America’s Favorite Pie: A Brief History in Honor of National Pizza Month
“National Pizza Month” is in October, but you certainly don’t have to wait until then to pay homage to this magnificent creation. Often referred to as “pie,” pizza is definitely not an acquired taste; It’s love at first dick. Nothing says savory and delicious like pizza, but what makes it so irresistible and one of America’s favorite foods? Is it the dough, the sauce, or the ingredients or the combination and balance of all three? Ask any pizza aficionado and chances are you’ll hear a different answer. Pizza is just one of those sense-pleasing foods that people are passionate about and love to splurge on.
The origins of pizza have long been the subject of much controversy. Variations of this humble cake date back to ancient times, but no one seems to know who the actual inventor was. Contrary to popular belief, it was not the Italians. While no one can deny that the Italians put pizza on the proverbial map, according to food historians, that claim to fame actually belongs to Mediterranean cultures who created their own versions of “pizza” using round and flat breads with olive oil or cheese. and a variety of dressings, herbs and spices.
However, the Italian peasants of Naples have been credited with inventing the first pizza with tomatoes. It wasn’t until the early 18th century, when tomatoes were added to the flatbread that it became “Italian” and evolved into the family cake we know today. Naples is also credited with having the world’s first authentic pizzeria called Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba, around 1830, and 176 years later, it’s still in business. Legend has it that in 1889, during a tour of the kingdom, Queen Margherita observed the peasants feasting on large flatbreads. Even though it was unbecoming of a queen to associate with peasants let alone eat the same food, her curiosity reached its peak and she ordered her guards to bring her one to try. Delighted with the taste of it, she summoned the city’s most notable pizza maker, Raffaele Esposito, to the royal palace to prepare a selection of “flatbreads”. Flattered by her request, the pizzaiola created a few varieties, one of which represented the green, white, and red colors of the Italian flag using basil, mozzarella cheese, and fresh tomatoes. This was the Queen’s favorite and in her honor it became known as the “Margherita” pizza; a delicious alternative to the traditional empanada and one of the most popular pizzas today. The Neapolitan empanada is said to be the best pizza to sink your teeth into, and even today, Naples is known as the “Pizza Capital of the World.” Perhaps for these reasons, the Italians, and more specifically Raffaele Esposito, are credited with the invention of pizza.
At the end of the 19th century, Italian immigrants began their exodus to the United States; most of whom made it to Ellis Island and settled in New York City. They brought with them their culture and passion for Italian cuisine. They craved foods that would remind them of their home and ethnicity. In 1897, an Italian immigrant, Gennaro Lombardi, also known as “The Father of American Pizza,” opened a grocery store on Spring Street in Little Italy, New York, where he sold pizzas. To handle the growing demand for this beloved pie, in 1905 he opened the first licensed pizzeria in the United States, unsurprisingly naming it “Lombardi’s.” Over a hundred years later, you can still order pizza at Lombardi’s.
Pizza didn’t really gain widespread recognition until the end of World War II. During their tour of duty, American soldiers stationed in Italy were introduced to pizza and in 1945, when they returned home to the United States, they brought with them a love of this delicious pastry and a craving that would not stop. In the mid-1950s, this old-fashioned country food became a major part of American cuisine, and today it has become a worldwide obsession.
In the early 1980s, Wolfgang Puck hired a maestro pizziola named Ed LaDou as a pizza chef for his restaurant, Spago’s of Hollywood. LaDou is best known for reinventing pizza by experimenting with a variety of unpredictable ingredients typically found in the gourmet world. He became famous for his barbecue chicken pizza and for creating the menu for the first California Pizza Kitchen. Thanks to his culinary magic, a new gourmet pizza culture was born and today unique and obscure toppings are all the rage. This pizza pioneer paved the way for innovative chefs and hobbyists who enjoy experimenting with new and exotic creations and fresh, flavorful ingredients.
At Las Vegas Metro Pizza at Tropicana, their homemade sauce is the secret to what makes their pizza delicious, popular and famous. “We use the best tomatoes in the Modesto area,” said Director of Operations Tony Shea. “Our tomatoes are packed fresh within four hours of being picked from the vine. That’s the secret to what sets our sauce apart from the rest. Our mozzarella is also one of a kind. We source it from Buffalo, New York. It’s low in moisture with a high degree of butterfat content. The butterfat is what makes it tastier than other mozzarellas. Look, we’re not cheap! Our pizza is one of the most expensive in town and I’m proud of it. That’s because we use the freshest, best and most expensive products and ingredients to make our pizzas and that’s why we’re so popular.” Metro Pizza has been serving locals for over twenty-five years, and is also extremely popular with Presidents Clinton and Bush and a very long list of celebrities showing up in Las Vegas.
The future of pizza is bright. Everyone loves it, and whatever your mood or occasion, pizza is the ultimate comfort food, snack, or gourmet meal. Any way you slice it, pizza can be eaten hot or cold, any time of day, with anything on top, making it one of the most diverse and cosmopolitan foods on the planet. Its incredible versatility adds to its appeal. From fresh to frozen and appetizer to entrée, this palate translates to profit. With more than 60,000 pizzerias in the US alone, the pizza industry generates more than $30 billion in sales each year, making pizza one of the most indulgent, highly competitive, and easily accessible foods. access in American gastronomy. Pizza delivery, no wonder it’s America’s favorite pie. Enjoy your meal!
