The History of Detroit-Style Pizza

Detroit-style pizza was created by Gus and Anna Guerra. In 1946, the couple owned a neighborhood bar called Buddy’s Rendezvous. Gus wanted to add something new to the menu and asked his wife Anna for help. Anna borrowed a dough recipe from her Sicilian mother and the two then topped the Sicilian dough with cheese and tomato sauce. The couple cooked their new pizza in thick steel pans that Gus reportedly got from a friend who worked at a factory that used the pans for spare parts. The unique pans and Sicilian dough resulted in a pizza with a soft, airy texture and unique crispy edges. As time went on, pepperoni was added and a combination of pepperoni, sauce, and cheese went on to define the quintessential Detroit-style pizza (although other toppings are sometimes used, too). In 1953, Gus and Anna sold Buddy’s Rendezvous and then opened Cloverleaf Bar & Restaurant. The restaurant, which is still open today and serves some of the most highly-rated Detroit-style pizza in the world, claims to still use the original recipe that Gus and Anna developed at Buddy’s. Today, Detroit-style pizza is extremely popular in Michigan as well as in several other areas throughout the United States; it is known for its uniquely crispy edges and pillowy crust.