[THRILLIST] DETROIT CHEFS RANK THE BEST DETROIT-STYLE DEEP DISH PIZZA

Buddy's Rendezvous. Photo by Nicole Rupersburg.

It's almost as contentious a question as, "which is better, Lafayette or American?" -- who makes the best Detroit-style deep dish pizza? Now, as we all know, not all deep dish pizzas are created equal. (We're looking at you, Chicago. Your deep dish is terrible and everyone knows it. Even Jon Stewart!). We might be just a BIT biased, but screw it -- the best deep dish comes from Detroit!

But naming Detroit's best deep dish isn’t a task to take lightly. To determine the best deep dish pizza in (metro) Detroit, we took it to our panel of experts, asking some of the area's top chefs (and one current Top Chef) to weigh in on their favorites. We asked them to give us up to five favorites. Top picks received 5pts, second choices 4, and so on. Here's what happened:

Read more.

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

ICYMI:
~LET THERE BE BAGELS! Detroit Institute of Bagels opens on Thanksgiving Day! [EID]

~All of the Young Guns have given terrific interviews for EID's Young Guns profile series, but Detroit's favorite young(-ish…his words!) Gun Andy Hollyday of the soon-to-open Selden Standard might just be my favorite yet. [EID]

~Thanksgiving is one week away! Whether you want to buy a locally-raised turkey to make at home, buy a pre-cooked turkey (or the whole damn meal) to serve, or want to skip that whole mess and just go out to eat, here are some local places that will facilitate all of your needs. [EID]

~Another week, another Green Grocer profile, this time on the lower East Side. Not to be partial or anything, but Food Town Super Market is super-nice, and how cute is Chandler Park? [Model D]

~Another previous pop-up is making the transition to permanent. Coffee and (_______) will now be a permanent fixture in the developing Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood. [Model D]

~Tuesdays market season at Eastern Market Corporation may be over, but they're having one last hurrah next Tuesday for their Thanksgiving Market, where they'll have everything you'll need for your holiday table as well as food trucks, Christmas tree farmers, the launch of the Wheelhouse Detroit Bike Shop + Detroit Bikes retail residency, and the newest release from Arcadia Publishing, 'Detroit's Historic Eastern Market' - co-written by EM businesses development VP and owner of Detroit Spice Co. Spices and Hot Sauces, Randall Fogelman. [Model D]

~Local chef Brian Beland won a culinary thing in Dubai. [EID]

~It's the most wonderful time for EVENTS! [EID]

Detroit in L.A.: Guns + Butter is popping up on the west coast at the super-trendy Hollywood Roosevelt - a Thompson Hotel. With the recent G+B endorsement from Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown at one of the trendiest hipster/scenester hotspots in Hollywood, this dinner is going to be a big deal. [LA Times]

A new restaurant is now open in Midtown. It is called The Grille Midtown. You can take a look at the menu online…looks like pretty standard "grille with an e" offerings; definitely trying to be a bit more upscale. [The Grille Official]

Give thanks for ready-made Thanksgiving meals from places like Zingerman's Roadhouse, The Produce Station, Eat Catering And Carry-Out, and more. [MLive]

What are the best pizzas in the state of Michigan? According to MLive.com, MANI Osteria and Bar is #1, Buddy's Pizza is #2, and Supino Pizzeria is # N/A because they're not even in the top 10. Which just goes to show you that other people's opinions are exactly that. [MLive]

And in a separate link (MOAR CLIKZ), the rest of the list. (Supino Pizzeria is on this one but alas, no Bigalora.) [MLive]

Looks like Toronto has some Detroit envy… great story on Detroit's Dr. Sushi here from our northern neighbors. [Toronto Standard]

As far as travel stories go, this one is…brief. (But does manage to squeeze in "Bourdain" despite that.) And according to this, La Feria Detroit is the new restaurant of note. [AOL]

