The History and Trivia of Pizza
TLDR Pizza originated in Naples, Italy in the 18th century and has since become a popular food worldwide. From its humble beginnings to its various styles and toppings, pizza has a rich history and continues to be enjoyed by millions.
Timestamped Summary
00:00
The hosts discuss their love for pizza and their favorite pizza place in Atlanta, Antico Pizza.
04:54
Pizza originated in Naples, Italy, in the 18th century and consisted of flat bread, tomato sauce, and cheese.
10:00
Pizza became popular among the peasantry in Naples, Italy, in the 18th century and the first pizzeria, Antica Pizzeria Portalba, opened in 1830; Queen Margarita and King Umberto of Italy tried pizza in Naples in 1889 and Margarita pizza was named after the queen; Italian immigrants brought pizza to cities like New York, Chicago, and Philadelphia in the late 19th century; the first pizzeria in the US, Lombardies, opened in New York in 1905; after World War II, pizza chains like Shakey's and Pizza Hut were established.
14:59
Pizza Hut got its name because the building looked like a hut and there was only room for nine spaces on the sign; Shakey's got its name because the founder had a condition that made him shake; water plays a crucial role in the taste and texture of pizza crust, with New York City's water being particularly important.
19:53
New York pizza is said to be influenced by the water from the Catskills, which plays a crucial role in the taste and texture of the crust.
24:43
The process of making pizza dough involves balling it up with your hands, proofing it until it doubles in size, retarding it in the fridge for 12 hours, and then it can be used for three to five days.
29:22
Neapolitan pizza is extremely thin crust, with sauce, basil, and mozzarella, and must be round, no more than 13.5 inches in diameter, and no more than a tenth of an inch tall, with a crust no more than three quarters of an inch thick, and must be cooked in a wood-fired oven above 905 degrees using only San Marzano plum tomatoes.
34:24
The number one pizza topping in America is chicken, surpassing pepperoni, and Americans consume over 250 million pounds of chicken on their pizza each year.
39:25
There are more than 30 pizzerias in New York operating under the name "Ray," but none of them are actually named Ray, and three of them have tried to trademark the name.
44:41
The largest pizza ever built and eaten weighed 44,457 pounds and was devoured by at least 30,000 people in Havana, Florida in 1987.
49:55
The hosts discuss upcoming events and trivia nights, including a mishap involving honking a horn that caused a minor accident.
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Society & Culture