There’s no doubt pizza is one of the most widely loved foods around the globe. For hundreds of years, people have enjoyed combinations of bread, sauce, and toppings as a quick and delicious meal or snack. The team from Colombini’s Pizza & Deli understands and appreciates this history of pizza and have shared some of their knowledge with a quick history lesson on one of the world’s most loved foods.

Before pizza evolved into the form we know today, flatbreads were a popular dish for an easy meal dating back thousands of years. Much like modern pizza, you could find flatbreads in casual restaurants and from street vendors that made for an inexpensive meal everyone could enjoy. The first known example of true pizza came from Naples, Italy, and was eventually made famous by a historical figure: Queen Margherita of Savoy.

As the story goes, in 1889, pie maker Rafaelle Esposito served Queen Margherita a pie, which was topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and basil to represent the Italian flag. The pizza was the queen’s favorite and thus named “Pizza Margherita,” the classic still widely loved today. This set the standard for the modern pizza style, and its popularity grew rapidly.

In the late 19th century, immigrants from Naples introduced pizza in the United States, and in 1905, G. Lombardi’s pizzeria in New York was the first to open stateside. It was an instant hit, and new variations of pizza quickly spread across the country. It wasn’t until 1943 that the Chicago deep dish made its way to the scene with Pizzeria Uno.

The years between 1945 and 1950 were big for pizza in America. Soldiers coming home from WWII had a newfound love of the Italian dish and helped to spread its popularity. In the late ‘50s, Frank Sinatra and Joe Dimaggio had reputations as pizza-loving celebrities, only increasing America’s love for the dish.   

Since then, pizza has grown increasingly popular with a huge variety of options from frozen to gourmet with high-end ingredients. The options are almost endless, and there’s something for every person and preference. While there are plenty of debates to be had about the best slice around, the ideal pizza is always the one you’re eating.

If you are looking for a quality pizzeria in the Rochester, NY, area, look no further than Colombini’s Pizza & Deli. They have been making classic New York pizza from scratch for over 35 years and also serve a variety of sandwiches and other delicious dishes. Call (585) 889-2213 to place an order or visit them online to check out their whole menu.