Celebrate the Pizza

It’s difficult to imagine a time when pizza was not a major American food group.

The Italian delicacy came to the United States as recently as the late 19th century, the ingredients imported by Italian immigrants. The country’s first pizzeria was born in New York’s Little Italy neighborhood by Neapolitan immigrant, Gennaro Lombardi. Lombardi adapted his simple Neapolitan-style pizza to America, transitioning from wood-fired ovens to coal-fired ones, substituting fior di latte for mozzarella di bufala.

In 1905, a slice of pizza cost five cents. During the Depression, when families did not have much money, pizza became popular with everyone in the United States. Families were eating different types of pizza on the east and west coasts. A thick-crust pizza was called double-crust pizza or west coast pizza.

Pizza was mostly limited to Italian immigrant communities until after World War II, when American soldiers returning from Italy still wanted their pies. Popularity spread, and various American styles developed.

Since then, pizza has become one of the most popular members of the American food family and a takeout staple.

To celebrate National Pizza Day coming up on February 9th, we will be offering DIY take home Pizza Kits for a limited time only from February 6 through February 9th for $9.95. Includes cheese, sauce, dough and extra flour, with easy to make instructions.