The first and original pizza comes from Italy. Even though dishes similar to pizza were eaten much earlier, what we now recognize as modern pizza was first prepared in the 18th century in Naples, Italy. The dish was supposed to be cheap and easy to eat. Nobody expected pizza to become a worldwide culinary discovery. It was not, however, popular in other countries or even in the rest of Italy until World War II, when American soldiers coming back home have developed its special taste. This is when pizza started to become one of the most popular dishes in the United States. It is now so adored in this country that four billion of pizzas are sold in the USA every year. Actually, 350 slices of pizza are eaten every second there, which gives the amount of 23 pounds of pizza eaten by an average person each year. Yes, the only food Americans love more than pizza are hamburgers.
National Pizza Day is a great opportunity not only for all Americans, but also other pizza lovers around the world to celebrate with a slice of their favorite pizza in hand. Maybe this time, however, in order to make it even more enjoyable you could try making your own pizza with family or friends? It’s not as difficult as it may seem. You can try different weird toppings that you might never get in a restaurant. If you don’t like the idea, go out and try some new pizzeria in town. There are many discounts and coupons in many pizza places on February 9. Or maybe make a pizza party at home – watch some movies, listen to good music, dance and eat. Each pizza lover knows best how to celebrate that amazing holiday his own way!
Did you know?
King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited Naples in 1889 and tried different pizzas from the local pizzeria. The queen loved the taste of the simple mozzarella pizza – maybe because of its colors: white cheese, red tomatoes and green basil, just like the Italian flag. This is why that kind of pizza is now known around the world as Margherita.