The Great Chicago-Style Pizza Cookbook

If you want to make incredible (and authentic) deep-dish pizza, this book shows you in thorough detail exactly how to do it. The first half of the book is full of pictures describing the processes of making deep-dish pizza in enough detail that someone who has never cooked a pizza can produce an outstanding pizza on the first try. The second half of the book is recipes from the Chicago pizza restaurants. It's hard to imagine the first half being any more clear, and the second half doesn't bore you to death with stuff you will know cold once you've read the first half and used it to make a couple of pizzas. It is the perfect balance of educational detail and long-term utility. I've had this book since 1983, the year it was first published. When I bought it, I loved deep-dish pizza, but hadn't a clue how to make it. I've used it to make more than a hundred different deep-dish pizzas, with never a flop yet. I've just purchased my THIRD copy, because I've used the first two copies until they disintegrated. My most popular is the Spinach-stuffed pizza, although the Greek pizza (with Kalamata olives, anchovies, feta and spinach) is my personal favorite. One thing you won't find is innovations since 1983, but if you hear about something new, it's a snap to include it. It is the difference between learning a recipe and learning the theory. Get this book, and you'll be able to make the kind of pizza you want.

I only lived in Chicago for 5 years, but I did pick up a taste for stuffed pizza. Heaven! This book, which I have had since about 1987, allows me to make "something like" out here in the pizza philistinia of Seattle. I'll never claim to make anything like The Nancy or my personal fave Edwardo's, but it isn't half bad. Not sure about the tomato paste, though. Are we reading the same recipe? Canned tomatoes, chopped by hand (I use a pastry knife), all the way. I echo the review that said you have to bake the crust a bit first to keep it from getting soggy. I've also done a bit of experimenting along the way, and think the sauce I have come up with improves on the one in the book, but any good cook should be willing to do that, I'd think. Tastes differ and all that. Anyway this book has helped me keep my pizza sanity 1700 miles west of Mecca. Highly recommended.

As former Chicagoans who have been forced east into a pizza wasteland, we found exactly what we were looking for in this book! Yesterday we sat down to the first genuinely delicious pizza we have had in the last two years. The dough was delicious and the sauce was perfect. We can't wait to make more.

I've had this book since the 80's, and I still think it is the best cookbook for making pizzas that is available. I have to say that to all those that are expecting to find the exact secret recipes from Gino's East, Homerun Inn and Nancy's shouldn't bother buying this book because they obviously are not buying it for the right reason. Chicago Style pizza is more about the technique than the ingredients, although it does specifically mention that the quintessential ingredient that you'll need is '6 in 1 (brand)' canned tomatoes. This book teaches you exactly what you need to know: What kind of equipment you need, basic recipes, and most importantly how to assemble a pizza like the pro's do here in the 'City Of Big Shoulders'. Incidentally, not all Chicago-Style Pizza is deep-dish as non-Chicagoans seem to think that it is.If you as a reader/aspiring chef can't understand that most good cookbooks are more of a guideline/textbook, and they aren't going to be filled with commercial recipes or magic spells for making something that tastes great, then perhaps you should order a pizza for delivery, and stay the heck out of the kitchen.Anyone that has lived in the area and eaten a variety of Chicago pizzas for any extended period of time will understand that this book is extremely helpful... the tourists and "culinarially challenged" of course won't.

Pasquale has brought to paper things that you have craved since you left the motherland (Chicago). He has personally investigated Pizza making techniques at many Chicago Pizza places. He has transcribed recipes that are so authentic that you wont be disappointed. History, techniques, and recipes all in one book. The recipes are so good, I am surprised he hasnt been sued for devulging the secrets. This book lays next to my Bible.