Written by: Purnam Jobanputra
Edited by: Aditya Batra
Designed by: Kathy Arsenault
Published by: Rayna Almas
Whether it is a Friday-night takeout, a fun family dinner, or a quick slice after school, pizza is a food that almost everyone loves, especially Canadians. In fact, the famous “Hawaiian pizza,” topped with pineapples, was actually invented here in Ontario, not Hawaii. However, the story of pizza began way before it reached North America. To understand how it became a global favourite, we need to travel back thousands of years to look at the very first flatbreads.
Where was it invented?
Pizza wasn’t always like the one we see today – with flatbread, cheese and toppings. Many cultures claim pizza as their invention; however, pizza originated as flatbread, often eaten by the Greeks, Romans, Persians, and Egyptians. One of Rome’s great poets, Virgil, wrote about eating mushrooms and herbs on top of stale round loaves – one of the earliest forms of pizza recorded. Pizza, as we know it, first emerged in Naples in the 18th century. At that time, many peasants came from the countryside, and the economy couldn’t afford to feed the population. A solution to eat something cheap and easy was to get pizzas from the street vendors, as they priced their pizzas based on the customer’s budget. The toppings of the pizza varied from something as simple as garlic and salt to cheese, basil and sometimes tomatoes.
Who invented it?
King Umberto 1 and Queen Margherita were on a visit to Naples in 1889. Tired of eating the same French food every day, they requested to try some of the more local dishes. For the royal couple, three pizzas were prepared by chef Raffaele Esposito and his wife, Pizzeria Brandi. To represent Italian heritage and the colours of the flag, one of the pizzas was topped with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil (red, white, and green are the flag colours of Italy). The queen enjoyed this pizza the most, so it was later called Pizza Margherita in her honour. Queen Margherita even wrote a letter to the chef, which to this day is on display at the restaurant. Today, margherita pizza is one of the most loved pizza flavours in the world.
World’s first pizzeria
The first pizzeria to open was Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba in Naples. It was opened in 1738, and about a century later, it was expanded to a restaurant with tables and chairs. They even earned a visit by King Ferdinanand II of the Two Sicilies. Over time, pizza and pizzeria expanded all over the world, becoming one of the most loved foods.
Types of pizza
As time went on, pizza evolved, and now there are multiple types of pizza available. Here are some of the most popular ones:
- Neapolitan style pizza: The original style of pizza that was invented back in the 18th century.
- Chicago-style pizza: Also known as deep-dish pizza, it was invented during the early 1900s. It has a thick crust, raised edges and is kind of like a pie.
- New York-style pizza: One of America’s most famous regional pizza. It’s a slight variation of the Neapolitan-style pizza.
- Sicilian-style pizza: It’s a square-cut pizza with a crunchy crust and robust tomato sauce. Brought to North America in the 19th century, it became popular after WW2.
- Greek-style pizza: The crust is chewier and puffier. It was invented by Greek immigrants who came to North America.
- California-style pizza: Found in the 1970s by Chef Ed LaDou, it is known for its unique ingredients and toppings(you can pick whichever topings you want)
- St. Louis-style pizza: Thin-crust pizza, usually cut into little rectangles/squares. It is known for its cracker-like crust.
Sources:
https://www.11inchpizza.com.au/10-fascinating-facts-about-our-favourite-food-pizza/
https://www.hellofresh.com/eat/history-of-food/history-of-pizzan