Essay

Kirsten Davis
Mrs. Boresen
Expos, P-4
Cause and Effect Essay
30 January 2009

The United States consumes about 350 slices of pizza per second, 100 acres per day, and three billion pizzas a year (“Pizza Facts”). Who hasn’t attended a pizza party or gone to a meeting only for the promises of pizza? The modern pizza was created and has since been developed for a multitude of reasons, and it has made its impact on every corner of the world. The ancient pizza was created because it was easy to make with the ingredients at hand and satisfying at the same time. The best know pizza maker created his master piece for a unique reason; it was his patriotic duty. Many a clever entrepreneur in America developed the pizza to fit his or her clientele. The pizza, which is a 3 billion dollar industry according to Pizza Facts, has since generated a lot of money. It has also generated a whole culture because of the unique social atmosphere that is created when someone says, “Who wants pizza?”

The experts argue about where the first pizza pie was created and who created it. It really comes down to the definition; does it have to have cheese and tomato sauce to be called pizza? The majority of pizzas come from the queen bee of pizzas called the “Neapolitan pizza.” Although foods similar to pizza existed before Italy, Italians created the Neapolitan pizza and are credited with most of its developments. Poor Italians started using the tomato as sauce on pizza even though it was thought to be poisonous. Italians also began using the milk of the Indian Water Buffalo to make the “must have” mozzarella cheese topping (History of Pizza). Despite the disputed beginnings, everyone can agree that the popular food has impacted the world of dining.

Although there are disputed claims on the subject, most experts agree on some key causes to the development of pizza. Pizza has been sold and eaten for sustenance, patriotism, and money. The earliest form of pizza was seasoned flatbread eaten only to satisfy hunger. Mediterranean people were seasoning flatbread for nourishment in the times of ancient Greece. It was used as an edible plate and topped with stews. Basically pizza in its most ancient form was made for function (“Pizza’s Colorful History”). Over the years the flatbread became more and more tailored to fit tastes and even catch the eye. The story of the first Neapolitan pizza is surprisingly agreed upon by all sources. The credit goes to the most famous “Pizzaioli” or pizza maker, Rafaele Esposito. The patriotic Italian designed his pizza to be a tribute to his country. The creation was made for Queen Margherita in the colors of Italy: red tomato sauce, white mozzarella cheese, and green basil. Many enjoyed the type of pizza Rafaele Esposito made and it was named the “Neopolitan Pizza” (“History of Pizza”). The Neapolitan Pizza spread throughout Italy and it has since spread throughout the world. Many entrepreneurs found that the fame of the Neopolitan pizza could earn them some money. American soldiers after World War II came from Italy craving pizza that they could only find in Italian neighborhoods. Gennaro Lombardi opened the first pizzeria in New York City, in 1905, with the thought of the American soldiers. Ike Sewell had the same idea and opened the first pizza place in Chicago called Pizzeria Uno. His Chicago pizzeria was a success with the veterans and with everybody else (Miller, Hanna).

The birth of pizza around the world caused a pizza mania. Pizza has affected economy, it has satisfied hunger, and it has created a unique culture. Entrepreneurs went in to the pizza business for money, and that is exactly what they earned. Now the 61,269 pizza parlors in the United States sell a combined amount of three billion pizzas a year (“Pizza Facts”). The pizza pie also satisfied hunger in America, Italy, and around the world. According to a Gallup poll, children age three to eleven prefer pizza over any other food for lunch and dinner. Even when polling adults, the figures come out the same. Pizza is the second favorite food in America with every American eating about twenty-three pounds of the delicacy a year (“Pizza Facts”). Most importantly, the pizza has created a social atmosphere like none other. The famous song “That’s Amore!” compared the moon to a “big pizza pie.” Only universal foods can be used so casually in songs. Most often sold whole, pizza is perfect for a group and it is hard to eat it alone. It has become such a social food. The only bickering around a table with pizza on it is about who ordered the anchovies. When there is pizza, everybody becomes a little more light hearted. The celebrated food has affected our world even outside of dining experiences. Food is an art form and pizza takes first prize in many peoples’ hearts.

Pizza was originally created because the ingredients were handy, but it was developed and changed for the people who adored its taste. That taste and those pizza people have since been around the world to influence everyone in the pizza culture. The tomato, bread, and cheese specialty with trillions of variations has influenced culture and even economies. Every country has evolved to influence all cultures. The Japanese like to put squid on their pizzas. Pickled ginger and tofu are added to pizzas in India. Brazilians top pizzas with green peas (“Pizza Facts”). Whether it’s eaten in the traditional Italian way or it is topped with green peas like in Brazil, pizza is no doubt a popular, time honored tradition that should be respected.