Posts Tagged ‘History’
Culinary Ugly Duckling
Margherita - named for Queen Margherita di Savoia
Predating 1889, pizza was a humble food indeed, served mainly as a subsistence food to the poorest of the Neapolitans. As visitors to Naples heard of the local dish, its popularity began to grow. Soon visitors sought out the unique treat.
In 1889 Queen Margherita di Savoia visited Naples on holiday and had occasion to request the service of the most popular of the pizzaioli (pizza chef), Raffaele Esposito, to taste his specialties. Honored at her interest he prepared three kinds of pizzas: one with pork fat, cheese, and basil; one with garlic, oil, and tomatoes; and another with mozzarella, basil, and tomatoes (in the colors of the Italian flag).
The Queen liked the last so much that she sent to the pizzaioli a letter to thank him saying, “I assure you that the three kinds of pizza you have prepared were very delicious.” Esposito dedicated his specialty to the Queen and it became “Pizza Margherita.” Setting the standard by which today’s pizza evolved as well as firmly established Naples as the pizza capitol of the world is this Pizza Margherita.
Into the late 1900’s, pizza moved into all hours of the day. It was sold at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, served from a large tray that had been baked and had a simple topping of mushrooms and anchovies. As pizza became ever more popular various toppings were invented. Soon stalls dedicated to selling it developed into the pizzeria.
“Give me your tired, your poor” . . . and those rich with culinary history. With the arrival of Italian immigrants to America the dish from Naples was about to undergo a radical evolution.
Next post, the 20th Century and the pizza pie’s introduction to the states.
