Today pizza is one of the most famous Italian dishes. Even if a person has never been to Italy, he must have tried a Margarita. It is hard to find someone who does not love this delicious dish and has not tried it again at home. The demand for pizza has served up a huge number of variations in preparation. The fascinating history of the dish consists of a mass of interesting facts, which will be presented below.
Fascinating facts about pizza
Today we will tell a lot of fascinating facts about pizza. Many of them are impressive, surprising, but definitely do not leave indifferent.
The term “pizza” originated in 997 B.C.
Yes, not only we love to eat good food, but also our ancestors. The term “pizza” has been around for more than a thousand years. The first mention of the dish was found on the south coast of Italy in 997. We can conclude that pizza is one of the oldest dishes in Italy.
2 The author of “The Three Musketeers” Alexandre Dumas – first noticed the relevance of pizza
Alexandre Dumas.
Alexandre Dumas himself was a big fan of pizza and was the first to pay attention to this dish. The author of the famous “Three Musketeers” was always a fan of pizza, despite the fact that previously it was considered to be the food of the poor.
In 1835, Alexander decided to go on a little trip. Upon arriving in Naples, the writer saw that people with low income in the summer season eat only watermelon. In the cold season in Naples it was customary to cook just pizza. The famous writer gave it a rating of “10” out of “10.
3. The Hawaiian pizza was invented by a Greek, while staying in Canada
hawaiian pizza
Hawaiian pizza saw the world in 1962. Given that the dish had become popular around the world by this time, varieties and variations with different toppings began to appear. Hawaiian pizza was invented by Sam Panopoulos, who opened a pizzeria in Canada. Also interesting is the fact that Italians themselves do not like this variation of the dish, and it is almost impossible to buy the Hawaiian variation in Italy.
4. Pizza is food for the poor
The traditional pizza had only three ingredients: olive oil, tomatoes, and bread flatbread. Families who had little money considered pizza to be a staple food. It was Queen Margaret, who wanted to try food for the poor, who changed her attitude. For her majesty, the “flatbread” was prepared with a greater variety of ingredients. Margaret liked the result very much and decided to nationalize the dish.
5. The first pizzeria in the world
The oldest pizzeria in the world is Antica Pizzeria Port’Alba.
It is believed that pizza originated in Naples, so the first institution opened also in this city in 1738. If you come to the birthplace of pizza today, you will be surprised by the number of pizzerias – there are about 800 and almost every one is delicious. In Italy, they love this dish so much that they dedicated a national holiday to it.
6. “Margarita” is named after the queen
Margarita
The pizza made in Naples for the queen impressed her so much that it became a favorite dish. It is possible that it was a beautiful legend, since the recipe for “Margarita” was found in earlier sources. No matter how you look at it, Margarita pizza is still named after the queen, because thanks to this legend, it gained worldwide popularity.
7. Originally, the Ninja Turtles didn’t really like pizza.
In 1984, a black and white comic book cartoon appeared on the screens. In the first series, pizza was out of the question, the turtles ate very differently. The characters started eating pizza in 1987, when the author decided to make the cartoon friendlier. After watching it, many children with a huge appetite ate the same food.
8. A little bit about real Naples pizza
It turns out that only in Naples can you taste real pizza. There is an association for true Naples pizza. The organization has established special rules that regulate the preparation of the dish. Also, the relevant authorities certify pizzerias, where you can actually taste the real classic, which was cooked for several centuries called.
9. Some countries have their own pizza recipes
The birthplace of the dish is Italy, where you can taste the true pizza in its original form. The dish is so delicious that it quickly spread around the world. Now it is served in many restaurants, thanks to this there are different variations. For example, in Brazil they add green peas, in France they add fried eggs, and in China they add hot dog crusts.
10. Many celebrities have been employees of pizzerias
Incredibly, many popular stars started their careers in pizzerias. For example, Stephen Baldwin worked as a cashier in a pizzeria, and Jean-Claude Van Damme himself was a regular deliveryman. Maybe it was the pizzeria that made them happy.
11. 3-D pizza printers invented
Today there is a prototype printer that can “print” a real pizza. This device was originally made for astronauts. The machine “knows” how to make a slightly non-traditional pizza, because the ketchup has been replaced by sauce and ricotta by cream cheese. According to experts, in 10 years, such a printer could be put on a par with a blender or a microwave.
12. The first frozen pizza appeared in 1962.
In 1962, the first frozen pizza appeared on the market. Initially, it was not very tasty and somewhat resembled cardboard. Rosa Totino took matters into her own hands and the frozen product became many times more delicious.
13. Politicians use delivery for espionage
It turns out that pizza delivery can be used for more than just its intended purpose. In 1960, American intelligence used couriers to spy on public figures. That is, it was fake.
14. Under the leadership of the star of the TV series “Home Alone,” a group dedicated to pizza appeared
In 2013, under the direction of Macaulay Culkin, a band appeared dedicated to this delicious dish. The group created several tracks in the rock style. The songs are really fun and funny.
15. Turning the dough – as a separate art form
Experienced chefs who dedicate more than one year of their lives to making pizza do not use a rolling pin to roll out the dough. Rotating the dough on the fingers effectively smoothes it out and takes on the desired texture. Such manipulation is done so that the dough becomes oxygenated and puffy. Today, a world championship is held every year for the rotation of the crust. The competition is held in Italy, and everyone can participate.
16. Pizza delivery as a defense against attack
Once a burglar came to a woman’s house, she had to call 911 undercover. Without any fuss, the woman used her phone and pretended to order a pizza. The intruders, who were still in the house, didn’t notice anything.
17. The most unpopular pizza toppings were named.
According to experts in the field, the most unclaimed pizza toppings are anchovies.
18. Dogs are big fans of pizza
Humans aren’t the only fans of the famous snack. For four-legged friends invented a special and completely harmless type of mini-pizza called Heaven Scent Pizza”. In the composition: carrots, celery, flour and Parmesan cheese. If you decide to prepare such a treat for your pet, feel free to add vegetables allowed for dogs, and lean meats.
19. Pizza Day is named.
The most popular pizza day is Saturday night. Many families have even formed a tradition of making it as a family or going to a restaurant that day to order Margaritas, 4 Seasons and other tasty varieties.
20. The biggest pizza eaters are Americans
It is these people, with their 23 pounds per capita per year, who are huge pizza devotees and eaters. As for toppings, of course, pepperoni is a favorite. U.S. residents cook their favorite dish at home, order through delivery services and go to restaurants.