Join me on a journey to solve an age-old riddle: where was pizza invented? Many believe that pizza originated in the land of La Dolce Vita. But I've uncovered the true origins of America's favorite comfort food.
Will you be my co-pilot?
Grab a slice of your favorite RED BARON® frozen pizza, and let’s embark on this culinary quest together.
Where did pizza originate?
Did the Greeks invent pizza? Did the Egyptians? The answer depends on whom you ask.
Many regions, such as Egypt, Greece, Iran, and Italy, claim the beloved dish, and for good reason; people worldwide love it. Pizza-inspired dishes, like today's flatbreads, date back to B.C. in the Middle East and Mediterranean.
Picture ancient Greece. You're eating a flatbread, surrounded by olive trees. Their fresh, aromatic fruit is ripe. You add a dash of herbs and some hand-picked olives for flavor. This yummy treat, much like the focaccia bread, is a predecessor of the modern pizza we know and love. Many believe that pizza comes from the Greek word "pita," meaning "pie." Others think it comes from the Italian pizzicare, meaning "to pinch," as one would do to prepare the dough. This provides clear evidence that the modern pizza is a derivative of the Mediterranean flatbread. But its lineage also includes flatbreads found in other cultures, tortilla and naan as examples.
But when you think of the classic pizza, we’ve landed in the picturesque coastal town of Naples, Italy. It was under Greek rule in the 5th century B.C. It then became part of the Roman Empire in the 4th century. Known as a bustling city, under its own independent rule, it was full of working-class residents who lived mostly outdoors. In 1835, culinary author Alexandre Dumas traveled to Naples. He saw the poor eating flatbread with various toppings three times a day. It was affordable and convenient. Not much has changed from today’s love for the dish. I myself indulge in a slice multiple times a day more often than I’d prefer to admit.
Who invented pizza?
While no specific person is credited with inventing pizza, Naples is the birthplace. Economic conditions influenced the choice of ingredients. In prosperous times, they used garnishes like grated cheese from horse milk, fish, or basil. During harder times, these premium materials were scarce, showcasing the creativity and adaptability of the street vendors.
How can one forget about the tomatoes?! Explorers during the Columbian Exchange brought them over from the New World. They then added them to flatbreads, becoming the pizza we know today.
Pizza fun fact: The term marinara originated from the Italian word for sailors. Can you guess what the seafarers’ diet consisted of?
Is pizza from Italy?
Yes, and street vendors of early Naples kept the gastronomical tradition. While they might not have directly invented pizza, their livelihood ensured that pizza would evolve into the staple we know and love.
Popular in Naples, the dish did not spread much outside its borders; even among Italians, it was still looked down upon as a poor man’s food. Foolish to think such a way, isn’t it?
When did pizza come to America?
Pizza's renaissance in America began in the late 19th century. Italians, mostly from southern Italy, migrated to the Northeast to find factory work amid economic instability at home. The new immigrants sought cheap, tasty, on-the-go food. This led to bakeries and secret pizza sellers catering to these needs.
The first pizzeria in New York City, Lombardi’s, opened in 1905, in a place that would later become Little Italy. Soon after, other pizzerias spread to boroughs across the city. It would take a few decades for the secret to spill outside the circle of the Northeast.
When did pizza become popular in the U.S.?
It was my fellow comrades, yearning for the savory taste of comfort food on the battle lines after World War II, that led to the commercialization. Although Italian Americans and food writers had already started to popularize pizza, it had a negative connotation as bar food, unsuitable for families. The soldiers' approval of pizza led to a rebrand and removed the stigma.
Pizza met America in the late 19th century, and it took over 50 years to become a household name. As a pioneer of the sky, I pondered whether I could help in the development of my favorite food. In 1976, I embarked on a new quest: to meet the demand for affordable, ready-to-eat “TV dinners” with frozen pizza offerings.
In the mid-20th century, American pop culture made pizza the new cool kid-approved food, a convenient dish for the suburban middle class. Pizza was featured in films like 1954’s The Gold of Naples, starring Sophia Loren, and 1977’s Saturday Night Fever, starring John Travolta, who eats two slices in the opening scene, showcasing the influence of the dish in a vibrant Brooklyn.
Why is pizza so popular?
Our culinary adventure is back where it started. What makes pizza so popular is its affordability and reliability, the same reasons as before. The accessible price point makes it a favorite across all budgets. From the working mom looking to become the hero during mealtime to the college student clinching pennies, or the party host sharing something awesome. Every slice tells a story and there’s a different pizza for each palate to please the pickiest eater.
As a pilot, I travel to various regions for inspiration for my recipes. Some of my favorite types of pizza styles include:
Deep Dish
A slight wind; I must have landed in the city. In 1943, Ike Sewell from Texas opened Uno Pizzeria & Grill in Chicago. It became the birthplace of deep-dish, Chicago style pizza. Due to the success of the pizzeria, among Italians and locals, entrepreneurs looking to please demand started offering more options. Soon, new eateries emerged, and they energized the competition, raising the bar of production and ingenuity. The iconic pizza is known for its heavy, cheesy crust. While the other variation, stuffed, has another layer of dough on top. It is then covered by cheese, filling, and sauce.
Neapolitan Pizza
The star of Italy – Neapolitan pizza – is crafted from simple ingredients as in yesteryear in a wood-fired oven for a unique texture. In a surprising twist, many international tourists flock to Naples for a bite of an authentic slice, contributing to the local economy and promotion of Italy. Oh, how times have changed.
Detroit Style Pizza
Influenced by Sicilian techniques, Detroit-style pizza, the square underdog, is proving itself to be a formidable competitor. Remember the focaccia Italian bread? This type of pizza is prepared using an airy dough like its predecessor, but unlike traditional pizzas, you add the toppings directly onto the crust. You don’t use just any cheese, but iconic Wisconsin brick cheese, followed by the sauce on top.
French Bread Pizza
For a quick, on-the-go snack French breads are a delight. The base is a French bread loaf versus the traditional pizza dough; then it is topped with any choice of protein, cheese, sauce, oil, or herbs. Many find this dish delicious because of its convenient and easy preparation.
FAQs about pizza:
- How many calories in a slice of pizza?
This varies; it’s based on a myriad of factors, as each chef uses a different recipe. If you’re curious about the calories in a RED BARON® frozen pizza, you can check the pizza box or the product page.
- Where was pizza originally invented?
Pizza was invented in Naples, Italy, a derivative of the Mediterranean flatbread.
- How many calories in a pizzeria slice of pizza?
The number of calories in a pizza is specific to the chef’s recipe.
- Where was the first pizza made?
Street vendors baked the first pizzas in Naples, Italy.
- Is pizza from Italy?
Yes, pizza is from Italy, but it has become a global dish with sprinkles of cultural influences from around the world.
- When was pizza invented?
Similar foods like the flatbread have been around since B.C. During the Columbian Exchange, explorers shipped tomato plants alongside other vegetables, this led to the traditional pizza we know.
The question about the history of pizza has puzzled millions around the world for hundreds of years; the simple dish is a mirage of cultures intertwined. Pizza is the offspring of Italian and American parents, adopted by uncles in India, Japan, Greece, and almost every country. From its humble beginnings as the food of the marginalized, it has connected cultures, elevating it to one of the most popular mealtime ideas.
Oftentimes, the simple things that delight the senses are the most complex.
We’ve traveled the world. Finally, our plane has arrived.
After a flight, it’s time to indulge in part of my favorite Friday mealtime idea: my leftover frozen pizza. Where do you think our next adventure will take us?