The History of Pizza

Pizza is a favorite dish of many people worldwide, from college students and singles who shun cooking to busy parents who want a quick and easy dinner that kids of all ages will definitely eat. It’s easy to understand why pizza is so popular when you consider that its essential ingredients have nearly always been available to people, and those ingredients have always been staples. Luckily, today you don’t have to grind the grains to make flour or milk a goat to make cheese. Delivery pizza specials are easy to find whenever you have a craving. Here’s a brief history of this favorite dish.

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Flatbreads and Tomatoes

Flatbreads with various ingredients and toppings have been traced to ancient Greece, Persia and Europe, and they are believed to have been eaten by many other civilizations as well. Pizza as you know it today got its start long after tomatoes were introduced to Europe because most avoided what they thought to be a poisonous plant. Poorer people in the Naples region first began using tomatoes on flatbread in the late 1700s, introducing a new taste that drew visitors to the area for a sample at neighborhood pizzerias. Italian immigrants brought the dish with them when they came to America in the late 19th century.

Many Types of Favorites

Today, many Italians hold to one of two types of pizza, which they consider to be true to their roots. They are known as Margherita and marina pizzas.

·         Margherita pizza: This pie features fresh basil, mozzarella cheese and a limited amount of tomato sauce. It takes its name from Queen Margherita, who, according to legend, preferred it due to its colors, which are the same as the country’s flag, red, white and green.

·         Marinara pizza: This type of pie takes its name from fishermen’s wives (marinara), who served the dish to their hardworking husbands. It features tomatoes, olive oil, garlic and oregano.

In America, there are as many types of pizzas as there are people, with many restaurants offering unique recipes and build-your-own pizzas that allow customers to choose the toppings they prefer. Making or finding a favorite, such as a “steak and cheese pizza near me,” is as easy as typing that phrase into your smartphone.

Pizza Popularity in the U.S.

Although there is some doubt about where the first U.S. pizzeria opened, Boston or New York, it is generally thought that Lombardi’s in New York was the first to open its doors in 1905. Pizza’s popularity spread slowly through the Eastern states, finally making it to Los Angeles in 1939. It wasn’t until chain restaurants came on the scene in the 1950s and ‘60s, however, that pizza became a national favorite. Today, about 13% of U.S. residents enjoy pizza every day.

Easy Order and Delivery

Pizza continues to be a low-cost meal enjoyed by many on a regular basis, with bacon cheeseburger pizza delivery a popular choice. An estimated 3 billion pizzas are ordered every year across the country, with many people having more than one favorite dish. Take advantage of easy order and delivery options at your favorite restaurantwhenever you need to satisfy your pizza cravings.