Is Pizza Italian?

We have a deep love for pizza, and it's safe to assume that you do too. Statistics show that there's more than a 1 in 3 chance that your favorite pizza is pepperoni. Pizza is adored by Americans, who consume approximately 350 slices per second! And why not? It's absolutely delicious. If you were to ask someone about the cuisine that pizza belongs to, it wouldn't be surprising if they answered Italian. And they wouldn't be wrong. While pizza does have its origins in Italy, its history is much more diverse.

Italians Didn't Invent Pizza

Well, that's up for debate. If we break down what pizza truly is – a yeasted flatbread with various toppings baked on it – then Italians can't claim its invention. The ancient Greeks deserve credit for that. However, since Naples, Italy was founded as a Greek port city, pizza continued to evolve in Italy.

Initially, it was simply bread with oil and herbs. It wasn't until later that mozzarella and tomatoes were introduced. The modern pizza, as we know it today, gained popularity in the late 18th century. During that time, it was considered street food. In 1861, when Italy unified, the King and Queen visited Naples. They sampled a variety of pizzas, but the Queen's favorite had soft white cheese, red tomatoes, and green basil as toppings. Coincidentally, these are also the colors of the Italian flag! That particular combination of toppings was then named after the Queen – Margherita.

When Did Pizza Arrive in America?

Despite its popularity in Italy, pizza was relatively unknown in the rest of the world. However, that changed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like many Europeans, Italians immigrated to America in search of jobs. They brought their culinary culture along with them. In fact, one of the first documented pizzerias in the United States opened in New York in 1905.

However, it wasn't until the 1940s and 1950s that pizza transitioned from being perceived as foreign food to becoming an American favorite. The invention of frozen pizza in the 1960s made it accessible to people from all walks of life. From there, the rest is history. Pizza chains emerged, delivery services became popular, and unique topping combinations (like pineapple) were introduced.