Pizza is one of the most widely enjoyed foods today, with an audience of appreciative diners that spans the globe. This hearty and delicious food was satisfying hungry diners for centuries long before it started showing up at restaurants in the United States. Papa Rocco's, one of Lower Alabama’s most popular pizza places, is proud to continue this tradition at their restaurant in Gulf Shores.

Before you devour your next slice or pie, consider the history of how that pizza came to be on your plate.

Origin of Pizza

Dishes made from cooked flat bread topped with a variety of local ingredients can be found throughout the Mediterranean, including in Greece, Turkey and France. However, it’s Italy’s version of this meal that has become the most famous. Created by hungry peasants in the Italian port city of Naples, pizza was initially developed as an inexpensive, yet filling meal sold by street vendors. Modern pizza as we know it came about in the 1760s when Neapolitan peasants began pairing traditional toppings like garlic, olive oil and oregano with tomatoes introduced from the New World. The results were a tasty, healthy and easy-to-eat food! 

Food Fit for a Queen

Though beloved by the working class, pizza was often looked down upon by Naples’ nobility. Pizza’s image began to change in the late 1800s when King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited Naples. During their visit, the pair tried some of the city’s pizza. When presented with a pizza topped with red tomatoes, white mozzarella cheese and green basil to match the colors of the country’s flag, the royal couple enjoyed the new food. Dubbed a “Margherita pizza” in honor of the Queen, this type of pizza became a classic that still appears on menus today!

Pizza Comes to America

When Italian immigrants began moving to America in the 19^th and 20^th centuries, they brought pizza with them. Initially prepared at home, the popularity of this enticing food began to spread throughout the American cities where these immigrants lived. In 1905, the first local pizza restaurant was opened in New York City by Gennaro Lombardi and is still in business today. As Italian Americans introduced more people across the county to pizza, its popularity boomed, eventually becoming the classic American dish it is today.

Known for its fun, welcoming atmosphere, Papa Rocco’s has been serving up specialty pizza, Italian food and oysters since 1985. Visit this restaurant online to view their full menu and like them on Facebook to find their schedule of live music acts.