The Royal Oak Barnes and Noble stays for now. Commence bitching about BLAH BLAH BLAH CORPORATE BLAH. [Royal Oak Patch]

Peet's Coffee and Tea has set up shop in metro Detroit in a major kind of way. Here are all of the many grand openings happening. [Royal Oak Patch]

Beerie
~The times, they are a-changin'! Several bills that significantly loosen the restrictions on breweries and brewpubs are making their way through state legislature, as are bills allowing temporary licenses for new bars and restaurants going through the licensing process and "economic development" liquor licenses available in any and all municipalities. [MLive]

Misc.
~They…they understand why this is totally f-ed up, right? Don't they? [The Daily Meal]

~Celeb chef and part-time Michigander Mario Batali took to the Twitters to raise money for a cause he personally believes in, and in true form, the mouth-breathers of Twitter voiced their opposition with the usual derpaderpaderpaDER. His responses are quite humorous. [The Raw Story]

~Hate Wal-Mart? So does Ashton Kutcher. Here is another celeb Twitterer taking a social media stand. (For whatever that's worth.) [Salon]

~And then Jon Stewart totally pussed out. [Salon]

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

OVER IT. *snap snap* 

ICYMI:
~IT'S MOTHERFUCKING BEER WEEK, YO. [DBW / EID]
~Several Detroit businesses, including Hacienda Mexican Foods, foodjunky, and Detroit Mini Donut, are in the running for a $250,000 Chase Mission Main Street grant. They have to reach 250 public votes by November 15 to be considered for one of 12 available grants by the panel of top business professionals, so help them out with a quick vote. [EID]
-You could save your life a lot of time by checking in with my weekly events round-up to see what cool stuff is coming up. [EID]
-With the chilly weather, the fall foliage, and Halloween fast approaching, it's time to hit your favorite cider mill while it's the peak season! And these are the best ones out there. Also, it is now officially official: Blake's Hard Cider Co. cider house and winery is now open for business! [EID]
-And let's not forget The Dexter Cider Mill, the oldest continuously-operating cider mill in the state of Michigan. [EID]

THIS JUST IN: You are all officially over Slows. So 2010 called and wants its listicle back. Travel + Leisure names SLOWS BAR BQ one of the best mac + cheeses in America, begging the question: IS it though? Is it REALLY? Is it even the best in Detroit at this point? Or metro Detroit if you have to be snippy about the arbitrary 8 Mile border? And what did you say? In a word, no. [T+L / EID FB]

Everyone's trying to Make Detroit Happen. [WXYZ]

Bourdain promises to show people a Detroit they've never seen before. So, POP-UPS! [MLive]

Our very own Joe Robinson of Bailout Productions won first in the nation on Thrillist's search for the best Bloody Mary! Next he will be going to New York to do a Food Network Chopped brunch and compete for the title of America's Best Bloody. Congrats, Joe! I think this calls for a Bailout Bloody Brunch pop-up somewheres! (Green Dot Stables mayhaps?) [Thrillist]

The 5-month-long process has finally come to an end: Detroit City Distillery has been approved by the city of Detroit! They expect to open sometime in 2014 in Eastern Market. Read more about them here. [DCD FB / Metromode]

Great Lakes Coffee in Midtown now has a beer and wine to go license. [GLC FB]

The government shutdown affected not just Batch Brewery but every single brewery (both those trying to get licensing as well as ANY new product for distribution) in the country. [MLive]

Oh hey, Rock City Eatery gets some love from Thrillist, including their selection of Michigan craft beers from breweries like Dark Horse Brewing Co. and New Holland Brewing Co. AND that soon-to-be-be-famous mac and cheese in a parmesan bowl. [Thrillist]

B. Nektar Meadery is having one HELL of a Devil's Night release party. [B. Nektar]

The Woodward Hall beer hall popped up during the Tigers home ALCS serving beer from Michigan breweries. The Tigers are done but is the beer hall? Or will they come back for other special events in the future? (Indoor beer halls sure are better than outdoor ones what with their indoor plumbing and freedom from the tyranny of Michigan weather.) [Woodward Hall FB]

