Buzz
Pizza consistently ranks among America's top favorite foods, with pizzerias being a common sight everywhere. But who exactly came up with this delightful dish? It seems like a straightforward question, but the answer is more complicated than it may first appear.
Some trace the origin of pizza to an event in 1889 when Queen Margherita of Italy visited Naples. During her visit, Raffaele Esposito, the chef at Pizzeria Brandi, supposedly crafted a pizza in her honor, incorporating the colors of the Italian flag: red tomato sauce, white mozzarella, and green basil. While Esposito may have helped popularize pizza by making it royal-worthy, there are indications that pizza existed long before this. As noted in Carol Helstosky's book *Pizza: A Global History*, French writer Alexandre Dumas mentions pizza in his 1843 travelogue *Le Corricolo*. To uncover who truly invented pizza, we need to look even further back.
Flatbreads made from leavened dough and topped with various ingredients have appeared throughout ancient history, in regions like Greece and the Middle East. One such bread, called *fiteer*, dates back to ancient Egypt. The ancient Romans are also contenders in the history of pizza-like dishes. In Virgil’s *Aeneid*, Book VII, Aeneas and his companions enjoy a feast with 'hard wheaten cakes used as platters, piled high with local fruits,' which are described as 'crusted disks,' quite similar to pizza.
Is Modern Pizza an Italian or an American Invention?
But can we agree that someone in Italy is responsible for creating pizza? Well, that depends on how we define *pizza*. The Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana sets global standards for Margherita and marinara pizzas, both of which include dough and tomato sauce. However, it’s common today to find *bianca* (white) pizzas, where the tomato sauce is missing. There are even versions without cheese, catering to vegans or those with lactose intolerance. And let’s not even start debating whether pineapple belongs on pizza.
What about pizza in America? The more recent iteration of pizza’s creation is a bit easier to trace. Some sources suggest that an Italian immigrant, Filippo Milone, opened a pizzeria in New York City as early as 1898. Scholar Peter Regas believes Milone may have run pizzerias in at least six different locations. Two of those—John’s of Bleecker Street and Lombardi’s—are still serving pizza in Manhattan today.
In conclusion, it’s difficult to credit a single individual with the invention of pizza, but we can certainly thank a handful of visionary entrepreneurs for popularizing specific pizza styles. No matter which type you prefer, there’s a fascinating history behind every slice.
