The History of Pizza

The History of Pizza

Many people love a good slice of pizza. Yet, they may not know the history of this popular food. More than 2,500 years ago, soldiers in Italy, Egypt, and Greece made a simple flatbread. They put dough on their metal shields and baked it over a fire. They topped it with cheese, herbs, or other foods. This made the bread more flavorful and nutritious. But they didn't use tomatoes or tomato sauce.

Pizza, as we know it today, started about 300 years ago. It came from a city in Italy, called Naples. Many of the people who lived there were very poor. To feed their families, they needed food that was not too costly. So, they made dough with flour, yeast, and olive oil. They baked the dough in wood-burning ovens. They added toppings to make it tasty and nourishing. Cheese and tomato were the basic toppings. This simple food became a main meal in the poor communities of Naples.

In 1889, the Italian king and queen visited Naples. Their names were Umberto and Margherita. As the story goes, the royal couple wanted to try the favorite local food, pizza. Rafaele Esposito was the baker at Pizzeria Brandi. He made them a pizza with white mozzarella cheese, green basil, and red tomatoes. These three ingredients stood for the colors of the Italian flag. Queen Margherita loved it! So, Chef Esposito named it "Pizza Margherita."

Soon, many Italians left their homeland and came to live in the United States. These immigrants made pizza popular in their new country. In 1905, the first pizzeria in New York City opened. It was called Lombardi's. By 1943, Pizzeria Uno had opened in Chicago. Pizzeria Uno is famous for its deep-dish pizza. Other major chains, like Pizza Hut and Domino's, began to pop up across the country too.

Today, pizza is one of the most popular American foods. People eat it as a snack or for lunch but also for supper and breakfast. Pizza can be eaten hot or cold. Some buy it in grocery stores or make it at home. Others go to their favorite pizzerias. Pizza shops are in just about every American city.