Pizza is a family favorite all around the world, thanks to its cheesy goodness and delicious toppings. The origin of pizza is somewhat mysterious and has been a topic of debate for a long time. Before there were pizza restaurants, the ancient Greeks enjoyed flatbreads. Focaccia is one of the direct ancestors of pizza, the Romans called it panis focacius.
The word pizza first came to be in 1000 AD, but didn’t have sauce, pepperoni, or cheese. It was essentially flatbread with oil and toppings. However, Raffaele Esposito, a pizza maker, came along to make a special pizza for Queen Margherita.
He wanted to craft something experimental and patriotic, which called on the colors of the Italian flag, he flavored it with basil, mozzarella, and tomato, creating the Margherita pizza! He is considered to be the father of modern pizza.
Later that century, Italians began immigrating to the United States, bringing with them pizza! From there, the food took off. Now you can visit your local pizza restaurant and eat just about any kind of pizza you can dream of. There are countless ways to enjoy pizza, and we hope that this article helped you learn a bit more about the history behind it!.