Buzz
Ah, pizza. It’s a dish that’s loved worldwide. From its classic combo of dough, cheese, and tomato sauce, the true debate begins with the toppings. (For me, it's a solid vote for the timeless combo of pepperoni and sausage!)
Pizza might seem uncomplicated at first glance. What more is it than some toppings placed on a dough base, then baked in an oven? In theory, yes, it's quite simple. But the journey and evolution of pizza is far richer and more complex than you might imagine.
Here, we’ll explore ten intriguing and lesser-known facts about pizza. By the end, we bet you'll be salivating and heading straight to the nearest pizza joint for delivery!
10. The Noble Beginnings of Pizza
The very first documented pizza ever created dates back nearly 300 years. In 1738, in Naples, Italy, at the renowned ‘Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba,’ they crafted a doughy flatbread topped with tomato sauce and cheese, baked it in an oven, and officially named it pizza!
As you might expect, this location—and the iconic dish it birthed—remains a source of immense pride for Italy, especially for the people of Naples. But that’s just one of the pivotal moments in the history of one of Italy’s most beloved exports!
According to legend, pizza underwent a significant transformation in 1889. That year, the Neapolitan pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito is said to have created the Margherita pizza we know today, topping it with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil in a tribute to Queen Margherita of Savoy.
Esposito, tired of the French cuisine favored by European elites in the 19th century, crafted the new pizza and named it in honor of the queen herself. It didn’t hurt that the three ingredients—tomatoes (red), mozzarella (white), and basil (green)—perfectly mirrored the Italian flag!
Unfortunately, historians in recent years have questioned the accuracy of this story. The tale of Esposito’s flag-inspired creation may be more myth than fact. Nevertheless, Margherita pizza remains a staple in both Italy and the U.S., and it's just as delicious whether or not Queen Margherita of Savoy truly inspired the dish!
9. America Took the Lead! Well, Kind of…
The Neapolitans certainly deserve all the credit for creating pizza as we know it today. But despite its origins in Naples centuries ago, pizza didn’t gain widespread popularity in Italy for quite some time. It was actually Italian immigrants arriving in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries who helped make pizza a sensation!
Many Neapolitans migrated to the U.S. in the 19th century, seeking factory jobs. They settled mostly along the eastern coast, in places like New York, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. Others moved to cities further inland, such as Chicago and St. Louis. Along with their work, they brought the knowledge of pizza—and it became their culinary gift to America.
Although pizza wasn’t yet popular in Italy by the 19th century, Italian immigrants quickly embraced it once they arrived in the U.S. In their communities, newly settled Italian-Americans began making pizza because it was inexpensive, easy to prepare, and could feed a large group with simple, accessible ingredients.
Before long, pizza-making turned into a commercial venture. In 1905, Gennaro Lombardi opened a pizzeria on Spring Street in Manhattan, becoming the first licensed pizza vendor in the city. Today, Lombardi’s is still operating! While they’ve moved from their original location, they still use the same oven. You can go there today and taste pizza just like it was made back then!
8. The Greeks and Egyptians Were on It, Too
While Italy may have given birth to the pizza we know today, and America turned it into a global phenomenon, neither of these cultures can truly claim to have invented it. Centuries ago, both the ancient Egyptians and ancient Greeks crafted their own versions of pizza-like dishes, which were enjoyed by their communities. The Romans also had their own take on it.
In Egypt, kitchens were used to prepare flatbread-like dishes that resembled modern pizza, topped with fresh, organic ingredients. Meanwhile, in ancient Greece, there was a dish known as “plakous” that was extremely popular. It consisted of a flatbread base, much like the Egyptian version, topped with herbs, onions, and garlic.
While these ancient creations weren’t quite the cheesy, tomato-sauced pies we love today, they followed the same basic principle: a simple, easy-to-eat bread base adorned with fresh, flavorful toppings. So, in a way, these two ancient cultures deserve credit for creating early versions of pizza!
7. Soldiers Helped Spread the Dish
Even when Italian-Americans began consuming pizza in large numbers after immigrating to the U.S., and even as they started opening pizzerias to sell pies to the masses, the dish didn’t truly catch on. At least, not among the non-Italian population in the United States.
In fact, pizza didn’t gain widespread popularity in the U.S. until after World War II. So, it’s only been less than a century since pizza became a staple in our daily lives, a beloved food we enjoy with friends and family. And we have American soldiers returning from Europe to thank for that!
American soldiers stationed in Italy during World War II encountered pizza for the first time. They instantly fell in love with it. Simple, delicious, and addictive, they couldn’t get enough. When they returned home, they were disappointed they couldn’t enjoy pizza as frequently as they had while abroad during the war.
To fix that, they sought out Italian-American communities in major cities like New York and Chicago, and soon began popularizing pizza among non-Italian residents. As more Americans discovered how tasty pizza was, the trend spread rapidly. But it all began with those soldiers!
6. The World’s Biggest Pizza
It seemed only right that the Italians would hold the title for the world’s largest pizza. And they did—until it was taken away. On December 13, 2012, pizza makers in Rome created a pizza spanning 13,580 square feet (1,261.6 square meters). They named it “Ottavia,” a tribute to Rome’s first emperor, Octavian Augustus. Once fully baked, it became the world’s largest pizza—an edible masterpiece! Truly incredible!
But just over a decade later, that record was shattered. It was the Americans—along with a YouTube star—who claimed the new title in 2023. The location was the Los Angeles Convention Center, and the star was Airrack, a popular YouTube personality.
