The flames are still hot at this pizza spot in Deep Ellum.
James Amador
I remember my first Honey Badger in Deep Ellum. Everyone has a Honey Badger story, right? The pizza topped with real mozzarella, hot soppressata, sweet bacon marmalade and a drizzle of habanero honey opened our eyes to new pizza possibilities (pizzabilities?).
The restaurant credited with introducing authentic Neapolitan pizza (among other things) to North Texas is turning 15 years old this Valentine’s Day. To celebrate, all their friends (you) are invited to a throwback pizza party.
The Pizza Honeymoon
Cane Rosso founder and owner Jay Jerrier left an exciting career as a corporate sales executive to push pie. He went to Italy for a honeymoon, sparking a lusty affair with Neapolitan pizza. He trained with the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN) and returned to Texas, ready to school Dallas on simple, amazing pizza.
He adamantly advised customers that they did not, in fact, need Ranch dressing for his pizza; for years, he had one bottle in a wooden case with a $1,000 price tag. Jerrier also spent some time in the early days arguing with online trolls, taking each slight to his pizza empire personally, then just stopped caring (the power troll play).
Cane Rosso, which means “red dog” in Italian for Jerrier’s love of man’s best friend, uses double-zero Italian flour for its pizza, with a bit of salt and yeast. Dough proofs for 24 hours before being stretched thin, allowing for big air pockets as it’s baked at a blistering 900 degrees in a custom-built Italian oven.
Deep Ellum Is for (Pizza) Lovers
Despite the ebbs and flows of Dallas’ most scrappily charming neighborhood — and expansion to other parts of North Texas — Jerrier remains committed to Cane Rosso’s original location.
“This location means everything to me,” Jerrier says, despite city of Dallas construction just outside the front door. Deep Ellum was where it all started. “We’ve been through construction, COVID, economic uncertainty and all the ups and downs that come with a lively neighborhood.”
Old School Pizza and Beer Party
To celebrate and show his appreciation to customers for 15 years, Jerrier and Cane Rosso are hosting the mother of all pizza parties on Monday, Feb. 16, with:
$1 Margherita pizza
$1 Miller Lite draft beer
$5 Honey Bastard pizzas
$5 Spiked sangrias
To make sure there’s enough to go around, each specially priced selections are limited to one per guest.
The party runs during normal business hours, which are 3 to 10 p.m., only at the Deep Ellum location. In years past, these types of parties have drawn lines, so be ready to wait.
Cane Rosso, 2612 Commerce St, Deep Ellum