FAQ About Pizza
Who made pizza first?
The origins of pizza can be traced back to ancient times, but the modern form of pizza that we know today has its roots in Naples, Italy. The ancient Greeks, Egyptians, and Romans all had some form of flatbread topped with ingredients, but it was in Naples that the pizza as we know it started to take shape.
In Naples, during the 18th and 19th centuries, pizza was a popular street food among the working-class population. The original pizza in Naples was a simple dish made with a thin crust topped with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and sometimes cheese. It was cooked quickly in a wood-fired oven.
The Margherita pizza, which is topped with tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil, is said to have been created in 1889 to honor Queen Margherita of Italy during a visit to Naples. It represented the colors of the Italian flag with the red tomatoes, white mozzarella cheese, and green basil. The Margherita pizza became iconic and helped popularize pizza not just in Naples but throughout Italy and eventually worldwide.
While the specific person who made the first pizza cannot be pinpointed, it was the combination of Neapolitan culinary traditions, the availability of ingredients like tomatoes after their introduction from the New World, and the creativity of the local pizza makers that led to the birth of pizza as we know it.
Since then, pizza has evolved and diversified into various regional styles and toppings around the world. It has become one of the most beloved and popular foods globally, with countless variations and adaptations to suit different tastes and cultures.
