Kamil Perry
Cheese pizza is a global phenomenon, but its origins are much more humble. The story of cheese pizza begins in Naples, Italy, in the 18th century, where flatbreads were topped with simple ingredients like tomatoes and cheese. The dish was initially popular among the poor people of Naples, who ate it with toppings such as tomatoes, cheese, oil, anchovies, and garlic. In 1889, the famous Margherita pizza was created to honour Queen Margherita of Savoy, combining tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to represent the colours of the Italian flag. This was one of the earliest documented instances of cheese being a key ingredient.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Place of Origin | Naples, Italy |
| Date of Origin | Late 18th century |
| Toppings | Tomatoes, cheese, herbs, anchovies, garlic, olive oil |
| First Pizzeria | Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba, opened in 1830 |
| First American Pizzeria | Opened in New York City in 1905 by Gennaro Lombardi |
| New York-style Pizza | Thin, foldable crust with mozzarella topping |
| Chicago-style Pizza | Deep dish |
| Detroit-style Pizza | Rectangular with a spongy focaccia base |
| Canadian-style Pizza | Tomato sauce, mozzarella, pepperoni, mushrooms, and bacon |
| Japanese-style Pizza | May include seafood toppings |
| Brazilian-style Pizza | Catupiry cheese is often used |
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What You'll Learn
The ancient origins of pizza
Pizza is one of the world's most popular fast foods, with billions of pizzas sold each year in the US alone. But the ubiquitous pizza has far more ancient origins, with flatbreads dating back to Neolithic times (around 12,000 years ago). Civilizations throughout the ancient Mediterranean world developed their own versions of flatbreads with toppings.
In the 6th century BCE, Persian soldiers serving under Darius the Great baked flatbreads with cheese and dates on top of their battle shields. In ancient Greece, citizens made a flatbread called plakous (πλακοῦς, gen. πλακοῦντος – plakountos), flavoured with toppings such as herbs, onion, cheese, and garlic. Another term for this type of flatbread was placentae (a term for pastries of flour, cheese, oil, and honey). Athenaeus of Naucratis, a 2nd-century grammarian, mentions that they were topped with fruit puree and used as sacrificial offerings.
In ancient Rome, there was a flatbread called adorea or libum adoreum, which was covered with numerous toppings, including cheese spreads called moretum, and fruits. Focaccia may also date back to ancient Etruscan times. In the late Medieval and early modern eras, flatbreads, cakes or pastries with toppings were common throughout the Mediterranean.
In the 18th century, flatbreads topped with simple ingredients like tomatoes and cheese were eaten in Naples, Italy. In 1889, the famous Margherita pizza was created to honour Queen Margherita of Savoy, combining tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to represent the colours of the Italian flag. This was one of the earliest documented instances of cheese being a key ingredient. The dish quickly became popular in Naples, loved for its delicious simplicity.
In the early 20th century, Italian immigrants brought pizza to the United States, particularly to cities with large Italian communities, such as New York and Chicago. In 1905, the first pizzeria in the United States was established in New York City’s Little Italy by Gennaro Lombardi, who served traditional Neapolitan pizzas, with cheese pizza becoming a customer favourite.
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Pizza's journey from Italy to the US
Pizza was initially an inexpensive peasant food, made by southern Italian immigrant women in their kitchens. However, it gradually gained popularity, and by the latter half of the 20th century, it had become an iconic food in the United States, with numerous regional variations evolving. These regional variations include New York, New Haven, Chicago, Detroit, Greek, California, St. Louis, and more, each with its distinct characteristics. For example, New York-style pizza is known for its thin crust and grated low-moisture mozzarella, while Chicago-style pizza is deep-dish and may include a large amount of vegetable oil or shortening in the dough. Detroit-style pizza is rectangular and has a thick, crispy, and chewy crust, while California-style pizza is known for its use of non-traditional ingredients and fresh produce.
The proliferation of pizza chains such as Pizza Hut, Little Caesar's, Domino's, and Papa John's in the 1950s and 1960s also contributed to the spread and popularity of pizza in the US. These chains made pizza a commodity, selling it as cheap, communal food with a fun image. The return of American soldiers stationed in Italy after World War II further boosted the popularity of pizza and pizzerias across the country.
Today, pizza is a staple of American cuisine, with the US pizza restaurant industry worth $37 billion in 2015. It has come a long way from its early days in Italy, with regional variations and unique styles that bear only a casual resemblance to the Italian original.
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How pizza became popular in the US
Pizza's journey to becoming a staple of American cuisine began in Naples, Italy, in the 18th century. At first, it was a simple dish of flatbread—a concept that dates back to Neolithic times—topped with ingredients such as tomatoes, cheese, and herbs. In 1889, the famous Margherita pizza was created to honour Queen Margherita of Savoy, combining tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to represent the colours of the Italian flag.
Pizza became popular in the United States thanks to the large wave of Italian immigrants who arrived between 1880 and 1920, bringing their skills and appetites with them. Initially, Italian Americans made and sold pizzas from their homes, and they were confined to Italian neighbourhoods. In 1905, the first pizzeria in the United States was established in New York City's Little Italy, and it still exists today.
After World War II, pizza's popularity soared across the U.S., with returning soldiers craving the Italian dishes they had experienced abroad. Cheese pizza, with its affordability and universal appeal, became a go-to meal. As pizzerias sprouted across the country, regional variations emerged, including New York's thin crust, Chicago's deep dish, and California's gourmet varieties. Each style brought a unique twist to the classic, reflecting regional tastes and culinary innovations. By the 1960s, restaurant chains like Domino's and Pizza Hut began to expand internationally, taking this dish to new markets around the world.
