A Short History of the Pizza
The pizza dates from about 200 BC. Nobody knows the exact origins of the pizza but for centuries the Italians and Greeks used flat round bread with toppings on it. But it was the Italians who added tomatoes and cheese to make the pizza as we know it. The world's first pizzeria, Antica Pizzeria Port' Alba in Naples, opened in 1830 and is still in business. The modern Pizza was created by Naples baker Raffael Esposito.
In 1889, he created a pizza for King Umberto and Queen Margherita while they were visiting Naples, topping the pizza with red tomatoes, white (mozzarella) cheese and green basil to resemble the Italian flag. He named the pizza in honour of Queen Margherita. The queen was keen to try this new food but was reluctant to visit the pizzeria. Thus she became the first person to order a take-away pizza.
The very basic pizza that was made for Queen Margherita with tomato and cheese become known as a margherita pizza and to this day is still one of the world's most popular pizzas.
Today, more than five billion pizzas are sold annually, more than one billion in frozen form.
Above are some of our favourite wood fired oven and pizza recipes for you to enjoy:
Outdoor Wood Burning Pizza Oven
What do celebrities Jamie Oliver, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Ritchie and Italian chef Gennaro Contaldo all have in common? They all enjoy cooking and entertaining al fresco in their gardens with their family and friends using the latest "must have garden accessory" - A wood burning pizza oven.
Do you and your family enjoy cooking and entertaining al fresco, just like they do across the Mediterranean and beyond? If you do then you will love this brilliant range of UK handmade Outdoor Wood Burning Pizza Ovens that will give you the ultimate experience in outdoors cooking throughout the whole year.
Using old design ideas combined with modern 21st century materials, these very easy to use wood fired Pizza Ovens have proven to be a must buy with our customers in the last couple of years. So whether it's delicious Pizzas, Bread, Lasagne, Kleftiko, roasts or any other food that you would like to cook - there really is nothing you cannot cook in one of these brilliant handmade wood burning pizza ovens and the taste..... well - you can be the judge of that, but from our experience the wholesome taste is out of this world and so different to cooking in your normal domestic indoor ovens.
Don't just take our word for it - try one for yourself. After all the wood burning pizza oven over the coming years is set to be the must have garden accessory. Not only do they look good in the garden as a feature, the sight of the wood burning and seeing your food cook in the oven will amaze your guests and you are guaranteed to blow them away with the wholesome taste of your food.
Who needs the summer months and the BBQ? Now that these ovens are available to everyone at sensible prices, and are usable all year round, why not impress the family and friends with some of the best tasting food you will ever taste and enjoy the compliments along with a well deserve glass of wine.
Read "The Independent" newspaper article about Gwyneth Paltrow and her Pizza Oven,