Marcus Market in Midtown got one hell of an exterior overhaul from the same folks behind the La Feria facade. Marcus Market, you are now officially a part of the Detroit Design District at Cass and Canfield! [EID FB]

THIS guy. (Tunde, that is.) Detroit News gives some love to Revolver and chats with co-owner Tunde Wey, a Detroit personality, if you will. (And you will.) [Detroit News]

Progress is progressing at downtown's Bagger Dave's. [Det Reg News Hub]

Here's a nice feetch on MotorCity Wine. [Metro Times]

The pastry chef's name is actually Kevin, not Eric (as originally printed), but otherwise a fitting review for the stellar The Stand Gastro Bistro. [Detroit News]

Hiller's Markets are taking some cues from Papa Joe's Gourmet Market and Whole Foods Market Ann Arbor getting all fancified. [Crain's]

According to the Metro Times, these are the best bars in greater metro Detroit. [MT]

The new 7-Eleven is looking quite a bit a lot Whole Foods-y. [Design Taxi]

National Pizza Month

Gizmodo has publishing this *AMAZING* pizza map showing where the closest pizza chains within a 10-mile radius are anywhere in the United States. Take a look at the full map on top - Michigan bleeds orange for Little Caesars. [Gizmodo]

The pizza cocktail now exists. (To be fair, despite the name that promises something wacky and potentially disgusting, it's basically a riff on a Bloody Mary with better marketing. But that doesn't make for a good Buzzfeed story.) [Buzzfeed]

[EID POLL] UPDATED: What is the best pizza in metro Detroit?

Supino Pizzeria.

UPDATED: This poll is closed and I already submitted my official vote for the top 9 with this little love note attached:

This is the absolute most ridiculous selection of Detroit-area pizzas and pizza places. I can't even fathom a guess how you came up with this. Even a random Google search would have yielded better results. Even when you selected one of the better places, the pizza option was retarded. Cheese pizza at Supino when there's the Bismark and Smoky, both of which have been written up in national pubs? I don't even feel okay about voting for this.

Want to see what you chose? (Is anyone even remotely surprised that Supino won by a landslide?) All the results are notated below!

************************
It's a question that gets heatedly debated around these parts: who makes the best pizza in metro Detroit? You've got the Buddy's die-hards, the Supino fanatics, a bunch of places that get pimped by national publications (Buddy's and Supino included, but also Mani Osteria, Union Woodshop, and though I'm not a betting person I'd wager Pizzeria Biga/Bigalora will soon be on that list), and under-the-radar local favorites (like the not-really-secret-anymore Amar's).

I received an email late last week from a national publication that shall remain nameless for now asking me to chime in on a national pizza survey. It being National Pizza Month, they are looking to make the definitive guide to the best pizzas in the country. But instead of making the decisions myself, I decided to turn it over to you, dear readers. You tell me your top 9 and I will vote how you tell me (I can choose up to 9 out of the 17 listed). Kind of like an Electoral College except I really will vote how you tell me to vote.

Now, please understand: I did not make this poll. I did not decide what would be on this poll. "But no Buddy's!" I know. "But know Cloverleaf!" I know. "But no Loui's!" I know. These are the 17 options you have. No more, no less. Just deal with it. It's just a poll.

I need to get my vote in by Friday morning so I'm giving you guys until midnight on October 10 to vote. (So you have all day today, tomorrow and Wednesday to decide.)

Also please note! You are voting specifically for the pizza as listed, not for the restaurant itself. Supino's Smoky and Bismark may very well be the best pizzas in Michigan, but is their plain cheese better than all these other pizzas? I mean, I like their plain cheese as much as I like any plain cheese, but if I'm choosing between that and Amar's Tandoori I'm sorry, but I've gotta go with the Tandoori as the better pizza. And again, I did not make any of these selections. "But no Smoky! No Bismark! NO DETROIT-STYLE DEEP DISH!*" Ohemgeesies, I know. Justjustjust take the stupid poll.

