This article was inspired by WishTv
Introduction
Deep dish pizza: loved by some, debated by many but mastered by few. In Indianapolis, Uno Pizzeria & Grill, the birthplace of Chicago-style deep dish, is doing something that every pizza shop, supplier, and home enthusiast should pay attention to: they’re opening their kitchen doors to teach customers how to craft that legendary pie themselves.
This smart move, first covered by WISH-TV, highlights a powerful shift in how pizza can bring people together and how the pizzerias that embrace education, connection, and a little showmanship can rise above the ordinary slice.
Why Pizza-Making Classes Work: For Enthusiasts
Enthusiasts don’t just want to eat pizza they want to know it. Uno’s hands-on deep dish class lets diners touch the dough, feel the layering technique, and walk out with bragging rights (and a pizza they made themselves).
Can’t make it to Indy? Bring the deep dish experience home. Start with a trusted deep dish pizza cookbook for recipes straight from Chicago legends. Pair it with a seasoned cast iron deep dish pan a must for that buttery, crunchy crust. And if you’re ready to go pro, a compact home pizza oven can take your pies to the next level.
Shop Owners: Transform Your Pizza Skills Into Revenue
Uno’s deep dish class is more than a marketing gimmick it’s a lesson in turning your team’s know-how into a revenue stream and loyalty machine. A Saturday afternoon class, a birthday party workshop, or a corporate team-building event can fill your dining room during off-hours and give your shop something special the big chains can’t touch.
Want to try it? Keep it organized with a restaurant POS system to handle bookings and payments. A quality commercial prep table makes it easy to lay out ingredients for hands-on fun. And remember your staff are teachers now. Invest in short training to help them shine in front of a crowd.
Suppliers: There’s Opportunity in Education
For suppliers, the rise of pizza-making classes is an untapped opportunity. Shops running classes need more than just bulk flour and cheese they might want branded recipe cards, premium flours for students to buy, or even take-home kits that extend the experience.
If you’re a supplier, pitch an “educator’s package” that includes small deep dish pans, premium ingredients, and branded aprons or hats. These extras help your shop clients create a polished experience and keep your products in customers’ kitchens long after the class ends.
Pizza Pro Tip: The Deep Dish Secret
We asked (hypothetically) an Uno chef what makes their deep dish so iconic. “It’s the layering dough first, cheese second, toppings third, and sauce on top. It’s backward from what most people know, and that’s what creates that rich, gooey, golden perfection.”
If you’re baking deep dish at home, don’t skip the basics: use a good dough scraper to handle the butter-rich dough, and make sure your oven temp stays consistent with an oven thermometer. Little details make all the difference.
More Than Pizza — It’s a Story
Uno’s class shows that when you share your craft, you’re not just selling pizza you’re creating stories. Stories people share at family dinners, post on Instagram, and remember when they’re deciding where to eat next Friday.
Whether you’re kneading dough at home, building supply relationships, or running your own pizzeria, take a page from Uno’s playbook: lean into what makes you unique, teach what you know, and give your customers a seat at the table.
Because when pizza becomes more than a meal when it becomes an experience everyone leaves a little happier. And isn’t that what good pizza is all about?
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