Chicago's renowned deep-dish pizza has made another indelible mark on the city's calendar, with Mayor Brandon Johnson proclaiming April 5 as "Giordano's Pizza Day," in honor of the pizzeria's 50th anniversary. Giordano's, a half-century-old institution known for its stuffed pizza pies, is rolling out the red carpet and the dough for a celebration of cheesy proportions.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, the pizza chain's Executive Chef Jesse Harris showcases their hand-made dough and a mozzarella blend unique to the establishment. He explained the meticulous process of layering dough and cheese before the pizza takes a transformative journey through the oven, leading to a cheese pull that stretches over four feet in length. Harris revealed a staggering "5,000,000 pounds of cheese a year" goes into feeding Chicago's appetite for deep-dish pizza.
Making sure there's enough pie to go around, CBS Chicago reports that the pizzeria is offering a mouth-watering deal, slicing 50% off the price of pizzas every Tuesday through May 28. For the many deep-dish aficionados, this is an opportunity to delight in what Jon Stewart once dismissively called a "casserole" but which Chicagoans embrace as a piece of their culinary heritage.
The story of Giordano's is a classic American tale of immigrant success - beginning with Italian brothers Efren and Joseph Boglio, who brought their mother's "Italian Easter Pie" to Chicago's South Side in 1974. Now, as GlobeNewswire points out, Giordano's has evolved beyond its roots, spreading the joy of deep-dish across more than 60 locations nationwide. Yet, the pizzeria remains true to its core values of quality ingredients and exceptional pizza experiences that originally put the brand on the culinary map.
The 50th-anniversary festivities are more than just a nod to the past; they signify a commitment to the future. Giordano's CEO Yorgo Koutsogiorgas said, "This extraordinary milestone would not be possible otherwise." He emphasized the company's gratitude towards the community with these celebratory specials, aiming to acknowledge and thank loyal customers and visitors who've made their journey possible. For many Chicagoans and visitors alike, that first cheesy bite at Giordano's isn't just a meal—it's a slice of tradition that's been savored for generations.
