What Is Pizza?
The common definition of pizza is a flat round bread that's covered with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and toppings of meat and vegetables. Pizza has become one of the most loved convenience foods. Grocery stores sell frozen varieties from a number of popular restaurants, along with creating store brand pizzas that people can cook within a matter of minutes. Pizza chains are popular all over the world, and individual pizzerias are known for old-school style pizzas that mimic the original pizza recipes of Italy.
The pizza familiar to most people has its roots in southern Italy. However, pizza has existed since the 6th century B.C. when soldiers would bake dough in a flat bread style and cover it with cheese and dates. The Romans also enjoyed foods that resembled pizza, filling hollowed out bread with oil, garlic, and other toppings. In the 16th century, tomatoes were introduced to Italy and southern Italians started adding chopped tomatoes to the dough. Pizza was sold from carts or big drums in the street, and was a staple on the table of many poor Italian families. This was the debut of what we currently know as pizza.
The Basics of Pizza
The crust of pizza is made from white or semolina flour and may occasionally be flavored with herbs or cheeses. Pizza crust is then sprinkled with oil or sauce, topped with cheese, and foods such as pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, peppers, onion, and anchovies are added. Traditionally, pizza was cooked in a wood or brick oven which gave it a crisp crust and rustic taste. Some current pizza restaurants are going back to tradition and offering wood fired pizzas. In some places, such as Greece and Rome, pizza is actually cooked in pans rather than on a stone. This gives the pizza a thicker crust and heavier texture.
The Popularity of Pizza
Pizza made it to America in the 19th century and the popular method of selling pizza by the slice began in the larger cities where people couldn't afford to purchase an entire pizza but didn't mind paying a small amount for a slice. Buying pizza by the slice is still an option in some pizzerias. Italian-Americans also started serving tomato pie in small pizzerias, which was basically a pizza built backwards. Instead of the normal crust, sauce, and cheese as we know it now, tomato pie was crust, cheese, and sauce.
Chain pizza restaurants have popped up all over the world, and the tradition of topping pizza with sauce and cheese has now evolved into putting any of your favorite flavors on a pizza. It's not uncommon to find pizza topped with salad greens and truffle oil or alfredo sauce and chicken. Pizza is so popular that many restaurants actually offer buffet options so customers can sample all the flavors of pizza.
Ask most kids what their favorite food is and the majority of them will tell you pizza. Ask any adult what pizza is and most of them will tell you it's a delicious convenience food that works as a meal any night of the week. Whether enjoying the traditional pizza of Italy or trying a new style of pizza, most people agree that pizza is one food with international appeal.