CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The story of A2 Pizza is as unique as the Detroit-style pies it serves up.
Andy Arguad started making pizzas from his home in 2022, before growing his business and opening his own place.
Arguad grew up in Los Angeles, and that’s where he developed his passion for the Detroit-style pizza he now makes for Charlottesville area customers.
What is Detroit style?
The trademarks of Detroit style pizza are unmistakable. It’s a square, deep-dish pie with a crust that’s light and airy on the inside and crispy on the outside. The cheese goes on first, followed by toppings, and finally the layer of sauce. It’s built upside down from traditional, New York style pies.
Where did the style come from?
Detroit style pizza traces its routes to “Buddy’s Rendezvous Pizzeria,” on the city’s east side. In 1946, legend has it, Gus Guerra made his first deep-dish, square pizza, in forged-steel pans he borrowed from automative plants in the area. His pie was believed to be the first square pizza in the U.S. Guerra sold Buddy’s but opened “Cloverleaf Pizza” and continued perfecting the style.
How is it made?
The pizzas are slowly baked in heavy, sometimes cast-iron deep-dish pans. It might take a little longer, but the result is a dough that’s lighter and airier than the heavier Sicilian pies favored in Chicago. Cheese is layered directly on top of the dough, followed by toppings and finally the sauce. The sauce is usually dolloped or striped on the pie, instead of being spread evenly.