Airrack, in collaboration with Pizza Hut, created a pizza that surpassed the Roman record. After carefully preparing the dough, cheese, sauce, and pepperoni over several days, Guinness World Records confirmed that the LA pizza had indeed claimed the title.
The creation of this mammoth pizza involved more than 13,000 pounds (6,193 kilograms) of dough, nearly 600 gallons (2,244 liters) of pizza sauce, and 8,800 pounds (3,992 kilograms) of cheese. Additionally, 630,000 slices of pepperoni topped the pie. Simply unbelievable!
And in a heartwarming twist, Pizza Hut CEO David Graves shared that the mega-pizza was sliced into 68,000 individual pieces, which were then donated to food banks and homeless shelters. Truly amazing!
5. The Pineapple Pioneers
What’s your stance on pineapple on pizza? It’s one of the most heated and ongoing debates in the world of food. And this controversial topping has been sparking passionate opinions for decades! The story began over sixty years ago when a Greek immigrant living in Canada came up with the idea…
Hold on a second. Did we get that right?
Hawaiian pizza—yes, the one with pineapple, ham, and all that goodness—wasn’t actually invented in Hawaii or by anyone from Hawaii. In fact, it was first introduced in 1962 by a Greek immigrant to Ontario, Canada. His name was Sam Panopoulos, and he became a true trailblazer in the pizza world!
Panopoulos and his brothers owned a handful of pizza joints in Ontario during the early 1960s. Business was decent, but they soon realized they needed to spice things up to draw in more customers. So, they began experimenting with new pizza flavors and toppings, eventually creating the now-famous Hawaiian pizza.
One day, Sam was struck by an idea inspired by the Hawaiian islands, and that’s when history was made! He added pineapple and ham to a pizza, began selling it, and immediately created a divide between those who loved it and those who didn’t. But the new style caught on, and even after Sam passed away in 2017, his Hawaiian pizza legacy continues to thrive.
4. Pizza on the Brain
If you find yourself constantly craving pizza (like we do), and it’s always on your mind (especially after reading this list), why not make your way to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania? The city of brotherly love is home to what’s known as the world’s first and largest pizza museum. It’s called “Pizza Brain.”
So, if you can’t stop thinking about that cheesy, gooey goodness, maybe it’s time to head to Philly for a guided tour that takes you through the colorful history of pizza! Pizza Brain, as mentioned, is the first museum ever created to honor pizza and track its rise as a global food sensation. While New York City now has its own pizza museum, Philly’s Pizza Brain was the trailblazer.
Inside, you’ll find pizza memorabilia on every wall, from pizza-themed vinyl records and vintage boxes to pizza-making tools and more. There are even action figures of characters like Homer Simpson and Spider-Man, each holding pizza or connected to the beloved food in some way. If it’s pizza-related, chances are Philly’s Pizza Brain Museum has it on display!
3. Pizza in Space!
This truly redefines the term “Space Race.” In 2001, Pizza Hut made history by becoming the first-ever pizza company to deliver a pizza to outer space. They teamed up with a Russian space agency and convinced them to bring a pizza on a rocket they were preparing to launch to dock with the International Space Station.
The rocket launched as scheduled and successfully docked high above Earth to meet the astronauts on the ISS. The Russian astronauts aboard the rocket brought the pizza on board, making the delivery a success! In total, Pizza Hut revealed that the entire stunt cost them around $1 million.
Of course, it marked the first successful pizza delivery to space, so that $1 million probably wasn’t too bad for a company looking to stand out in the crowded world of food delivery. But we do have one question: How much did the delivery driver get for a tip?
2. A REALLY Expensive Pie
The cost of food (and practically everything else) keeps rising, but the average pizza still remains fairly affordable. That is, unless you compare it to a pizza made by Industry Kitchen in New York City in 2016. The famed NYC pizzeria shocked the world by creating a “golden pizza,” topped with such extravagant ingredients that we’re still in awe!
For starters, the South Street Seaport-based pizzeria added luxurious ingredients like foie gras and Ossetra caviar on top of this golden pizza. This would already indicate an expensive pizza, but they went even further with one particularly surprising ingredient: gold flakes!
Indeed, the pizza was dusted with 24-karat gold leaf all over the top. Since it’s real gold (and edible, mind you), the cost of the pizza comes with a hefty price tag. The golden pizza costs $2,000 per pie—and New Yorkers from all boroughs wasted no time rushing in to indulge in the lavish meal!
1. Pizza, but Make It Japanese
Japan does pizza a little differently than the rest of the world. While they have adopted the style of pizza from other countries, the delicious dish in this East Asian nation is very unique. For example, some of the common pizza toppings in Japan include squid ink, eel, and… brace yourself… mayonnaise. Yes, mayonnaise! On pizza!
Instead of tomato sauce, it’s common for a base of miso paste or other savory options to be used, which elevates the flavor profile of the dish to new levels. While our earlier Greek pioneer of pineapple pizza may be rolling in his grave at this thought, the Japanese have truly taken pizza to an entirely unique level.
For the Japanese, squid ink on pizza is often paired with actual squid pieces. The ink, called “ikasumi,” serves as the base for this black-and-white pizza. While its dark appearance might be shocking to some, the flavor is actually quite delightful! Topped with squid slices, this could easily be the world’s only gooey, black-and-white pizza. It may not be the prettiest dish to look at, but it’s beloved by locals and tourists alike!
