Michelle Obama Basically Said Grimaldi's Beats Chicago Pizza

In NYC, the pizza is so good that the city's notoriously busy residents will often wait on line for hours. (Harris Graber's Flickr)

Michelle Obama took her mother, daughters, and three of their friends to acclaimed Brooklyn pizzeria Grimaldi's yesterday, and what started out as a casual lunch is now reigniting longstanding tensions between two bitterly warring factions: the Chicago-style pizza crowd vs. NYC.

The Grimaldi's waiter who served the family, Rafal Harajda, told City Room that after they finished their meal of four pies—a plain, a pepperoni, a sausage and one with mushrooms, peppers and onions—the First Lady of the United States of America declared, "It was better than Chicago pizza." Which must cut like a pizza slicer for Chicago, seeing as Obama is from their hometown. Harajda later clarified the First Lady's statement, but did not contradict it.

When asked by the Chicago Tribune about his quote to City Room, Harajda clarified: "No, what she said was, 'It's the best pizza, and I'm from Chicago.'" Which is essentially the same thing, and it's just the kind of Biden-esque remark that could cost the President the support of Illinois Democrats and derail the completion of health care reform. The only way this could be worse for Obama is if she had called Chicago pizza retarded. Below, a short video of the standing ovation the First Lady received after settling, once and for all, the longstanding dispute over which city has superior pizza:

After eating pizza followed by ice cream from The Brooklyn Ice Cream Factory, the First Lady visited the set of Sesame Street at Kaufman Astoria Studios, where Obama last appeared to film a PSA with Elmo about eating right. There was no nutrition lecture this time, but we're guessing she filmed a new segment about how she'll never be able to go crawling back to inferior Chicago pizza now that she knows what real pizza tastes like. For the record, here's the Elmo PSA:

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By John Del Signore in Food on March 25, 2010 9:25 AM

Comments [rss]

PRIME TECHNOLOGY CORP. CORP.

LETS SETTLE THIS ONCE AND FOR ALL.... NEW YORK YANKEES 27 WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIPS.... CHICAGO CUBS AND WHITESOX hmmmmm WHO EVEN CARES!!!

Cannibal

"Chicago-style pizza may owe its existence to a bad enchilada. When partners Ike Sewell and Ric Riccardo planned to open a restaurant, Sewell, a native Texan, wanted to feature Mexican food. But one of the sample meals the partners tested made Riccardo so sick that he rejected Mexican food entirely. Riccardo suggested pizza, which he had encountered in Italy--as indeed many American servicemen were doing during World War II. Sewell's complaint with pizza was that it was insubstantial, little more than an appetizer--and readily available in Chicago's Little Italy neighborhood besides. Sewell wanted a substantial, meal-size pizza. After some experimenting, the partners devised something with a thick crust and plenty of cheese. Pizzeria Uno opened on this date at the corner of Ohio Street and Wabash Avenue."

July 20, 1997, edition of the Chicago Tribune

So in other words, even the inventors of "Chicago Pizza" know that its not pizza.

goldenrushapple

So you're basing Chicago's pizza off an article in which the chain restaurant owner is a native Texan? You're such a dumb ass.

fixilator

Whenever I stumble upon one of these pizza debates, the "NY pizza" claims always strike me as such BS. It should be a question of individual pizzerias, because unless you go to one of the maybe dozen excellent pizza places (ok, maybe more, I dunno, but in any case a tiny, tiny *fraction* of NYC pizza places), you are gonna get a pure-shit slice.

My question, not being familiar with Chicago pizza, is, If you go into a regular pizza joint, not one of the frigging legendary places, are you more likely than not to get a delicious slice, whatever its characteristics?

If so, give the prize to Chicago. You definitely cannot make that claim with NY.

Cannibal

You are incorrect in every way.

fixilator

You expect me to take seriously the food opinions of someone named "cannibal"? What's you favorite topping -- earlobes?

Cannibal

Noses.

matty

you are obsessed!

Wagner

I've had the best reviewed pizza in Chicago, I've had the best reviewed pizza in New York, but NEITHER of them are better than pizzas from Arizmendi Bakery in (here it comes) the San Francisco Bay Area:

http://www.arizmendibakery.org/

Basically it's New York style with hippie flavoring (organic dough and toppings, worker-owned store). Bring the First Lady there, she'll change her mind quick. (Not about San Francisco pizza in general, to be sure, most of it's ass. Arizmendi is the exception.)

Cannibal

New York style with "hippie flavoring" Like what? Patchouli and head lice? Fuck your fake ass hippie pizza. Thanks for making my vomit in my mouth reading that description, I'm sure it tastes a lot better than rotten hippie pie.

kpom

You people don't know what real Chicago pizza is. It isn't the deep dish that is served to tourists. I have that occasionally, but real Chicago pizza is crispy thin crust cut into squares. The crust is thinner than the hand-tossed crusts in NY, and it is crispy enough to support the toppings. You don't need to fold it over (you can't really). Plus, you get a choice between pieces (don't call them slices) from the middle, or pieces on the edge that have a handle.

The best pizza places for thin crust are the neighborhood ones. Of the chains, Aurelio's is pretty good. Also check out Connie's on the South Side, and Leona's on the North side.

Plus, there is also a difference between deep dish (Lou Malnati's, Uno, Due) and stuffed (Giordano's). Get things straight, people. Apparently most New Yorkers, and sadly, Michelle Obama, don't know what they are talking about.

Cannibal

sounds wak

matty

kinda like your mom

ohhhhhhh!

Cannibal

At least my mom's not on the cover of Wakness Weekly

ohhhhhhh!

invisibleman

>agrees with matty

LB

This is news worthy ? Really ? Someone please let me know when The First Lady takes her clan to a Boston Market Restaurant and states that there chicken is better then Kentucky Fried Chicken ! Then and only then will I be impressed with this story !

Spirit of 76

But the big question is whether Michelle tried pizza cones. Somehow, I don't think she's that much of a masochist.

matty

I think cannibal is my new favorite gothamist poster.

Cannibal

Your'e a good sport. I had fun.

Urinal Gum

I've tried every type of pizza at least seven times more than anyone else in this thread. I've found the NY-Chicago argument to be irrelevant. They are both inferior to making it at home on a baking sheet. My homemade baked potato pizza is far superior to anything you can buy.

Cook up some bacon until it is crispy. Slice up a potato. Fry it in the bacon grease until it is somewhat soft. Knead your dough to fit your baking sheet. Cover the baking sheet with olive oil before adding the dough. Pour melted butter and chopped garlic over the dough, then add your cheddar and mozzarella cheese, potato, and crumbled bacon in that order. When the pizza is done, add the chives and some sour cream. Thank your friend Urinal Gum.

/and eff the health reform bill