Serving & Heating Instructions for Pizzas and More

At Tastes of Chicago, we ensure your favorite foods from iconic Chicago restaurants arrive ready to be enjoyed. To help you savor every bite, we provide simple serving and heating instructions for our pizzas and other delicious specialties. Follow these guidelines to enjoy the authentic flavors of Chicago at home, just as if you were dining in the Windy City!

Lou Malnati’s Deep Dish Pizza Heating Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425°F.
2. Remove lid and lift pizza out of the pan. Wipe away condensation from the pan and lightly oil the pan. Return pizza to the pan.
3. Place the pizza directly on the center oven rack. Use a baking sheet if desired for easier cleanup.
4. Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown. If the pizza has thawed decrease bake time by 5 minutes.

Tips for Garrett Popcorn and Vienna Beef Hot Dogs

• Garrett Popcorn is ready to eat right from the tin—no heating necessary.
• For Vienna Beef hot dogs, bring the water to a boil, turn the water down until it stops boiling, or a slight simmer. (DO NOT COOK HOT DOGS IN BOILING WATER). Place desired number of hot dogs into water and cook uncovered for 20 minutes.
• Heat buns on high in microwave for 2 to 2 ½ minutes for a true Chicago-style experience.

Heating Eli’s Cheesecake and Portillo’s Italian Beef

• Eli’s Cheesecake should be thawed overnight in the refrigerator for best flavor and texture. Serve chilled.
• For Portillo’s Italian beef, add enough Italian beef slices for 2-3 sandwiches at a time and heat in microwave for about 1 minute. Add beef in small increments as needed. For the gravy, place entire contents of gravy packets in large sauce pan. Heat until it reaches 180°.DO NOT BOIL. This takes about 20 minutes.

Serving Suggestions for the Best Chicago Experience

• Let pizza cool for five minutes before slicing to keep the cheese and toppings in place.
• Serve Chicago hot dogs on steamed poppy seed buns with yellow mustard, relish, onions, tomato, sport peppers, a pickle spear, and celery salt.

Conclusion

Enjoying classic Chicago foods at home is easy with Tastes of Chicago. By following these simple instructions, you bring legendary Windy City flavors to your kitchen table—fresh, hot, and authentic. For more product details or troubleshooting, visit our FAQs or reach out to our team for personal support.