What is the best pizza in metro Detroit?

	Alex's Market + Grill, Detroit, Mich. (Pepperoni) - 0 votes, 0%
	Amar's Pizza, Detroit, Mich. (Tandoori: Tandoori chicken, cheese, onion, Tandoori sauce) - 11 votes, 6%
	Anthony's Gourmet Pizza, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Chicago Deep Dish Stuffed Pizza) - 7 votes, 3%
	Benito's, Detroit, Mich. (Chicken Supreme: Chicken, onion, pepper, olives, tomatoes, Cheddar) - 2 votes, 1%
	Green Zone Pizza, Detroit, Mich. (Veggie Delight: Spinach, mushrooms, roasted red pepper, garlic, onion) - 3 votes, 1%
	Hippie's Pizza, Detroit, Mich. (Daft Punk Pizza: Goat cheese, mozzarella, honey, red pepper flakes) - 7 votes, 3%
	Jo's Angela's Pizza and Deli, Auburn Hills, Mich. (Cheese Pie), 1 vote, 0%
	Mani Osteria and Bar, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Pepperoni Pie) - 14 votes, 7%
	Milano Bakery + Cafe, Detroit, Mich. (Milano Special: Pepperoni, ham, sausage, onion, mushrooms, olives) - 2 votes, 1%
	Niki’s, Detroit, Mich. (Cheese Pie) - 3 votes, 1%
	Pizza Cutter, Detroit, Mich. (Deep Dish) - 2 votes, 1%
	Pizza House, Ann Arbor, Mich. (Sausage and pepperoni) - 11 votes, 6%
	PizzaPapalis in Greektown, Detroit, Mich. (Deep Dish Cheese Pie) - 16 votes, 9%
	Pizzeria Biga, Detroit, Mich. (Margherita) - 50 votes, 28%
	Supino Pizzeria, Detroit, Mich. (Cheese Pie) - 96 votes, 54%
	Town Pump Tavern Detroit, Mich. (Speciality: pizza sauce, mozzarella) - 3 votes, 1%
	Union Woodshop, Detroit, Mich. (Margherita) - 9 votes, 5%

*Except for Niki's which is probably the weakest Detroit deep dish of all.

[NEWS BITES] Happy's Pizza and Pub open in West Bloomfield

Oh, the things that come through my email. So. Despite the owner of Happy's Pizza, Happy Asker (his name is actually Happy! That makes me...happy), being indicted for tax fraud, the local pizza chain continues to expand. Most recently they opened Happy's Pizza and Pub in West Bloomfield, a sit-down, dine-in version of the fast food pizzeria with a full bar. My feeling was that it would be more your standard sit-down Buddy's than Jet's Sportsroom in Chelsea, but nay, apparently they are also trying to tackle the "eat/drink local" clientele. Here's the presser:

Happy’s Pizza is proud to announce the opening of their new Happy’s Pizza and Pub location in West Bloomfield, MI (7170 Orchard Lake Road), which officially opened on Monday, July 29.

The new Pizza and Pub was originally a Happy’s Pizza location, but re-opened as a sports bar and family-style restaurant. The Happy’s Pizza and Pub store features a full restaurant atmosphere, with over 40 flat screen televisions, 28 domestic craft beers and seats over 200 people, making it a great place to connect with family and friends while watching the big game. The new location has a full bar while still providing customers with the traditional Happy’s Pizza menu and concept of feeding a family of four for under $20.

“We couldn’t be more excited to open a Happy’s Pizza and Pub right here in Metro Detroit,” said Jason Curis, co-CEO for Happy’s Pizza. “Detroit is one of the best sports cities in the U.S. Now our customers will have the option of ordering in or coming down to the Pizza and Pub, where they can enjoy a great atmosphere while still eating the same delicious food.”

