Chapter 1
The ancient flatbread ancestors
Chapter 2
The birth of modern pizza in Naples
Chapter 3
How pizza conquered the world
Chapter 4
The science and art of the perfect pie
YOUR GOAL
Master of Where pizza comes from
Ch 2 · The birth of modern pizza in Naples
torito Neapolitan Pizza Origin
In Naples town, a royal treat, oh-oh! Margherita pizza, oh so sweet! Red, white, and green, for the flag so grand, The queen's own pie, across the land!
torito In 1889, Queen Margherita of Savoy visited Naples and requested local food, breaking royal protocol to try pizza.
torito Tomatoes were feared as poisonous by wealthy Europeans before being embraced by Neapolitan peasants on flatbread.
Fun Fact
Poisonous tomatoes: For over 200 years, wealthy Europeans feared eating tomatoes because aristocrats ate them off lead-heavy pewter plates, causing poisoning.
Glossary
margherita (noun)
A style of pizza typically topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. Neapolitan chef Raffaele Esposito created this variety in 1889 to honor visiting Italian queen Margherita of Savoy.
A style of pizza typically topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. Neapolitan chef Raffaele Esposito created this variety in 1889 to honor visiting Italian queen Margherita of Savoy.
Quiz
In which Italian city was the modern pizza, complete with tomato sauce and cheese, officially born?
Quiz
Who was the Neapolitan pizza maker credited with creating the Margherita pizza for the visiting queen in 1889?
Quiz
Where did tomatoes originally come from before they were introduced to Naples in the 16th century?
Quiz
What was the nickname of the working-class Neapolitans who popularized pizza as a cheap street food in the 1700s?
Quiz
What was the name of Italy's queen who visited Naples in 1889 and helped popularize pizza among the upper classes?
Quiz
Which three ingredients on the Pizza Margherita represent the colors of the Italian flag?