A BRIEF (BUT COMPLETE) HISTORY OF PIZZA

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Originally Posted On: https://fondi.com/history-of-pizza/

Did you know that Americans spent around 11 billion dollars on pizza in 2019? That’s a lot of dough. When you are dreaming of something cheesy, you won’t fail by grabbing a slice. But, have you ever wondered what genius is behind the legend? Whether you’re a creative who loves pineapple pizza, a traditionalist who is all about the margherita pizza, or a a purist who loves cheese pizza, keep reading to learn about the history of pizza.

Pizza has been around longer than the word for it has been. It’s believed that pizza was made in the form of flatbread with toppings, spices, and oils by Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and other Mediterranian cultures. Pizza was even cooked over fires by soldiers who used their shields. While pizza has not always been known as pizza, it has definitely been around for centuries. Some of the cultural references that point to the origins of pizza include a poem written in the first century BC. The Roman poet, Virgil, in one of his famous poems, The Aeneid, described a dish that was a circle of bread or cake that resembled pizza. Pizza has been inspiring poems and songs for centuries it seems. We’re not poet’s but even we could be inspired to write poetry about pizza. Just imagine it, An Ode to Pizza.

Pizza really began to evolve into what it is today in Naples, Italy in the 18th century. This is also when the term pizza was coined. While the exact location of where pizza was invented prior to this is unknown, Naples played a huge part in the history of pizza. In Naples pizza was considered peasant food. Not only was it quick to make but it was inexpensive and easy to eat. This encouraged pizza to quickly take off as popular street food. However, it was only when it became a royal treat that it really began to take off.

Pizza began to really become a trend in the late 1800s. At this time, the Italian Queen Margherita and King Umberto I toured their kingdom. During this tour, they visited the peasant villages. At this time the Queen discovered the pizzas getting made in peasant villages. She loved the flavors so much that she had her personal chef begin making her pizzas.

Are you truly a king or queen if there is not something named after you? Due to her love of pizza, a man named Raffaele Esposito paid homage by creating a pizza in her honor. Ever heard of Margherita Pizza? Esposito used flatbread and toppings that were inspired by the Italian flag. For the creation of this pizza, green basil, red tomatoes, and white mozzarella were used to create a pizza that the Queen loved.

By the 19th century, pizza was being eaten all over Italy. Pizza was not only for dinner, but lunch and breakfast as well. As Italians began to move to America, the pizza got introduced to another audience. In America, pizza was originally made in the home of Italian immigrants. However, occasionally it would be sold in unlicensed locations. In the early 20th century, pizza was being sold by street peddlers in Chicago. However, the first licensed pizzeria was Lombardi’s in New York in 1905. This is also where the origin of New York Style Pizza was. If you like your pizza to go on the run, New York Style Pizza is for you. This pizza gets folded in half and taken on the go.

Today there are a plethora of options when it comes to your favorite pizza topping. Some toppings are even a little controversial (pineapple or anchovies, anyone?). However, in one survey, one thousand Americans ranked their favorite pizzas. Cheese came in as the ultimate favorite at 82 percent, followed by pepperoni at 66 percent. Sausage (58 percent), Mushrooms (53 percent), and Bacon (51 percent) all ranked in the top five as well.

Fondis’ uses a sour starter dough to make the best pizza crust for the classic Margherita Pizza. A traditional pizza crust is made from flour, water, yeast, and salt. However, you don’t even have to visit Fondi to get the best pizza dough. You can also Get the Dough, and purchase your own fresh-made dough to make your pizza at home. This dough makes for a chewy and thin crust that compliments your pizza perfectly.

When looking at sauce, you want a fresh sauce with classic flavors. Pizza sauce that has been sitting around and isn’t fresh will begin to taste sour. A sauce that isn’t fresh will ruin the experience of your pizza. This is why at Fondis, the pizza sauce will always be fresh.

On a Margherita pizza, it’s all about the mozzarella. Fondis uses a mozzarella that gets made in-house. This mozzarella is rich and creamy. It gets cooked on top of your pizza in a brick oven. Mozzarella is well-known to be the best cheese for your classic pizza, but the freshly made mozzarella elevates it to a new level. Heck, we even have a Margherita Pizza Recipe using our in-house sour starter dough you can make at home.

The history of pizza is long, and has led to it being one of the most popular fast foods in the United States. Are you feeling hungry for a slice of pizza now? Fondis has the best traditional Margherita pizza in Gig Harbor. Order your slice online today.