Forget the foldable New York slice or towering Chicago deep-dish. Pizza in Regina, Saskatchewan, has its own rules: thick, square, loaded with toppings, and big enough to need two hands. According to The Canadian Press, the unique pie, called Regina-style pizza, has become a symbol of the Saskatchewan capital since its humble beginnings as a local restaurant specialty, with its own merchandise, loyal fans and a role in the city’s sporting rivalries. As per the report, the story of Regina-style pizza began in 1970 when Greek immigrant brothers George, Gus, John and Tony Kolitsas opened the first Houston Pizza restaurant on Hill Avenue. Their approach differed from the thin pizzas gaining popularity elsewhere. The Regina version began with a thick, fluffy base, followed by tomato sauce, vegetables and deli meats, before a healthy dollop of cheese was added. The pizza was baked until golden, cut into square pieces in the old-fashioned way, making a good slice that could hold its large toppings, adds The Canadian Press report.
Robust in design
Regina style pizza has its own turf in the pizza world. It’s thicker and heavier than a New York slice, but lacks the deep, layered structure of Chicago deep-dish pizza. Its reputation for being filling might also reflect Saskatchewan’s agricultural roots and harsh winters. The style is associated with a food culture built on hearty meals designed to keep families well fed during the cold months. Perhaps the Greek background of many Regina pizza makers also contributed, with the generous portions mirroring traditions of feeding large families.
A recipe handed down through generations
If we go by the online report, for Tumblers Pizza owner Jim Baiton, Regina pizza means a lifetime of personal history. He got his start in the industry at 14 at Houston Pizza, where he picked up the unique style. He later became a franchisee of Western Pizza before opening Tumblers Pizza in 1979. Today his restaurant is producing hundreds of Regina-style pizzas each week, including frozen versions sent to grocery stores all over Saskatchewan. The style has its detractors, especially those who consider the heavy crust and generous toppings off-putting. But its devoted fanbase remains strong.
Local food meets the city’s symbol
Even Tourism Regina has produced some merchandise with the iconic four-sided slice, including key chains and T-shirts. The move reflects how far the food has become synonymous with the city.
The pizza is now a bigger part of the city’s identity, embraced by Regina’s tourism industry. Even Tourism Regina has produced some merchandise with the iconic four-sided slice, including key chains and T-shirts. The move reflects how far the food has become synonymous with the city. Regina-style pizza isn’t merely a local variation for the locals. It’s a taste that comes with childhood memories, family traditions and decades of restaurant culture.
Rivalry even gets a pizza twist
The pizza has also become part of one of Saskatchewan’s biggest sports rivalries. The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been CFL rivals for a long time and their annual Labor Day weekend matchup is often accompanied by plenty of trash talk. Recently, the Winnipeg team has eyed Regina’s signature food, and not in a good way, comparing it to an over-aged lasagna. The jab just put the cherry on the dish of the rivalry. Regina’s pizza still finds its way outside city limits despite the criticism. Visitors to Manitoba and further afield are among its customers, and frozen versions allow fans across Saskatchewan to enjoy them at home. More than five decades after four brothers opened a small restaurant, Regina-style pizza has become something more than a meal.Images Courtesy: istock