Happy’s Pizza offers over 220 menu items ranging from pizza to salads, chicken, ribs and seafood but will expand their menu in the pub to offer new dishes. Happy’s is best known for having pricing that allows a family to eat dinner for under $20.00 and deliver within a 5 mile radius of the store (248-406-5555). New pub hours are 11am – 2am, every day of the week.

Happy’s Pizza also offers franchising opportunities, more information upon request.

About Happy’s Pizza and Pub
The first Happy’s Pizza and Pub location opened in March of 2013 in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. The store features a full restaurant atmosphere, making it a good place to connect with family and friends while watching the big game. Happy’s Pizza and Pub will have a full bar while still providing customers with the traditional Happy’s Pizza menu.
www.happyspizzapub.com

About Happy’s Pizza
The first Happy’s Pizza opened in 1996 on Detroit’s Northeast side on a busy corner and quickly became known for not only its pizza, but also its barbeque ribs, fried chicken and seafood. Happy’s Pizza soon turned into a household name in Michigan and has expanded into eight other states. Happy’s Pizza’s primary mission is to provide families with the finest quality foods at the lowest possible price and to assure that each and every restaurant location a charitable leader throughout the communities that they serve. For more information visit www.happyspizza.com.

A lifetime ago I lived in West Bloomfield and it was pretty much a bar and restaurant desert. There were a few decent spots but they usually didn't last long. Things have been looking up a bit out there (and don't forget, Huerto Restaurant and Tequila Bar is opening there this fall) and I'll be honest, (a) pizza-lover that I am, and (b) beer-lover that I am, and (c) Happy's Pizza cheese bread-lover that I am, I might just check this place out next time I'm out that way. (Even though Jet's is still a thousand times better, OBVIOUSLY.)

The Week We Ate (The EID Week in Review)

Totally rocking Pure Detroit duds. I lift Detroit with my boobs.

So I was on the Food Network's "Food Court Wars" and wrote this about winning contestants Chip 'N Wich. And also I was on the Food Network. That's me standing next to Tyler Florence, right there^. He smells nice. [EID]

Detroit is so hot right now. "Chuck's Eat the Street" was in town filming last week and hit La Palma in Dearborn, Hygrade Deli in Southwest, and Mercury Burger Bar in Corktown. Dear Chuck, please note I am available for future sidekickery duties. [Detroit News]

Summer Beer Fest was super fun; let's do it again! Like, for example, on October 25 and 26. Tickets to the Michigan Brewers Guild Fall Beer Festival go on sale August 1. [MBG Official]

Oh, but first MBG Prez Eric Briggeman on what makes Summer Beer Fest so durn special. (Aside from Campus Dark Horse and their 99 beers. True story.) [Freep]

And the best of fest goes to: Griffin Claw Brewing Company for their Berliner Weiss, a sour session beer only 3.5% ABV and the best beer of Summer Beer Fest 2013. Bless you, Dan Roberts. [EID]

Of course, it wouldn't be a Beer Fest if Reactionary Larry didn't make some noise. This time it was about the Guild's support of PAC. Read his explanation here, then read my dialogue and reader commentary here. Then, after making a big stinky-stink about taking his ball and going home, Larry Bell then announced somewhat undramatically that they would be attending after all and not another word was said about it because, really, why? [EID / MLive]

Saying it again just so I can say I was FIRST to say it: as mead becomes the next craft beverage of choice, Michigan is very much leading the way. Three of the top 10 meaderies listed here are from metro Detroit: Kuhnhenn Brewing Co., B. Nektar, and Schramm's Mead. Also, National Mead Day is this Saturday and B. Nektar is celebrating with their Summer Mead Fest and five-year anniversary party, while Motor City Brew Tours will be touring all of the above meaderies and more (more = Dragonmead). [Real Food Kitchens]

Canadian man says "Soorry" about getting drunk and swimming across the Detroit River, becomes local hero. [Gawker]

