The word “pizza” itself comes from the Italian name “pita. Pita was a simple dough flatbread or unleavened flat pie.

This unusual snack, which was later enjoyed by many, was invented by poor people. On these very tortillas they placed various fillings (vegetables, mushrooms, herbs, legumes, meat) and generously sprinkled grated or finely chopped cheese. The snack was delicious both cold and hot. It was easy to take with you, a quick and tasty snack during work.

The dish was becoming increasingly common and popular. While rich people preferred delicacies, in the cafes for the poorer people, the pizza was the leader in the number of orders. Even a special profession appeared – pizzaiolo. These people prepared flatbreads with various toppings and baked the finished product in large wood-burning ovens.

The appearance of pizza “Margarita” dates back to 1889. King Umberto I and his wife Margherita of Savoy were on vacation at their summer residence in Naples. The queen wanted to taste what the common people ate. She had already heard of pizza, so she asked her court chef to make just that. The cook panicked, because he was trained to cook only delicacies, and then he was asked to prepare food for the poor. But the cook had no choice but to carry out the queen’s orders. It was decided to ask a local baker named Raffaele Esposito for help. The wife of the hapless chef also volunteered to help them.

In an attempt to please the Queen, they jointly cooked three pizzas with different kinds of toppings. Margaret of Savoy was offered a delicate pizza with ham, cheese and aromatic herbs, a savory pizza with tomatoes, oil and garlic, and a simple pizza with tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese. It was the third pizza that appealed to the queen. It reminded her of the colors of the Italian flag. The green, red and white colors symbolize patriotism, love for the country and the spirit of the common people.

Of course, the cooked pizza also won over the whole royal family with its taste. The queen personally wrote a letter to chef Raffaele Esposito, where she thanked him for his work. The baker was so moved that in a burst of inspiration he named his creation Margarita, after the queen. He framed the letter from Savoie and hung it above the entrance of his café. It served as a great advertisement and became the calling card of his establishment. Of course, Margarita pizza became the most served signature dish.

This dish became popular not only among the poor population, but also a frequent guest in noble houses.

This is interesting! The institution where Raffaele Esposito worked still exists today. It is located in Naples, called “BRANDI”, in honor of the wife of the enterprising baker. The letter from the queen still hangs there.