THE GREASY FOODIE: LOU MALNATI'S

The Greasy Foodie

The story begins blustry day Friday after Thanksgiving in 2008 in a cramped booth at a fake NYC deli in Nashville called Noshville. In between my wife, Rachel, and my brother, Michael, I sat across from my "cooler than me" cousins Mark and Sarah, and Sarah's just as cool husband, Danny. Mark, who lives the awesome life being a lawyer living in San Francisco working for Facebook, with his only downfall being his SEVERE lactardation..which has never been medically or scientifically proven to exist in Mark.. Sarah and Danny are foodies from NYC who have tried every dive "chicken finger" hut and "curry on a stick" in the big city. Danny and Sarah had discussed that they were trying to go to as many places from Bobby Flay's 'Throwdown' show as they could, and that there was one in Nashville we had to try.....a place that I had never heard of in my 13 years of living there..I will get to that adventure later.

I got an idea from my cool cousins idea. An idea became a hobby. And the hobby became an obsession. And thus produced the list.....a world-famous spreadsheet...of every restaurant that has ever been featured on Food Network and Travel Channel....every restaurant from the famous shows like "Throwdown", "Man V. Food", "Man v. Food Nation", "Food Feuds", "Food Wars", "Best Thing I Ever Ate", "Food Paradise" and "Diners Drive-Ins and Dives" to the obscure "Best Food Ever", "Meat and Potatoes", and "101 Best Places to Chowdown", plus my additions of the restaurants of famous chefs, favorite catergories (burgers, wings, pizza, bbq, and sandwiches) and local places of legend. Names, cities, food they are famous for, and addresses. It was and still is an obsession. As of 11:31am on November 27, 2018, THE LIST HAS 4,660 RESTAURANTS ON IT...WITH A FEW OVERLAPS HERE AND THERE. And then over Pastrami Eggs Benedict at Nate N' Al's Deli in Beverly Hills, Hannah and Andrew, our good friends, gave me the idea of the blog. Document every place I went. And thus, "The Greasy Foodie" was born. I will log the places, the shows they are from, and what I had. So far, every place I have been has been amazing, except two, one being mediocre, and another being down right awful.

If there is a city you have been to, or are going to, or are from and want to know what from my list is in the city, send me a email at agmarks@gmail.com

Monday, December 19, 2011

LOU MALNATI'S

LOU MALANATI'S DEEP DISH PIZZA

6649 North Lincoln Avenue, Lincolnwood, IL 60712

FROM "THROWDOWN", BEST PIZZA IN AMERICA, PIZZA PARADISE

LOU

This could be the most beloved pizza place in all of Chicago, if not the most beloved restaurant in Chicago. Chicago pizza is thick...I mean loaf of bread thick....they take a loaf of dough, put on cheese, and stewed (taste like canned) tomatoes and voila. Lou's is not the original, but it is the best. Legend goes that the first deep dish was at Uno's (Due's, the sister store, followed). The head chef at Uno's was Lou Malanati. He opened his own resturant, perfecting the original Uno's recipe.

This place is everyones favorites, but most importantly, it's my wifes favorite food on the planet. When I got married in Chicago in June 2011, every person from Nashville asked where to get the "deep pizza", and I sent them all to Lou's. My friends Hannah and Andrew didnt eat at a wedding to save room for late night Lou's. Lou's can also be shipped across the country, and I swear that it is the best frozen pizza ever...it tastes just like the original. A group of friends from Nashville have had it shipped to them 4 times since my wedding!

I like the veggie or spinach. BUT THE BEST IS THE LOU'S SPECIAL, THE LOU!!! VEGGIES, SPECIAL SAUCE, AND 6 TYPES OF CHEESE!!! AND YOU GOTTA GET IT WELL DONE!!! And do not forget the appetizers (garlic bread, fried zuchinni and mushrooms) and the salad (the Onion dressing!!) It is fantastic! Many will argue New York vs Chicago. Many will argue Lou's vs Uno/Due vs Giordannos vs. Gino's. You cannot lose an argument against something where the argument is "which is the best". No one loses that argument, everyone wins. CASE CLOSED! DEFENSE RESTS! LAWYERED!

THE GREASY FOODIE