Canadian cuisine encompasses an array of regional specialties, but when it comes to pizza, one variant stands out with a unique origin story and a dedicated following: the Regina-style pizza. Created by Greek immigrant Jim Kolitsas in the 1970s in Regina, Saskatchewan, this style distinguishes itself from other North American pizzas with its distinctive thick, bagel-like crust, and it’s piled high with meat and cheese.
Regina-style pizza is, at its heart, an immigrant tale—a story of how four Kolitsas brothers, in search of a better life in Canada, built an enduring culinary legacy. Initially opening “Houston Pizza” in 1970, their pizza was a departure from the pies people were accustomed to. According to Allan Pulga, a critic for the CBC, the pie boasts a crust that’s “crispy on the outside, chewy and tender on the inside, and a touch sweet,” akin to a bagel. It’s smothered with homemade pizza sauce, stacked with layers of meat, and covered with an “obscene amount of cheese,” browned to perfection like a crème brûlée’s caramelized topping.
Jim Kolitsas remembers his childhood days in the family business, fondly recalling helping his grandfather with the dough. The distinctiveness of the Regina-style pizza is not just in the preparation but also in how it’s served—cut into squares rather than triangles, accommodating its generous toppings.
The popularity of this hearty pie extends well beyond Regina’s city limits. People from across Canada, and as far afield as Florida, have called in orders to have a taste of home shipped to them for occasions like the Grey Cup or just a birthday treat. One such story involves a lady from Toronto who ordered 12 extra-large pizzas, one for each month of the year, regardless of the “insane” shipping costs compared to the price of the pizzas themselves.
Relevant articles:
– All hail the Greeks: Regina pizza is in a (world) class of its own, CBC News, May 23, 2020
– Pizza in Canada, Wikipedia
– Canada Owes Regina Pizza to Four Greek Immigrant Brothers, GreekReporter.com, Nov 6, 2023