Chandigarh, August 23: Long before it became a global sensation, pizza was a humble food of the poor in Italy. Its origins lie in the bustling streets of Naples in the 18th and early 19th centuries, where working-class people needed something filling, cheap, and easy to eat. What they created was simple: a flat round of dough, baked quickly in wood-fired ovens, and topped with whatever ingredients were within reach. Often it was just garlic, lard, and salt, sometimes a touch of cheese or the new arrival from the Americas—tomatoes.
To outsiders, this “street food” was looked down upon. Wealthier Italians saw pizza as a peasant’s dish, something not worthy of a place at their tables. Yet, for the workers of Naples, this hot, fragrant flatbread was not just food—it was survival. It was quick, affordable, and delicious. Vendors sold slices straight from ovens in the city’s narrow alleys, and slowly, pizza became woven into the cultural fabric of Naples.
But pizza’s destiny would change forever in the year 1889, thanks to a royal visit.
In June of that year, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy traveled to Naples. The queen, curious about the food of the common people, asked to try the famous “pizza” she had heard about in the city. At the time, pizza was still considered far from noble fare—it was street food, not something a queen would normally taste.
A local pizzaiolo (pizza maker) named Raffaele Esposito was called upon to prepare several varieties for the royal couple. Eager to honor his queen, Esposito baked three different pizzas. One had garlic, lard, and cheese; another had anchovies; and the third was topped with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and green basil.
It was the third pizza that won the queen’s heart. The colors—red from the tomatoes, white from the mozzarella, and green from the basil—mirrored the Italian flag itself. The queen loved its aroma, its flavor, and the simplicity of the ingredients. Esposito, seizing the moment, named it “Pizza Margherita” in her honor.
That moment transformed pizza’s fate. No longer was it merely the food of Naples’ poor—it became a dish tied to national pride and unity, a symbol of Italy itself.
After Queen Margherita’s approval, pizza slowly gained respect across Italy. Naples remained its beating heart, with families passing down recipes for generations, but soon the dish began to travel. Italian immigrants carried their love for pizza across the ocean to America, where in cities like New York and Chicago, it began to evolve into new styles.
In the early 20th century, pizza shops opened in immigrant neighborhoods, serving freshly baked slices to workers who longed for the flavors of home. After World War II, returning soldiers who had tasted pizza in Italy brought back their cravings, and suddenly, the dish spread across the United States and beyond.
By the late 20th century, pizza was no longer confined to Italy or Italian immigrant communities—it had become a universal food. From the wood-fired ovens of Naples to the deep-dish pies of Chicago, from thin-crust Roman pizzas to global fast-food chains, pizza adapted to every culture while still carrying its Italian soul.
Today, pizza is one of the most beloved foods on Earth. It is shared at family dinners, birthday parties, college dorms, and even at fine-dining restaurants. It has traveled far from its humble beginnings as the food of Naples’ poor, yet it has never lost its essence: simple ingredients, brought together with care, creating something greater than the sum of its parts.
Italy still holds pizza close to its heart, especially in Naples, where the traditional Neapolitan pizza has been recognized by UNESCO as part of the world’s intangible cultural heritage. Yet, wherever you are—whether in Delhi, New York, or Tokyo—the joy of biting into a warm, fragrant slice connects you to that same story that began centuries ago in the streets of Naples.
What was once survival food for the poor has become a symbol of celebration, comfort, and togetherness. Pizza’s story is not just about Italy; it is about how a simple dish can unite people across cultures.
And all it took was flour, tomatoes, cheese, basil—and one curious queen.
