Long ago, in the bustling city of Chicago (where the mighty deep-dish pie was also known), there was a different kind of legend brewing. It wasn’t about a thick crust or a deep pan; it was about a pizza that was a social butterfly.
This story begins in the 1930s and 40s in the cozy, neighborhood pubs and taverns—the places people went after a long day of work. The tavern owners loved their customers and wanted to serve them a little something salty and delicious to encourage them to stay a while.
But there was a problem!
- Problem 1: The Plates. The taverns were full of people, but they didn’t have many extra plates or forks.
- Problem 2: The Hands. Customers were usually holding a cold drink in one hand. They needed a snack they could grab easily with the other hand.
- Problem 3: The Sharing. The snack needed to be easy to share among a crowd of friends.
A brilliant cook had an idea! He rolled the dough super thin—almost like a giant cracker—so it would be crispy and strong enough to hold all the cheese and toppings without sagging.
Then came the magic trick: Instead of cutting the round pizza into pie-shaped triangles, he cut it into small, neat squares, right across the entire pie, like a checkerboard.
The Three Secrets of the Square-Cut
- The Napkin Test: The crust was so thin and crispy, and the pieces were so small, you could easily grab a few squares and put them right on a napkin—no plate needed!
- The One-Hand Wonder: A square is the perfect bite-sized snack. You could hold your drink in one hand and pop a pizza square with the other.
- The Party Cut: When you cut a pizza into dozens of little squares, it looks like you have a ton of pieces! It was the ultimate “party cut” for sharing with the whole tavern crew.
And that is how the Tavern-Style Pizza was born! It became the favorite pizza for locals—a crispy, delicious, easy-to-share pie that’s all about friends, fun, and keeping your hands free.
So, on October 22nd, National Tavern-Style Pizza Day celebrates the crispy crust and the friendly square slice—the pizza that was perfectly designed for sharing.
What’s your favorite kind of pizza to share with friends?