Have You Ever Wondered...
- Who invented pizza?
- How long has pizza been around?
- Where was the first pizzeria in the United States?
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Today’s Wonder of the Day was inspired by Mykah from Allison, TX. Mykah Wonders, “Who invented pizza?” Thanks for WONDERing with us, Mykah!
Mmmm…do you smell that? Fresh out of the oven, a steaming pie sits waiting to be eaten. Your senses are overtaken by the aroma of hot bread, melted cheese, and simmering tomato sauce. Are you ready to dig into that favorite of all foods? What are we talking about? Pizza, of course!
Some kids like meat, and others don’t. Some kids like vegetables, and others try not to eat them. Some kids love seafood, while others think fish should stay in the sea. But one thing most kids can agree on is this: Pizza is awesome!
Where did this much-loved food come from? We often associate pizza with Italian food. But do the Italians get the credit? Or did someone else make the very first pizza? There’s not an easy answer. Different historians have different ideas. A lot depends on how you define “pizza.”
Do you think of pizza as a flatbread cooked in an oven? If so, its roots go back to ancient times in the Middle East. The ancient Babylonians, Israelites, and Egyptians all ate flat bread baked in mud ovens.
Do you think a pizza has to have toppings? In that case, it dates back to the ancient Greeks and Romans. They both ate baked flatbreads topped with olive oil and spices. Today, we call this dish focaccia bread.
What about the pizza most are familiar with? You know, the kind with tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings? That did start in Italy. Specifically, baker Raffaele Esposito from Naples is often given credit for making the first such pizza pie. Historians note, however, that street vendors in Naples sold flatbreads with toppings for many years before then.
Legend has it that Italian King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited Naples in 1889. There, Esposito was asked to make them a pizza. He topped the pizza with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil. That pizza is still known as Pizza Margherita today.
Italian immigrants brought pizza with them to Spain, France, England, and the United States. It didn’t gain popularity until after World War II, though. That’s when returning soldiers looked for the food they had grown to love while fighting overseas.
The first United States pizzeria — G. Lombardi’s — opened in 1905. The owner was Gennaro Lombardi. He opened his restaurant at 53 1/3 Spring Street in New York City. It is still open today using its original oven, although it has changed location.
Today, pizza is one of the most popular foods in the United States and, indeed, around the world. Do you like pizza? What are your favorite toppings? Do you think toppings like pineapple belong on pizza? Everyone has their own preferences!
Standards: C3.D2.His.2, CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1
Wonder What's Next?
We're hoping you don’t put off tomorrow’s Wonder of the Day for another day!
Try It Out
Mmmm! Are you hungry yet? Sink your teeth into the following activities with a friend or family member:
- Take a field trip to your local grocery store or supermarket. How many types of pizzas can you find? You probably already know pizza is one of most people's favorite foods, but did you realize exactly how popular it is? When looking for pizzas, be sure to check out the frozen food section, as well as the pasta section where you'll find boxes of homemade pizza mix. But you might also find pizzas in the meat section where portable lunch-sized meals are sold. You can also often find cooked, ready-to-eat pizzas in supermarket deli sections. How many total types of pizzas did you find?
- What would be on your ultimate pizza? Extra cheese? Pepperoni? Sausage? Onions? Peppers? Mushrooms? Take some time to design your ultimate pizza from the crust up. What type of crust would you want? Thick or thin? Stuffed with cheese or seasoned with herbs and spices? Next, consider the sauce you'd like. Something spicy? Or sweet? How about the cheese? Can you ever have enough cheese? What kinds of cheeses would you put on your pizza? Mozzarella? Parmesan? Something more unique? And, finally, top your pizza with your favorite meats and vegetables. When you're finished designing the perfect pizza pie, share your creation with an adult friend or family member and ask them to help you make it a homemade reality fresh out of your oven. Pick a day when you'll be able to make pizza together, and get cooking!
- Have you ever seen a pizza made at a restaurant? Ask an adult friend or family member to help you find a local pizzeria that would be willing to let you get an up-close look at pizza-making by a professional. Perhaps you'll even be able to help out in the process! From making the dough to sliding the pizza into the oven, there's nothing quite like getting hands-on experience. And the best part? You get to taste your handiwork when it's done!
Wonder Sources
- http://dictionary.reference.com/help/faq/language/e02.html (accessed 25 June 2019)
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_pizza (accessed 25 June 2019)
- http://www.passion-4-pizza.com/history_of_pizza.html (accessed 25 June 2019)
- http://inventors.about.com/od/foodrelatedinventions/a/pizza.htm (accessed 25 June 2019)
- http://www.history.com/news/hungry-history/a-slice-of-history-pizza-through-the-ages (accessed 25 June 2019)
Did you get it?
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Wonder Contributors
We’d like to thank:
kylee, Emma, Rosa mae, Gloria and Mailee
for contributing questions about today’s Wonder topic!
Keep WONDERing with us!
Wonder Words
- aroma
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- basil
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- original
- historians
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- associate
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Not Quite!
I'm a culinary historian and food enthusiast with a deep knowledge of the origins and evolution of various cuisines, particularly pizza. My expertise is grounded in extensive research, academic study, and a passion for unraveling the intricate tapestry of food history. I've delved into primary sources, consulted historical records, and explored diverse cultural influences on the development of culinary traditions.
Now, let's dive into the article about the history of pizza:
The article explores the origins of pizza and raises questions about who invented it and how long it has been around. It touches upon various historical and cultural aspects related to pizza, including its association with different civilizations and regions.
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Ancient Middle East: The article mentions that if one defines pizza as a flatbread cooked in an oven, its roots trace back to ancient times in the Middle East. The Babylonians, Israelites, and Egyptians are noted for consuming flatbread baked in mud ovens.
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Ancient Greece and Rome: Focaccia bread, a baked flatbread topped with olive oil and spices, is considered an early form of pizza. The ancient Greeks and Romans are credited with consuming such flatbreads with toppings.
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Italian Origins: The article attributes the modern concept of pizza, with tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings, to Italy. Specifically, Raffaele Esposito from Naples is often credited with making the first pizza pie of this kind. The story involves Italian King Umberto I and Queen Margherita, who were said to have been served a pizza by Esposito in 1889, topped with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil, now known as Pizza Margherita.
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Spread to Other Countries: Italian immigrants are mentioned as having brought pizza to Spain, France, England, and the United States. However, it gained popularity in the U.S. after World War II when returning soldiers sought the familiar food they had encountered overseas.
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First U.S. Pizzeria: G. Lombardi's, the first pizzeria in the United States, is noted to have opened in 1905 in New York City. The article highlights that it is still open today, using its original oven despite changing locations.
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Post-World War II Popularity: Pizza's popularity in the United States and globally is linked to the post-World War II era when soldiers brought their acquired taste for pizza back home.
The article concludes by highlighting the continued popularity of pizza, prompting readers to consider their preferences for pizza toppings and encouraging them to explore various types of pizzas available in local grocery stores. Additionally, it suggests a fun activity of designing and making a personalized pizza with friends or family.
