Did giornoʼs pizza? - Chef's Resource (2024)

FAQs

Which chef invented pizza? ›

Who Invented Pizza? In 1889, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy visited Naples. They had become bored with their steady diet of French haute cuisine (sigh), and they asked to taste some local specialties. Pizzeria Brandi chef Raffaele Esposito and his wife produced three pizzas for the royal couple.

In 1905, Gennaro Lombardi is believed to have opened the first pizzeria in America in New York City, offering a taste of Naples to the bustling streets of the city.

Pizza was first invented in Naples, Italy as a fast, affordable, tasty meal for working-class Neapolitans on the go. While we all know and love these slices of today, pizza actually didn't gain mass appeal until the 1940s, when immigrating Italians brought their classic slices to the United States.

The history of pizza begins in antiquity, when ancient cultures like Rome and Greece produced flatbreads with several toppings. But, the modern birthplace of pizza is a Greek settlement called Naples in Italy. The poor people in Naples preferred inexpensive food that can be consumed quickly.

Many people credit baker Raffaele Esposito from the Naples region of Italy for first creating the dish. Others believe that the history of pizza dates far further back than Esposito's era of the late 1800s. Much of the debate comes down to what you consider a "real pizza" and the evolution of food over the centuries.

The story of modern pizza as we know began in Naples, Italy, in the late 1800s. Baker Raffaele Esposito is usually given credit for baking the first pizzas with tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings.

However, when it comes to where was pizza invented, Naples is considered the birthplace of pizza. The Neapolitan flatbread, known as 'Pizzaiola', was invented in the 1800s. Initially, the dish was made using only tomato sauce and garlic on a bread base, and it was known as the 'Pomodoro e Mozzarella' pizza.

Pizza dates back thousands of years, believe it or not, tracing its roots back to the flatbreads with toppings that were popular with ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. But modern pizza, the flatbreads with tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings, was born along the western coast of Italy, in the city of Naples.

The first Italian pizza restaurant, Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba, began baking pizzas in 1738 as the dish grew in popularity, especially with tourists visiting Naples. Then, in 1889, modern pizza was born when pizzamaker Raffaele Esposito created the “Pizza Margherita” for the Queen consort of Italy, Margherita of Savoy.

White pizza (Italian: pizza bianca) is a style of pizza that does not use tomato sauce. The pizza generally consists of pizza dough, olive oil, garlic, cheese, salt and, sometimes, toppings including vegetables such as spinach, tomato, and herbs.

Who made the first American pizza? ›

Since 1905 Gennaro Lombardi crafted pizza in the United States using his bakers trade he learned from Naples. Lombardi is credited with developing New York Style pizza and making Lombardi's the first pizzeria in the United States.

An often recounted story holds that on June 11, 1889, to honour the queen consort of Italy, Margherita of Savoy, the Neapolitan pizza maker Raffaele Esposito created the "Pizza Margherita", a pizza garnished with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, to represent the national colours of Italy as on the Flag of Italy.

But modern pizza, the flatbreads with tomato sauce, cheese, and toppings, was born along the western coast of Italy, in the city of Naples. Naples too has a long history, dating back to 600 B.C. when the Greeks first settled it. Over time, Naples became a thriving city on the water.

The very first pizza delivery is attributed to Queen Margherita of Savoy in 1889. After traveling to Naples the queen fell ill and requested authentic Italian food from the region. Royalty at that time was not expected to go out and find the best meals, so the food had to be brought to them.

According to a popular (but questioned) legend, Esposito was requested to prepare a pizza for Queen Margherita of Savoy, who had traveled to Naples with King Umberto I. Esposito and his wife were admitted to the royal kitchens to prepare this dish as he saw fit.

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