Shaping the Way of Italian Heritage: The History of Pizza

October is National Pizza Month and what better way to honor the month then with a tribute to the history of pizza …   

There are many theories about the origin of pizza. There is agreement, though, that pizza was developed by peasants in Naples, Italy. This early pizza consisted of flattened bread dough topped with olive oil, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese (another product of the Naples area). Tomatoes were discovered growing in the new world by the Spanish Conquistadors. They were, for many centuries, thought to be poisonous. An Italian peasant might have tried to add bulk to his pizza by using the “devils fruit”.

The first pizza restaurant was named Port Alba and it opened in Naples in 1830. This restaurant served pizza baked in ovens made from lava rock.

Pizza, as we know it today, is credited to a man named Raffaele Esposito, who was a proprietor of a restaurant in Naples. In 1889, to honor a visit by King Umberto I and Queen Margherita, he created a special pizza which resembled the Italian Tre Colouri Flag. The pizza consisted of basil, the green in the flag, mozzarella, the white, and tomatoes, the red in the flag. This dish set the standard for our modern day pizza. This patriotic pizza was an instant success with the King and Queen, as well as Raffaele’s other patrons. He named this pizza in honor of the Queen, Margherita Pizza. This type of pizza is still very popular today in pizzerias throughout America.

Gennaro Lombardi opened the first American pizzeria in New York City in 1905. (Lombardi’s) is still in operation today and the pizza is baked in a coal-burning oven with the same recipe Gennaro Lombardi brought from Naples in 1897.

There is no doubt that Italian immigrants brought pizza to the United States as part of their culture from the Old World. Italians generally saw pizza as a snack, not as a meal. It was also considered peasant food. When there was nothing to eat, there was always flour, olive oil and tomatoes. If available, cheese and meat would be used. 

Pizza was an undiscovered treasure in America. For many years, pizza was only available in Italian Neighborhoods here in the USA. It took a World War to make it a part of our American landscape. Pizza became very popular in the United States after World War II. The returning soldiers had gotten a taste of it while serving in southern Italy. Because of this, the demand for pizza grew.

 Today, pizza is a mainstream food. Some would say it might be the most popular food in America.

A nonprofit organization that takes pride in honoring and shaping the way of their Italian heritage is UNICO National, the Saddle Brook Chapter. The Saddle Brook Chapter of UNICO National was chartered in 1967 and is part of the largest Italian/American Service organization in the USA. Currently there are over 130 Chapters of UNICO in over 31 Districts. The Saddle Brook Chapter belongs to New Jersey District VII, a district made up of eight UNICO Chapters from surrounding Bergen County Communities. The Saddle Brook Chapter of UNICO Foundation, Inc. was created in 2005 to work alongside its sister organization, Saddle Brook Chapter of UNICO National.

Currently UNICO of Saddle Brook has over 52 members. Membership of UNICO is exclusively open to American men and women of Italian heritage, or persons married to men and women of Italian heritage, of good character and reputation.

UNICO stands for Unique-One of a Kind in the Italian language. It also stands for:

U - UNITY: In the common brotherhood of UNITY of man created by an all-wise and loving GOD.

N - NEIGHBORLY: That my highest fulfillment and greatest happiness are to be found in unselfish service to my NEIGHBOR.

I - INTEGRITY: That INTEGRETY of character-not wealth, position, or power-is the greatest possession I can have.

C - CHARITY: That true CHARITY is not motivated by selfish purpose but is the expression of genuine love for my neighbor.

O - OPPORTUNITY: In my responsibility to use every OPPORTUNITY to increase my usefulness to the needy and underprivileged.

UNICO Functions:

UNICO grants scholarship awards, is a major player in the fight against the discrimination of Italian-Americans, observes Columbus Day with filling programs, promotes the perpetuation of our rich Italian heritage and culture, promotes Italian Study Chairs in colleges and universities, promotes the study of Italian language in high schools, raises funds for local and national charities, particularly, The Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research, participates in underprivileged and handicapped children’s work, mental health research programs, Cooley’s Anemia research programs, community and civic activities, and promotes good fellowship among members.

 -          This blog was created by the Saddle Brook Chapter of UNICO National and edited by Nicole Linardos