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By Shammas / April 27, 2025 Perfect Pizza —whether you’re grabbing a quick slice, crafting a gourmet masterpiece at home, or enjoying the perfect pie from your favorite pizzeria—holds a special place in our hearts. It’s the kind of food that crosses all borders, brings together families, and transcends generations. It’s a universal language of comfort, and over the centuries, it has evolved from a humble flatbread to an international icon. Today, perfect pizza is a blank canvas for endless culinary creativity—toppings, crusts, sauces, and styles from around the world. But how did we get here? From ancient flatbreads to globally loved pies, the journey to the perfect pizza is rich with history, innovation, and culture. In this blog, we’ll explore how pizza evolved into the beloved dish it is today—diverse, delicious, and endlessly inspiring. The Ancient Beginnings: Flatbreads and Fire Before perfect pizza became the globally recognized dish we devour today, it had humble beginnings. The origins of pizza can be traced all the way back to ancient civilizations. The concept of flatbreads topped with various ingredients is something that transcends cultures and goes as far back as 3000 BCE in places like Egypt, Greece, and even the ancient Roman Empire. These early flatbreads were often baked on stones and were topped with various items like olive oil, honey, cheese, and herbs. However, they lacked the iconic combination of tomato sauce and cheese that we associate with modern pizza today. It wasn’t until the late 18th century in Naples, Italy, that the pizza we recognize today truly began to take shape. Street vendors began offering these flatbreads topped with tomatoes, a relatively new arrival to Europe after the vegetable was brought back from the Americas. The tomato, once thought to be poisonous, was finally embraced in Italian cuisine, and the first versions of pizza began to appear on the streets of Naples, setting the stage for the evolution of the perfect pizza we enjoy today. Pizza’s Italian Renaissance: Naples and the Birth of the Modern Pie The true turning point in the journey toward the perfect pizza came in the late 19th century, right in the vibrant heart of Naples, Italy. By this time, pizza had become more than just a street snack—it was a vital part of the working-class diet. Vendors pushed carts through crowded alleys, selling hot, rustic pies topped with simple yet flavorful ingredients like tomatoes, garlic, oil, cheese, and herbs. Affordable, portable, and deeply satisfying, these pizzas were crafted for the busy, hard-working people of Naples who needed nourishment that was quick, filling, and delicious. Then came a moment that would forever change the story of pizza. In 1889, Queen Margherita of Savoy visited Naples with King Umberto I, and a local pizzaiolo named Raffaele Esposito was summoned to prepare a dish in her honor. Wanting to create something that embodied national pride, Esposito crafted a pizza using red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil—mirroring the colors of the Italian flag. The queen was delighted by its simplicity and flavor, and Esposito named the creation Pizza Margherita in her honor. This humble yet symbolic pizza was a turning point. For the first time, pizza transcended its image as food for the poor and became a dish fit for royalty. The Margherita pizza perfectly embodied the emerging principles of the perfect pizza: balance, freshness, simplicity, and national identity. It laid the groundwork for modern pizza as we know it, introducing the world to the concept of a pie that could be elegant, artisanal, and universally beloved. From that royal table in Naples, the influence of Pizza Margherita began to spread beyond Italy’s borders. It sparked a culinary revolution that elevated pizza from street fare to a celebrated art form. This wasn’t just about adding toppings to flatbread anymore—it was about crafting a pizza experience that captured hearts, honored tradition, and inspired innovation. And thus, the foundation was set for what would become one of the most cherished and evolving dishes in the world—the perfect pizza. The Italian-American Fusion: Pizza’s Journey Across the Ocean As pizza was perfected in Italy, it made its way across the Atlantic, gaining popularity in the United States thanks to Italian immigrants. Cities like New York and Chicago became hubs for pizza, with pizzerias offering Neapolitan-style pies. However, the American palate soon demanded more variety, leading to distinct regional styles. In New York, the thin, foldable slices with a crispy yet chewy crust became iconic, while Chicago introduced the deep-dish pizza, with its thick, buttery crust, layers of cheese, and rich tomato sauce. The history of pizza in America is a blend of Italian tradition and American innovation. The perfect pizza in America evolved as a fusion of Italian tradition and American innovation. By the mid-20th century, the flavor-packed pies of the United States had become a beloved version of pizza. The addition of unique toppings, larger portions, and cheese-laden crusts turned pizza into an iconic American food. The influence of these styles reached worldwide, and the American pizza culture continues to inspire pizzerias around the globe, proving that the perfect pizza is a canvas that can be reinterpreted in countless ways. The history of pizza in the U.S. showcases how it became an integral part of American cuisine. While the perfect pizza was being perfected in Italy, it took a transatlantic journey to truly take off in the United States. Italian immigrants, bringing with them their rich pizza traditions, began to introduce pizza to the American public in the early 20th century. However, the American appetite for pizza soon demanded more variety, leading to the creation of pizza styles that were distinctly American. In New York, the thin, foldable slices with a crispy yet chewy crust became the gold standard, while Chicago embraced the deep-dish pizza, with its thick, buttery crust, layers of cheese, and hearty tomato sauce. The history of pizza in America is a tale of adaptation and creativity. The perfect pizza in America evolved as a fusion