Modern pizza was born in Naples, Italy, in the late 18th and 19th centuries as an affordable food for the city’s working poor. Flatbreads topped with oil, herbs, and other ingredients had existed for thousands of years across the ancient Mediterranean, but it was in Naples that the round, tomato-topped pizza we recognise today first took shape.
Who invented pizza?
No single person invented pizza. Its ancestors were the flatbreads eaten by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, who baked simple bread topped with olive oil and herbs. The modern dish, however, developed in Naples. When tomatoes arrived in Europe from the Americas in the 16th century, poor Neapolitans began topping their flatbreads with them, and the pizza as we know it was born.
What is Neapolitan pizza?
Neapolitan pizza is the original style of pizza from Naples, made with a thin, soft base and a puffy, slightly charred crust. It is traditionally cooked in a wood-fired oven at a very high temperature for just 60–90 seconds. Authentic Neapolitan pizza is protected by strict rules covering its dough, ingredients, and method, and uses simple, high-quality toppings such as San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella.
What is the story of the Margherita pizza?
The famous Margherita pizza is said to date from 1889, when pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito created a pizza to honour Queen Margherita of Italy. He topped it with tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil to represent the red, white, and green of the Italian flag. The queen reportedly loved it, and the pizza was named after her. It remains one of the most popular pizzas in the world.
How did pizza spread around the world?
Pizza travelled the globe with Italian emigrants, especially those who moved to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The first pizzerias opened in American cities such as New York, and after the Second World War pizza’s popularity exploded internationally. Today it is one of the most widely eaten foods on the planet, with countless regional styles.
What are the main types of Italian pizza?
- Neapolitan (Napoletana) – soft, thin base with a puffy charred crust, wood-fired.
- Roman (Romana) – thinner and crispier than Neapolitan.
- Pizza al taglio – rectangular pizza baked in trays and sold by the slice.
- Calzone – a folded, stuffed pizza shaped like a turnover.
Wood-fired Italian pizza at Yokoso Restaurant in Ilford
At Yokoso Restaurant in Ilford, we serve authentic, freshly made halal pizza alongside our Japanese menu, bringing two great culinary traditions together under one roof. Our pizzas use quality ingredients and a properly cooked base for that signature crispness. Enjoy them by dining in, booking a table, or ordering online. Find us at 579–581 Cranbrook Road, Ilford, IG2 6JZ.