The first pizza pies were not anything like the pizza we know of today; in fact, they were more like focaccia bread. Since tomatoes were not eaten during that time, pizzas were a rather dry affair: mostly leavened, crispy, crunchy dough.
How many toppings do you put on your pizza? About 36 percent of all pizzas sold have more than one topping on them.
It should come as no surprise that pepperoni is the most popular pizza topping in the U.S., with almost 40 percent of all people ordering pepperoni on theirs. Other popular toppings include ham, pineapple, Canadian bacon, and sausage. Vegetable toppings like onions, red peppers, and black olives are also commonly ordered.
Did you know that pizza may be partly responsible for the popularity of Queen Margherita of Italy? When it got out that she loved this common food, it was endearing to her subjects.
Pizza chefs use a variety of pizza jargon to describe the art of pizza making. For example, a ball of dough that has been stretched and is ready for toppings is called a "skin," mushrooms are called "screamers," and slices of pepperonis are called "flyers!"
Pizza connoisseurs like to think outside of the pizza box when it comes to cheeses. While traditional pizza cheeses include mozzarella or Romano, more adventuresome palates are tantalized by the taste of asiago, fontina, caciocavallo, taleggio or gorgonzola.
Some of the first celebrities to promote pizza had Italian origins, such as Joe DiMaggio, Jimmy Durante, and Frank Sinatra. Though one of the most fun uses of pizza in pop culture is Dean Martin's signature song written in 1952, "That's Amore" that mentions loving hitting the eye like a big pizza pie.
We Americans love our pizza! Each day Americans eat enough pizza to fill 100 acres!
Wondering what size pizza to buy for your next meal? Although all sizes are popular and appropriate under certain circumstances, the most popular size for a pizza pie is 14 inches.
The most expensive pizza created was made by the restaurateur Domenico Crolla who created a $2,745.00 priced Valentine pizza which included toppings such as sunblush-tomato sauce, Scottish smoked salmon, medallions of venison, edible gold, lobster marinated in the finest cognac and champagne-soaked caviar.
If fried eggs ever become a universal pizza topping, you can thank the French. One of the country’s favorite pizza recipes features fried eggs (served sunny side up), diced green onions, ham and/or chicken, and pepperoncinis.
If you're having trouble getting your kids to eat nutritious ingredients, stick them on a pizza. Pizza is a favorite dish for children, and adding a few good-for-you ingredients under a cheese blanket isn't cheating -- it's inspired.
What type of crust do you think is the most popular in America? It’s said that it is the regular thin crust, and that it is preferred by 61% of the population. 14% of Americans allegedly prefer deep-dish and 11% prefer extra thin crust.
Did you know the first American pizzas were known as tomato pies? These early American creations were built in reverse of the standard pizza, with cheese going onto the crust before the toppings and tomato sauce.
Pizza was first referenced in a Latin text in Italy but also seems to have Ancient Greek or Old High German roots as well. In Greek, pizza is closely related to pitta. In German, "pizzo" or "bizzo" means mouthful.
Pepperoni is one of America’s favorite toppings on a pizza, and who doesn’t like pepperoni, it’s perfect on a cheesy pizza. Around 36% of all pizzas in America have pepperoni, and we happen to love it so much around 251,770,000 pounds of pepperoni are consumed every year.
Domino’s pizza delivery driver James Gilpin delivered two pizzas, adding up to twelve bucks, to the IWU chapel at Wesleyan University where 3,000 students and residential education CEO Keith Newman gave him a $1,268 collective tip!
In the latter half of the 19th century, a peddler introduced pizza to Chicago by setting a metal washtub full of pizzas on his head and selling his pizza for $0.02 per chew.
Did you know that, according to various reports, 62% of Americans prefer meat toppings while 38% prefer vegetables on their pizza and that women are twice as likely as men to order vegetables on their pizza?
Did you know that 94 percent of Americans eat pizza on a regular basis? Combining both deliciousness and the convenience of not having to use utensils, it’s no wonder pizza is a hit at every special occasion from junior high sleepovers to family reunions.
One of the spiciest pizzas in the world is made in England with a ghost chili pepper paste. The ghost chili is stronger than pepper spray and is currently being tested by the Guinness Book of World Records to see if it passes the 1 million Scovell scale.
The pizza is so sacred in Italy that there is a bill to safeguard the traditional Italian pizza, specifying permissible ingredients and methods of processing that excludes frozen pizzas. Only pizzas that follow these guidelines can be called "traditional Italian pizzas".
Did you know originally pizza was only made with tomatoes? Pizza originated in Italy was first called “Neapolitan pie” and was topped with tomato. Cheese was not added until 1889!