Today, pizza is a global icon, with its simplicity and customisability allowing it to be easily adapted to local tastes. Whether it's the rectangular Detroit-style pizza, the spongy focaccia base of a Detroit pizza, or the classic New York-style thin, foldable crust, pizza has cemented its place in American popular culture.
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Different styles of pizza
Pizza has become a global phenomenon, with many countries and cities putting their own spin on the classic dish.
Neapolitan
The roots of the modern pizza can be traced back to 18th-century Naples, where flatbreads were topped with simple ingredients like tomatoes and cheese. The Margherita pizza, created in 1889, is one of the earliest documented instances of cheese being a key ingredient. It combined tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to represent the colors of the Italian flag.
New York
The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in New York City in 1905 by Gennaro Lombardi, who served traditional Neapolitan pizzas. New York-style pizza is characterized by its thin, foldable crust and rich mozzarella topping. The sauce is made with canned tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt, sugar, and aromatics such as basil, oregano, and crushed red pepper.
Chicago
Chicago-style pizza is known for its thick crust, which can contain ample sauce, cheese, and toppings. It is typically baked in a deep dish or cast-iron pan.
Sicilian
Sicilian pizza is also thick-crusted and baked in a pan lined with an olive oil blend. The toppings are pressed into the dough, and the high fat content of the cheese used helps create a crispy crust.
Detroit
Detroit-style pizza is rectangular and has a spongy focaccia base. It is baked in a similar way to Sicilian pizza, with the toppings pressed into the dough. It is topped with a combination of brick and mozzarella cheeses.
Greek
Greek pizza was created by Greek immigrants in America who were introduced to Italian pizza. It features a thick and chewy crust cooked in shallow, oiled pans, resulting in a nearly deep-fried bottom. The sauce is typically a tangy tomato paste with a strong oregano flavor, and the pizza is heavier on the sauce than the cheese.
St. Louis
St. Louis-style pizza has a thin, cracker-like crust and a balanced sauce. However, it is known for its regionally specific blend of cheeses, which includes Swiss, provolone, and cheddar but no mozzarella.
Canadian
The most distinct Canadian pizza is topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, and bacon.
Calabrian
Calabrian pizza is similar to Neapolitan pizza but thinner and crispier, achieved by rolling the dough instead of tossing it. The crust also contains olive oil, which gives it a flatter and crispier texture.
Colorado
Colorado-style pizza, also known as the Colorado Mountain Pie, is made with a honey-infused crust that gives it a brown color and subtly sweet flavor. The crust is rolled to create a distinct edge and crunchy texture.
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Cheese pizza's cultural significance
Cheese pizza has a long and fascinating history that spans centuries and continents. The roots of pizza can be traced back to 18th-century Naples, where flatbreads were topped with simple ingredients like tomatoes and cheese. In 1889, the famous Margherita pizza was created to honour Queen Margherita of Savoy, combining tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to represent the colours of the Italian flag. This was one of the earliest documented instances of cheese being a key ingredient. The dish quickly became popular in Naples, loved for its delicious simplicity.
The history of pizza is deeply intertwined with Italian culture and has left an indelible mark on the culture of the United States as well. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a large wave of Italian immigrants arrived in the United States, bringing their skills and love for pizza with them. They introduced pizza to their new communities, and it soon became a beloved dish in the US as well, especially in cities with large Italian populations such as New York.
Pizza's cultural significance lies in its ability to bring people together and its versatility in adapting to local tastes and ingredients. In the United States, pizza became a dish for all social classes, and the first pizzerias with tables opened in Naples in the early 19th century. After World War II, pizza's popularity soared in the US, with returning soldiers craving the Italian dishes they had experienced abroad. Cheese pizza, in particular, became a go-to meal due to its affordability and universal appeal.
As pizza spread globally, it took on new forms and flavours, reflecting the cultural and culinary traditions of different regions. For example, in Japan, cheese pizza might include seafood toppings, while in Brazil, catupiry cheese or gouda cheese with hard-boiled eggs is often used. In Scotland, they even deep fry their pizzas in fish-and-chips batter! Despite these regional variations, the essential concept of a flatbread base with cheese and toppings remains consistent.
Today, pizza is enjoyed worldwide, and cheese pizza is a constant favourite, beloved for its classic flavour. The global journey of cheese pizza showcases how a simple dish from Naples has evolved into a global icon, bringing people together through a shared love of delicious food.
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Frequently asked questions
Cheese pizza has a long history that spans centuries and continents. The roots of pizza can be traced back to 18th-century Naples, Italy, where flatbreads were topped with simple ingredients like tomatoes and cheese.
Flatbreads date back to Neolithic times (12,000 years ago). Civilizations throughout the Mediterranean developed their own versions. For example, in ancient Greece, citizens made a flatbread called plakous, which was flavoured with toppings such as herbs, onion, cheese, and garlic.
Traditional cheese pizza typically features mozzarella, but variations include different cheeses and additional toppings to suit different tastes. For example, in Japan, cheese pizza might include seafood toppings, while in Brazil, catupiry cheese is often used.
Pizza was brought to the United States by Italian immigrants in the early 20th century. In 1905, Gennaro Lombardi opened the first American pizzeria in New York City, serving traditional Neapolitan pizzas, with cheese pizza becoming a customer favourite.
Pizza is now the world's favourite fast food. In the United States alone, about three and a half billion pizzas are sold each year, which is an average of 48 slices per person! Pizza's simplicity allows for easy customization, making it a comforting favourite.
