmation, on New Haven Apizza. Funny thing is, almost any parlor in the area is good; Modern Apizza, Palm Beach Apizza, Grand Apizza, and even in outlying towns like East and West Haven. You can't go wrong at almost any of the long established shops.
Thanks also form the Apizza factoid. I always knew about the Neapolitan influence, I just didn't know it carried over to the name.