GR 2-1

Pizza has come a long way since its invention in Italy. Today,

pizza is truly an international food, and there are many different

kinds. All of these pizzas have some things in common, however.

They all have a bread base, tomato paste, and cheese. Do you

have a favorite kind of pizza? Queen Margherita of Italy did! This

is how it happened.

In 19th century Italy, people loved eating pizza. Their favorite

pizza was called a Neapolitan pizza, because it was invented in

the city of Naples. These pizzas were very simple. The flat, bread

base was topped with cheese and tomato paste, and the cheese

was made from water buffalo's milk. Visitors came from all over

Italy to try this new food and to learn how to make it.

A few years later, in 1878, a new queen was crowned in Italy.

Her name was Margherita of Savoy. Like most Italians, Queen

Margherita liked to eat pizza. The people of Naples decided to

make a special pizza just for her. They called it "Pizza Margherita."

A pizza Margherita is very similar to a Neapolitan pizza, but

with one small difference. This new pizza had red tomatoes and

hite cheese just like the Neapolitan, but it had green

well. The red, white, and green were the same colors chosen for

the flag of Italy! The Queen's pizza was very patriotic.

You may be able to try a pizza Margherita the next time you

visit an Italian restaurant. Many restaurants serve this type of

pizza. The cheese might not be made from water buffalo's milk,

but it will still be very delicious.