Pizza: The World’s Favourite Food

Pizza is widely loved and accepted dish, it is served almost everywhere in the world, from the far reaches of Australia and Japan to the shores of America and Argentina. Everyone loves pizza and it has been a part of restaurant menus since the late 20th century and has stayed that way since.

It is a traditional Italian dish, which consists of yeasted flatbread topped with tomato sauce and cheese and baked in an oven. Some variants of pizza are made without cheese and use different types of toppings such as vegetables, meats and other condiments.

Its origins can be traced back to the 10th century, from a Latin manuscript found in the southern Italian town of Gaeta in Lazio, near the border of Campania. The modern pizza is an invention from Naples, and the most popular style is called the Neapolitan Pizza. In 2009 it was granted the status of a traditional special guaranteed dish at the request of the Italian government. Since there are so many variants adopted around the world based on available local ingredients, the touch of the original pizza is almost lost. In order to keep the sanctity of the original Neapolitan pizza, a non-profit organization called the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana has made it its sole purpose to “promote and protect... the true Neapolitan pizza”.

It is the single most popular fast- food item in North America and Europe, its widespread popularity has even spread to Asia and parts of Africa where they are served in many restaurants and fast food chains. Some restaurants sell only pizzas and offer deliveries. With the advent of the 4g internet, people can place pizza order online in seconds. Pizza home delivery is also the most common form of food delivery in the world.

The sale of pizza is a peculiar process. Unlike other forms of food, it is not sold whole at all times. It can be sold frozen or fresh and as a whole pizza or as portions.  It also differs in modes of preparation, with the more traditional types of pizza being made in wood-fired ovens and not electric ovens. Its derivative foods such as calzone and Stromboli are made from leftover pizza ingredients. There are culinary rules as well, such as eating it with a fork and knife is sometimes considered disrespectful in America, whereas it has to be consumed with a fork and knife in restaurants in Italy.

The three most important ingredients of a pizza are the crust, the sauce and the cheese. There are many types of crusts, such as deep dish and the thin crust. There may be more variations depending on the region. The sauce is usually a mixture of fresh tomatoes, olive oil and garlic. The most commonly used cheese is the mozzarella and the buffalo mozzarella produced in Naples is considered to be the finest. Many other types of cheese such as ricotta, parmesan, cheddar and feta are also commonly used.

Pizza is a delicacy that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age, and its rich history and culture have ensured that it stays relevant in the future and will be a staple in the fast food industry.