Have you ever wondered who ordered the first pizza in the world? While pizza has become a global comfort food, its journey from humble beginnings to your doorstep began with a fascinating and flavorful moment in history. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the incredible story of the one who ordered pizza first, explore the roots of pizza delivery, and reveal some surprising pizza facts that every food lover should know.
The Birthplace of Pizza
To understand who made the first pizza order, we must first journey back to Naples, Italy, in the 18th century. Pizza, as we know it, began as a street food for the working class—flatbreads topped with simple ingredients like garlic, tomatoes, cheese, and herbs.
The modern version of pizza truly took shape in 1889 when Raffaele Esposito, a famous pizzaiolo (pizza maker) from Naples, was invited to create a special dish for Queen Margherita of Savoy during her visit to the city.
The First Official Pizza Order in History
This moment is widely recognized as the first recorded pizza order in the world. Queen Margherita, curious about the dish common among her people, requested to try it. Raffaele Esposito prepared three different types of pizza, and the one she liked most was made with tomato, mozzarella, and fresh basil—the colors of the Italian flag. In honor of her, he named it Pizza Margherita. This royal request turned pizza from street food into a national treasure, and some say that Queen Margherita was the first person to officially order pizza in a documented setting.
Pizza Delivery Before Phones?
Interestingly, although Queen Margherita didn’t “call in” her order, her royal request resembles the first pizza delivery. In fact, it could be argued that this was also the first pizza delivery in the world, as the pizza was brought to her palace. It wouldn’t be until the 20th century, with the rise of telephones and motor vehicles, that pizza delivery as we know it would take off.
