Discover curiosities about the queen of Italian cuisine: pizza

Pizza, a dish loved and spread all over the world, is a culinary icon that unites people of different cultures and traditions. Its cultural and historical importance dates back to ancient times, with roots going back to ancient Rome and ancient Greece.

In ancient Rome, there was a kind of flatbread called ‘picea’, a bread base topped with various ingredients such as cheese, herbs and honey. This picea could be considered one of the forerunners of modern pizza. Even in ancient Greece, traces of similar dishes can be found, such as ‘plakous’, a kind of flatbread topped with cheese, herbs and garlic.

The Mediterranean played a key role in the development of pizza over the centuries. The spread of wheat and ingredients such as tomatoes, imported from the Americas after 1492, contributed to the creation of new variations of this dish. In the 19th century, pizza became popular among peasants in Southern Italy due to its cheapness and versatility.

During the 19th century, pizza migrated with Italians all over the world, bringing with it its culinary tradition. In the United States, pizza became particularly popular among Italian immigrants and quickly spread, becoming a favourite American dish.

Today, pizza has become an icon of international cuisine, with endless variations and reinterpretations all over the world. Its simplicity and versatility continue to make it loved by millions, confirming its status as a popular and timeless dish.

Curiosities about pizza

As well as being a delicious dish, pizza is full of curiosities and fascinating stories, including the queen of pizzas: the Margherita.

The Margherita pizza, born in Naples in 1889, is shrouded in legends and romantic stories related to its creation. It is said that pizza maker Raffaele Esposito prepared this pizza in honour of Queen Margherita of Savoy during her visit to Naples. He used tomato, mozzarella and basil to represent the colours of the Italian flag: red, white and green. This simple, yet delicious, combination of ingredients caught the queen’s attention, granting pizza Margherita a privileged place in Italian culinary history.

Pizza is not only an Italian speciality, but has become a popular dish all over the world, with unique and interesting regional variations. Each region and country has its own interpretation of pizza, adapting ingredients and toppings to local traditions and regional tastes.

In addition, there are unusual and creative pizzas that go beyond the traditional combinations of ingredients. From sweet pizzas with chocolate and fruit, to gourmet pizzas with exotic cheeses and innovative toppings, the pizza universe offers endless possibilities to satisfy every palate and surprise with new culinary experiences.

Pizza and world records

As well as being a popular dish all over the world, pizza has also inspired a number of impressive and entertaining world records.

Among the most spectacular records is that of the largest pizza ever made. This record has been broken several times over the years, with pizzas exceeding even one hundred metres in diameter. These impressive creations take months of planning, tons of ingredients and a team of dedicated chefs to bring to fruition.

On the other hand, there is also the record for the shortest time it takes to eat an entire pizza. This challenge is not only a matter of speed, but also of endurance and gastronomic skills. Participants face the challenge of consuming the entire pizza in the shortest possible time, often breaking incredible records that leave spectators speechless.

These world records show how pizza is more than just a dish: it is an opportunity to challenge one’s limits, amaze the world and, of course, enjoy a great meal!