What is Regina pizza? It’s Greek, good and gets under the crust of Rider rivals

Regina-style pizza, a thick, square-shaped Greek delicacy, has become an iconic symbol of Saskatchewan's capital city. Originating in 1970 when Greek immigrant brothers George, Gus, John and Tony Kolitsas opened their first Houston Pizza restaurant on Hill Avenue, the pie quickly gained popularity due to its generous toppings of tomato sauce, vegetables, and deli meat atop fluffy dough.

Renowned for its thickness, Jim Baiton, owner of Tumblers Pizza, recommends baking the pies golden brown and serving them in square pieces to maintain the filling's integrity. Unlike New York-style pizzas or Chicago deep-dish, Regina-style pizza strikes a balance between the two. Baiton attributes the creation of this beloved dish to the desire of the Kolitsas brothers to stand out from the crowd, as most pizzerias at the time favored thinner crusts.

Despite receiving mixed reactions from some patrons, the Regina-style pizza remains a staple in the city, shipping frozen pies to grocery stores across Saskatchewan and offering freshly baked options for pick-up or local delivery. The pizza's popularity has even reached Tourism Regina, which recently featured the dish in new merchandise.

However, Regina's culinary pride has faced some criticism from Winnipeg's CFL team, the Blue Bombers, who recently mocked the pizza in a social media post. Despite the harsh words, Regina head coach Corey Mace remains undeterred, stating that he wouldn't hate a pizza, even if it were a slice of Regina-style goodness.