Whether it’s at the center of a birthday party, a slice on the go, a cheat meal, or a cherished snack, pizza is a universal food that is loved by “mostly” everybody. Funny enough this time-honored tradition dates back centuries and was one of the first foods ever created.
Even though there is no historical proof of it, I like to think of pizza as, “the food of the Gods.”
Pizza has seen many forms. It’s been served in all sorts of ways. From flatbread to Chicago-style to thin crust and with toppings from the vegetable garden, to the herb, and even the butcher. There are hundreds of ways to create it, to serve it and, even better, to eat it. So let’s delve into the history of pizza and learn about one of our most beloved foods.
The Notable Flatbread
Spanning centuries, our most cherished dish started in the Neolithic Era. Often referred to as the New Stone Age, this was during the time period somewhere around 10,000 BCE (Before Common Era). Think with our nomadic hunters discovering agriculture and starting to grow and harvest their own food.
This was predominantly occurring throughout Egypt and the Mediterranean leading to a food surplus for the first time in history; i.e. ‘bring on the bacon.’ In all seriousness, along with the original homesteads, people finally began to set up permanent homes, the development of villages and even our very first cities.

With this came a very significant beginning for the very first pizza. The flatbread. This original “pizza” was created with various ingredients, mostly from local harvests. The Greeks and Romans crafted a version of this called “plakous.” It was made with the traditional flatbread and had herbs, onions and cheese. A second popular flatbread pizza was the “pinsa.” This one replicates focaccia using oil and other ingredients.
The Napolia Pizzeria
The first traditional “Pizza” was born in Naples Italy in the 18th Century. Because tomatoes were plentiful, the poor would top their flatbreads with them. This is what we now know as the famous San Marzano tomatoes. As many Napolese settled into nomadic lifestyles, they began to domesticate animals like goats and sheep, providing steady milk. It was a happy accident when the natural fermentation of milk turned into beloved Italian cheese.

The land was also abundant in garlic and olives, producing an all-time pizza staple, olive oil.
Ever wonder where the term margherita pizza comes from? It was from a pizza that was fit for a queen. This pie was made for Queen Margherita of Savoy in 1889. Using cheese, tomatoes, mozzarella and basil the pizza actually represented the Italian flag.
Pizza Immigrated to the United States
With hundreds of thousands of Italian immigrants coming to the United States from Italy in the early 1900s, pizza arrived with them. What was most interesting about this was that the pizza varied slightly depending on the traditions of their regions and hometowns.
The type of pizza you might have from someone in Naples could be different from that of a pizza from Rome. With the majority of immigrants settling in major cities like New York, Chicago, and even Philadelphia different styles and types of pizza were born in US regions as well.
For example, in my book ‘A Story About Pizza’ my grandfather came to America from Abruzzo, Italy. The style of pizza he made was a rectangular pizza with 15 slices and was thicker than a round New York style pizza.

The Very First Pizzeria
Many family-owned Italian pizzerias were born from markets. In fact, Lombardi’s opened its doors in New York City in 1905 as the first official pizzeria in the United States. The original owner Genarro Lombardi sold his pizza straight out of the market, as did my grandfather at D’Arc’s Pizza which opened its doors in 1960.
As more and more Italians immigrated to America, more pizzeria’s opened their doors. Some notable establishments are Totonno’s that opened in 1924 as well as John’s of Bleecker Street in 1929.

Pizza Rises to Popularity After the War and Beyond
In 1939 the world broke out into a panic with World War II, and the first atomic bomb. Many American soldiers were stationed in Italy where pizza took another unexpected turn as a military favorite. As the troops returned home, they craved the Italian-born pizza. This led to pizzeria’s rising in popularity as time went on, franchises and chains and even pizza delivery.
Pizza started to be marketed as an easy meal for a busy, working family, what kids (and adults) looked forward to at a birthday party or special event, or a Friday night treat.
Over the last few years, pizza has reinvented itself again into an artisan dish. Many pizza makers are experimenting with different combinations and varieties, sourdough crust, farm-to-table ingredients and a more sustainable (and healthier) pizza just like in the very beginning.

Pizza is a Cultural Phenomenon
As time went on, pizza has experienced many cultural and regional trends. People have traveled far and wide to experience that highly recommended Chicago Deep-Dish pie in the heart of the windy city. They’ve checked out where they could get their beloved New York slice.
Influencers like Dave Portnoy have gone viral with pizza reviews and, thanks to TikTok, local pizzerias have become famous places where people travel for “pizza tours.”
The Pizza Story
Behind every slice there is a pizzeria and behind every pizzeria is their own story. My story began as a child born into a pizzeria started by my grandfather and grandmother who were from Abruzzo, Italy.

I watched as they worked hard day in and day out to create a business that would be there for their family. I became so inspired by what they had created that I wrote, ‘A Story About Pizza.’ Food, family, gathering around the table for a meal together; love and laughter. We all need a little more of it.
It just so happens that pizza has been the catalyst.