Pizza is probably one of the most popular foods around the world. It survived the test of time and even it the current recipes were developed just recently, the origins of the dish have been linked to ancient times. Many do not put much thought into it but there are quite a few impressive and surprising facts that people do not know about this famous dish. Some of the most interesting facts are not even linked to Italy so with no further ado, here are the top 10 things you didn’t know about Pizza.
10. It Will Cause You To Gain Weight
For many this is not surprising and this is considered more of a general knowledge fact but very few know that the calories found in a pizza are not the only cause. A lot of pizzerias use too much salt which when preparing the dough or sprinkle it on the topping more than they should. This excess of salt sometimes is counted as twice the daily recommended quantity and causes the body to retain more liquids. While water is not really fat, it can still cause the body to gain weight.
9. It is Healthy!
Pizza might get you fat but it has some benefits. In fact, a recent study showed that eating tomatoes on a regular basis reduces the chances of developing cancer. This means that eating pizza is healthy since it contains a tomato sauce and fresh sliced tomatoes on the topping. But this is not all. The mushrooms are also very healthy to eat. They contain essential minerals and can stop the growth of tumors. As if that is not enough, they also provide high quantities of vitamin D.
8. Who Eats The Most Pizza?
The answer might be surprising. Norwegians held the record for some years now of being the population that eats the most pizza per individual. In average, a Norway inhabitant consumes about 5.68 slices of pizza more than an American. Half of it is baked at home while the rest is either ordered or served in restaurants.
7. The US Has Been Eating Pizza For More Than 100 Years
Some might not be surprised by this statement as the Italian immigrants came to the States at the beginning of the previous century. The interesting fact is the establishment of the first pizzeria in the US 1905 in New York’s Little Italy. Even with all that Italian influence, the pizza would bear only casual resemblance to the original dish. Today it is a multi-billion dollar industry with more than 67.000 pizzerias in the US.
6. There Are People That Train Themselves Break Records Eating It
This not much of a surprise but there is a world record for fastest pizza eater. What is surprising is his speed. Australian Josh of New Zeeland managed to eat a 12 inch pizza in 1 minute and 45 seconds in 2010. His record still stands and nobody managed to overthrown him from being the fastest pizza eater in the world.
5. The Biggest Pizza Ever Baked Was Not In Italy
Since there is a cultural link between pizza and Italy, some might assume that it was the Italians who attempted to break the record. Facts tell a different story. On December 8th 1990, the biggest pizza was being cooked out of 1100 pounds of flower, 1750 pounds of cheese and 2000 pounds of tomato puree. Its total size was measured to be 11800 square feet which is close to the size of an Olympic swimming pool. This impressive feat was done in Johannesburg, South Africa. Irony had it for the biggest pizza to be baked in a region where food distribution is a problem that causes famine and deaths associated with lack of food.
4. It’s Origins Are Not Based In Italy
Shocking for some but history has the facts. The first ones to come up with the concept were the Greeks. They used to have a dish called pitta that was actually bread covered with oils, herbs and cheese. The word “pitta” could be translated as pie. Later on, the Romans adopted the concept and created a new dish named “placenta” which was a flat piece of dough topped with honey, cheese and bay leaves. The “placenta” lead to the creation of traditional pizza and pie-like dishes.
3. The First Pizza Restaurant From Italy Still Exists
The first pizza restaurant in Italy was established around the 1800s in Naples. Named Port’Alba, the restaurant still exists today. It can be visited and not only that it serves as a tourist attraction with a historical importance but it also kept serving its customers with hot slices of fresh Italian pizza. A lot of tourists end up visiting Naples just to sit down and eat a pizza in the first restaurant dedicated to this traditional Italian dish.
2. It Was Considered A Dish For The Poor
In the 16th century, pizza was looked at as a dish for the poor. It was just a seasoned flat bread. Italians used to sell it on the street and for a long time, it was not even considered a kitchen recipe. Until the late 19th century, the dish was sweet and not as savory as it is today. A cookbook from that time described all pizza recipes as being sweet. Even so, it was only in the late 1800s when pizza became commonly accepted as a traditional dish and not a type of food destined for the poor.
1. Italians Have A Bill That Defines What A Pizza Should Be Like
Italians might know about it but the rest of the world has no clue that there is a bill that defines what a pizza is and what it should contain. The bill can be found under the name “Legislatura 13ª – Disegno di legge N. 5016”. It was approved by the senate and it is used mainly define what pizza is and how pizzerias should operate. The final version of the bill was drafted and voted in February 2001 and remained unchanged since then. Even if it was not the Italians to introduce the concept of Pizza, they surely value their contribution by passing on such a bill. In the end, they are the ones that created the version of pizza that everyone enjoys today.
