[ocrp1982]

The Detroit and Chicago (”Pizza’s”) are NOT pizza. They are casseroles. Nowhere in all of Italy, the birthplace of Pizza, does anything remotely resembling these things exist and are referred to as Pizza.
In Italy there are regional Pizza with variations in the thickness of the crusts. But, they are all platforms for the ingredients. Placed into the oven as stand alone pizza’s. NOT in any form of container to hold the ingredients in place. In Italy any such contrivance is called a Casserole.

[Yardstick]

The Detroit and Chicago (”Pizza’s”) are NOT pizza. They are casseroles.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This strikes me as a pretty on point criticism.

That said, these deep dish “pizzas” are pretty dang tasty.

[MHGinTN]

I don't care. Make mine a Papa John's Cheeseburger Pizza!

Now if someone would make a Philly-Cheese Pizza, well ...

[Basket_of_Deplorables]

“Nowhere in all of Italy, the birthplace of Pizza, “

---

That’s very debatable. It may have become popular there before America, but flat bread baked with toppings existed in Roman times.

And a casserole can’t stand by itself, without a container. That square pizza can, and is most definitely NOT a casserole.

Fact is, you’re just making stuff up.

[Candor7]

Zee reel Pizzarino Napolitano !

#1 in Italy supposedly. L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, Naples

[Howie66]

I seriously doubt that any actual fan of PIZZA would ever think that Pizza Hut as a pizza parlor. More like a Quick Lube station for your truck in my honest opinion.

[jz638]

The Detroit and Chicago (”Pizza’s”) are NOT pizza. They are casseroles. Nowhere in all of Italy, the birthplace of Pizza, does anything remotely resembling these things exist and are referred to as Pizza.

If you want to be a jerk about it, tomatoes aren't native to Italy, so there is no such thing as authentic Italian pizza if it includes tomatoes. Before you get wrapped around the axle, it's just like authentic chili can't have meat in it because the Maya first called a loose soup made of dried chili peppers chili. Forget the "if there are beans in it, it's not chili" argument, if there's anything other than chiles and water, it's not chili. Don't even get me started on ketchup in America...

Food is part of culture, names for food are part of culture as well... and all culture is appropriation. There is no such thing as "authenticity" when it comes to food, it's all a matter of individual preference and popular inertia. I personally think McDonald's is making a mockery of what a hamburger and french fries are supposed to look and taste like, but it doesn't matter what I call them, it's a hamburger and fries on the menu and it will stay that way.

You can set your marker down on thick crust, pan cooked pizza as "not pizza", but it's just an opinion. In the mean time, I hope whatever food you like and whatever name you call it is delicious and satisfying. Life is too short to quibble over terminology.

[JohnnyP]

Ian Spampatti makes rectangular pan pizza (I can’t understand a word he’s saying):
https://youtu.be/WV1Bld0xvp8?t=499