The roots of pizza can be traced back to ancient times. Dishes that resemble our modern pizza pies have been enjoyed for at least seven thousand years, though most of these were simply flatbreads topped with assortments of ingredients and condiments. It would not be until the 16th century that something more recognizable as pizza would first be prepared.
It was during this time that Naples was a thriving Greek settlement, populated largely by working-class poor. In an effort to provide this workforce with quick and easy nutrition on the go, street vendors began serving a dish they called pizza. The earliest pizza came in the form of a flatbread topped with much of what we use today, including cheese, tomatoes, anchovies, and garlic.
After Italy unified, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita visited Naples. The couple was bored with French haute cuisine, and developed a taste for the local peasant food. Margherita had a particular liking for mozzarella pizza. The dish therefore came to be known as pizza Margherita, which was embraced throughout the country.
Today, you can enjoy several varieties of pizza at our Italian restaurant in Bothell. Try a Margherita, a pepperoni, a pollo, a polpette, or a flat iron pizza at Amaro Bistro tonight!