Lou Malnati's Bites Back At Netflix Series Dishing On Its Pizza

CHICAGO — Smack dab in middle of debate season, the argument of where Chicago-style pizza falls in the realm of what should – and should not be – considered pizza has once again found its way onto center stage.

Chicago pizza staple Lou Malnati’s is taking umbrage with having its deep-dish pie referred to as “a quiche made of cement” in the new Netflix series, “Emily In Paris.” While foodies and pizza-lovers outside of Chicago have long questioned whether deep dish is actually pizza, Lou Malnati’s officials took exception to the timing of the comment given the tough times restaurants have faced during the on-going coronavirus pandemic.

In the scene, Emily Cooper – portrayed in the series by actress Lilly Collins – refers to Chicago-style pizza as "disgusting". When another actor characterizes deep dish as “a quiche made of cement”, Emily responds, “Oh, no – you must have gone to Lou Malnati’s.”

Marc Malnati, the owner and face of the deep-dish family empire, called the reference “heartless and not humorous”.

"When Netflix’ Emily in Paris writers chose to take a shot at Chicagoans and our pizza to try to get a laugh, it felt heartless and not humorous in the midst of Covid-19,” Malnati said in a statement issued by the restaurant.

A Netflix spokesman said in an email to Patch Thursday that the streaming service has no comment on the situation.

“Emily in Paris” debuted last week and centers around a Chicago native who chases her dreams of working in Paris. The 10-episode series is the brainchild of “Sex And the City” creator Darren Star.

While the series also takes humor stabs at long-suffering Cubs fans, the specific call out-of Lou Malnati’s wasn’t taken lightly by the pizzeria, which has been in business in and around Chicago since 1971 and has 56 locations around the greater Chicago area.

"While the writers of Emily in Paris may not be fans of Deep Dish Pizza or Lou Malnati's in particular, generations of Chicagoans would strongly disagree," the restaurant said in a statement. "Malnati's is always the first to participate in good-natured banter with pizza lovers from New York or California. However, it feels especially unkind to disparage anyone during these difficult times, given that most restaurants are struggling to hang on."