Pizza quickly spread throughout Naples and then all over Italy, where it began to be eaten at any time, from breakfast to dinner. With the migration of Italians to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, pizza crossed the Atlantic. According to legend, pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito was asked to prepare various types of pizza for the royal family. The restaurant's popularity was so great that its owners invented a unique payment system called 'Pizza a' Otto,' which allowed customers to pay within eight days of their meal, indicating a special relationship of trust between the restaurant and its customers. Pizza transcended being just a dish to become a cultural and social phenomenon, appearing at both ordinary occasions and celebrations. The witty sayings that became popular about it reflect its special place in people's hearts, such as: 'What's the logic? The pizza box is square, the pizza itself is round, and the slices are triangular,' and another phrase expressing a deep love for this dish: 'You can't please everyone. And this immense variety is a testament to the dish's versatility and its ability to embody multiple cultures without losing its essential identity. Today, pizza is one of the most popular dishes in the world, loved by children and adults, the rich and the poor, for its quick preparation, ease of consumption, and infinite variety of flavors. Queen Margherita was particularly fond of a simple variety made with red tomatoes, white 'mozzarella' cheese, and green basil, which represented the colors of the Italian flag. However, the real transformation into the pizza we know today began in Naples, where the dish acquired its name and distinctive character. In Japan, you can find pizza with salmon and wasabi, in Mexico it is topped with chili peppers and cottage cheese, and in India it takes on a unique flavor with curry and eggplant. In America, pizza evolved, adopting local flavors, and became an integral part of American cuisine, and even a cultural symbol in its own right. From there, pizza conquered the world, adapting to local tastes and traditions in every country. Some even exaggerate their affection to the point of saying, 'I want someone to look at me the same way I look at pizza.' The story of pizza is profoundly human, telling how a simple idea can move from the tables of the poor to the halls of kings and from a small city in Italy to every corner of the world, where pizza successfully became a bridge between cultures. It is not just dough, tomatoes, and cheese, but a story of cultural exchange and a continuous love affair between people and delicious food. Or a phrase describing the ultimate attachment: 'If you're not pizza, then the answer is yes, I can live without you.' Initially, Europeans feared this red fruit, calling it 'the devil's apple,' but the poor of Naples, seeking cheap and nutritious food, tried it and found it delicious and safe, and began adding it to their flatbread, adding a new color and flavor that forever enriched the dish. Over time, pizza became more complex and varied but retained its simple ingredients. For example, ancient Egyptians preferred to add cheese and dates to their dough, indicating that the idea of 'stuffed bread' is a cross-cultural human concept. A few days ago, specialized restaurants in several countries celebrated World Pizza Day, which falls on February 9th each year—a global dish that combines simplicity and delicious taste and carries within it the story of an innovative journey to the top. Pizza's origins are believed to trace back to the Italian city of Naples, where the first recorded mention dates to 1830, but its true roots stretch much further back to ancient times, when primitive forms of flatbread stuffed with various ingredients existed. In ancient civilizations, from Greeks and Romans to Egyptians and even the Vikings, there were dishes conceptually similar to pizza: a base of flat dough stuffed with a variety of ingredients like butter, herbs, garlic, and cheese. In 1830, the first official pizzeria, 'Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba,' opened in Naples, which was mainly frequented by artists, students, and people with limited incomes. In her honor, this pizza was named 'Margherita,' and it became a symbol not only of Naples but of a unified Italy. From Naples, pizza began its journey to worldwide recognition. In the 16th century, specifically after tomatoes arrived from South America to Europe in 1522, a qualitative leap occurred. In 1889, Naples witnessed a significant event in pizza history when it was visited by King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy. In 1905, the first Italian pizzeria was opened in New York City, marking a new phase of global spread.
