National Detroit Pizza Day June 23, 2025 421 words

There are many foods that Michigan is noted for. Better Made Potato Chips, cherries, asparagus and Saunders hot fudge ice cream topping. But none have their own national Day. June 23rd. is National Detroit Pizza Day. Like Chicago and New York style pizza, the Detroit version is unique in it’s history and flavors.
The start of this dish appeared on the East side near Six Mile and Conant . The location was originally a Speak Easy during Probation, becoming a restaurant after WWII. The pizza was invented by Gus Garrick in 1946. It was a square deep dish pie, made with Wisconsin brick cheese, and a light dough cooked with crunchy edges. But what made this a Detroit favorite was not the pizza but the pan. the first pies were cooked in drip pans that were used to hold small tools to work on cars. The pans were a heavy cast metal, making the Sicilian crust crusty on the edges, with a light chewy center. Over the years, various versions of the favorite have been made in the Detroit Metro area and across Michigan. I was ashamed to admit that I was one of the few Michiganders that had never tasted one.
I googled Buddy’s pizza to find the nearest location of the restaurant. To my surprised, there was a location in Grand Rapids, six miles away from my home. I was determined to taste the home grown before the national day.
On Saturday, John and I took a short road trip to 28th Street in Grand Rapids. We found the eatery at noon. The restaurant was busy but not crowded. The booths were spacious and upholstered to resembled seats in cars from the 50’s. Wall decorations were historical places in Detroit and the surrounding area of the Metro.
We ordered a four piece pizza named the Super Six Miler. It had the crusty thick crust, tomato/basil sauce and brick cheese along with several meat and vegetables toppings. The vegetables were cut into thin strips. The meats were cooked to a crispy texture. The middle of each slice was moist and flavorful. The meal was topped with a Vernor’s Ginger Ale float. another product from Detroit. Nice to combined local history with fun dining. Would I go back? Definitely!
***. poem
Road Trip
Detroit pizza was the quest.
Find the original recipe, nothing less.
In Grand Rapids we ordered a test.
With Vernor’s floats, we downed the rest.
The result? You’ll have to guess.
carolfarn@aol.com copy righted 6/23/2025