ICYMI:
~Pie-Sci will be opening their very own storefront next to Woodbridge Pub. Not included in this story: the "pizza glory hole" the Pie-Sci guys are working on with Jim Geary. [Model D]
~MotorCity Wine said they'd be relocating in August, and whaddya know, this week is August. Check them out in their new space starting this Friday! [Model D / EID]
~If you're interested in urban farming initiatives and food justice in the city of Detroit, check out The Michigan Urban Farming Initiative (MUFI), an ambitious undertaking over on the North End. [Model D]

A new food truck called Shimmy Shack is hitting the streets, serving an all-vegan menu of sliders, shakes, and fries (the first all-vegan food truck in Michigan). Also, the truck was designed by Ren and Stimpy animator John Kricfalusi. I kid you not. [Ferndale Patch]

No, what is good for Chicago is NOT good for Detroit. What is good for Chicago is good for Chicago and should stay there. [Detroit News]

Been a lot of these kinds of stories lately, and now here is the Freep's version. So, to recap, local artisan distilling is a thing now. Valentine Distilling Co., Two James Spirits, etc. [Freep]

Rap and Noodles. A new monthly at Green Dot Stables. [GDS FB]

A beautiful and a bit tear-jerky story about Peteet's Famous Cheesecakes. It would seem a bit superficial to endcap this with "Tuesday is National Cheesecake Day and Peteet's is giving away free cheesecake," but so it is. [Crain's / Royal Oak Patch]

Have you checked out the weekday vendors at Campus Martius Park yet? Aside from the usual suspects (El Treat Dreamso), there is also this falafel stand. [Hell Yeah Detroit]

Amanda Brewington of Always Brewing Detroit on the old "why Detroit" question. [Vimeo]

What, did you think a little bankruptcy was going to stop the construction of a new $450 million downtown hockey arena built with bonds? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA [Crain's]

Skidmore Studio decided to make a video about their fave lunch spot Steve's Detroit Deli so that others will know about it and enjoy it too. (It's a bit tongue-in-cheek.) [YouTube]

According to Nerd Travel, Ann Arbor is one of the best destinations for green travel. Also, they have beer there. [Nerd Travel]

Here's a nice story about artisan distilling in the Traverse City area, the history of distilling in the Grand Traverse region and how the existing local industries helped it evolve. [Record Eagle]

Forbes goes deep on the Detroit grocery store controversy, or whatever. Anyhoo, the 8 Mile Meijer opened. [Forbes]

And they, too, got their own special beer from Atwater Brewery. [Market Watch]

Mobile food cart for sale! Only $12 *THOUSAND*. Not hundred, as I originally posted on Facebook when it was 5:30am in Vegas when I scheduled it to post and I was working on about six hours of sleep over a 36-hour period and about to spend the next 15 hours in a car and on planes. Apologies and thanks for understanding! [Craigslist]

Oversized lawn games! Placemaking! Beach Blanket Bingo! Er, no, but a beach bar. Here's a nice roundup of the various things being done by the Riverwalk, Campus Martius, and other parks to, um, get people to go there and hang out, basically. [Crain's]

Restaurants in rest stops would be really, really awesome you guys. [Detroit News]

"Oh hey look guys, this octopus only has 6 tentacles!" "Hahaha WEIRD!" *smash smash smash* [io9]

Beerie
~I love so many things about this I don't even know where to start. Thank you, First We Feast, for putting this "Headbangers Brew" (!!!) list together. Craft beer is toooootally metal. [FWF]

~"Take the Black Stout" will be the new Game of Thrones beer from Ommegang. [BeerPulse]

Also wine
~Bryan Ulbrich of Left Foot Charley Wine and Lee Lutes of Black Star Farms are among the top 100 most influential winemakers in the U.S. It wasn't until very recently that Michigan wines were easily dismissed by wine connoisseurs and the region simply wasn't taken seriously; Bryan and Lee have both played significant roles in changing that. [Into Wine]