Pizza, with its irresistible combination of pizza goodness consisting of crazy-good toppings, is among America’s favorite food. Here are some of our favorite pizza fun facts that will make you appreciate this iconic dish even more.
Ancient Pizza Origins:
- The roots of pizza can be traced back to ancient civilizations. The Greeks are credited with creating the earliest form of pizza by baking flatbreads topped with oils, herbs, and cheese. However, it was the Romans who popularized a dish similar to what we know as pizza today. They enjoyed a flatbread topped with a variety of ingredients, such as cheese, garlic, and herbs. Now you know who to thank.
Pizza Royalty
- One of the most iconic pizza varieties, the Margherita, has a royal connection. Legend has it that in 1889, pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito created a pizza to honor Queen Margherita of Savoy. The pizza featured tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, representing the colors of the Italian flag – red, white, and green. This classic combination has since become a symbol of Italian culinary tradition. Marie Antoinette of France once said, “Let them eat cake!” And look what happened to her! Ol’ Raffaele on the other hand knew his way around town.
Pizza in Space:
- In 2001, the Russian space agency delivered a pizza to the International Space Station (ISS). Cosmonaut Yuri Usachov was handed a vacuum-sealed Pizza Hut 6-inch pizza. It’s Stoner’s Pizza Joint’s unofficial position that he supposedly then said, “VHAAT IS DIS!!!!! YOU CALL ZAT PIZZA?!!! GO BACK AND GET ME SOME STONERS!”
World Pizza Capital:
- Naples, Italy, (not Naples, FL) is often considered the birthplace of modern pizza, creating the common Neapolitan-style pizza.
The Largest Pizza Ever Made:
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- In 2012, the city of Rome set a Guinness World Record for creating the largest pizza ever made. Spanning a whopping 13,580.28 square feet, this colossal pizza required over four tons of mozzarella and two tons of tomato sauce. I wonder if they sent the stale left-overs to nearby Universities for thousands of hungover college kids to eat in the morning.
Pizza Around the World:
- In Japan, sushi-inspired pizzas feature ingredients like eel and squid. In India, you might find a tandoori chicken pizza with traditional spices. Stoner’s Pizza Joint’s CEO John Stetson declared Stoner’s official position on the matter when he circulated a company release which simply said, “EWWW!”
Whether you savor a classic Neapolitan or indulge in sacrilegious and unholy toppings such as eel and squid, pizza remains a versatile and beloved dish. These fun facts add a layer of richness to the cultural phenomenon called “Pizza” that brings people together, one pie at a time.