Despite mankind’s collective love for pizza, the food that originated in Naples hasn’t been around too long. From its genesis in the late 18^th century, pizza has been exported all over the world and eaten by men and women from every part of society. Gondola Pizza and Steak House, in Crossville, TN, is proud to serve and honor one of humanity’s most prized cuisines. But, what road did pizza travel to achieve its popularity?

Pizza Before It Was Pizza

The first known precursor to pizza is found in 997 AD in Gaeta, Italy. It’s here that the Italians gave birth to focaccia, which is an oven-baked bread that’s similar to pizza in style and texture. The main difference between the two is that focaccia doesn’t include two staple pizza ingredients: cheese and tomato.

The Birth Of Modern-Day Pizza

After centuries of experimentation, mankind created its first pizza. Raffaele Esposito of Naples is the man credited with making the first modern-day pizza in the late 1800s. He opened the first pizzeria in Port Alba, which can still be visited today for a history lesson and bite of classic-style pizza.

The Spread Of Pizza In America

Due to the distance of the Atlantic Ocean, the United States was late to welcome pizza into American kitchens. Even though Gennuardo Lombardi founded the first American pizza shop in NYC in 1905, pizza wasn’t widely eaten until the end of WWII. While abroad, American soldiers developed a taste for pizza and brought their new eating habits back home. After introducing pizza to their families, the now ubiquitous food became something that everyone ate.

Frozen Pizza

The latest development in pizza took place in the 60s when frozen pizza hit the supermarkets. Finally, families could throw a pizza in the freezer, and heat it up whenever they were ready to dine.

After a sinuous journey of changes and additions, pizza has found its way to Gondola Pizza and Steak House. The Crossville pizzeria’s cuisine is sure to please your pizza fix whenever you get the itch. To feast on this renowned food, make a reservation by calling (931) 484-7647.