It just doesn’t add up.
Proud Chicagoan Barack Obama plus a relocation to Washington equals the president special ordering Chicago-style deep-dish pizza from Pi … in St. Louis?
But it’s true. Management at the trendy restaurant in St. Louis’ Delmar Loop neighborhood confirmed Thursday that owner Chris Sommers and business partner Ryan Mangilardo flew to Washington with a suitcase of dough, cheese and pizza pans to prepare a deep-dish dinner for 140 White House guests Friday night.
“They were very excited,” said Pi assistant manager Lindsey Tornetto, who gloated that Obama requested Pi’s pizza after remembering it from a St. Louis campaign stop in October. “No hard feelings,” Tornetto said. “I guess he likes the cornmeal [crust].”
No way, Chicago deep-dish aficionados insisted Thursday.
Marc Malnati, owner of 30 Lou Malnati’s Pizzerias across the Chicago area, said he’d never heard of Pi and had to assume Obama’s choice came from lack of experience.
“I like his economic policy — I think he’s going to get us out of trouble. I like his foreign policy — he’s making friends around the world. His pizza policy is going to have to change,” Malnati said.
Officials from the White House did not return requests seeking comment. But Rick Hendrie, senior vice president of marketing for Uno Chicago Grill, assures Chicagoans that Obama loves Chicago’s deep dish.
In January, White House staff ordered 2,000 pounds of the pizzeria chain’s trademark Anichini Brothers sausage for the Illinois inaugural celebration ball. “If he wants to explore other types of pizza, while not as good as ours I’m sure, I’m not hurt,” said April McRaven, general manager for Pizzeria Uno downtown.
———–
vortiz@tribune.com
mccormickj@tribune.com
