The United States Love Affair With the Pizza

Pizza arrived in the USA, not surprisingly, with the Italianhim opening his pizzeria in 1925 and he was soon
immigrants who came to the country in the late 19thcompeting against his own nephew, Sal Consiglio, who
Century. From that day pizza was sold throughout theopened a rival pizzeria right across the street from his
Italian areas of the major cities from stands in theuncle. Remarkably both shops are still operating in
street. The original way pizza was sold in the street in2007!
Naples would have been in large cylindrical drums withNo Longer Just An Italian Dish
false bottoms containing hot coals to keep it warm.Whilst the origins already described show that the
Officially The First Pizzeria?...pizza was prevalent in the Italian neighbourhoods, it
Gennaro Lombardi was an immigrant who arrived inbecame a big hit with American soldiers who were
New York and settled in Little Italy in Manhattan. Aserving in Italy during World War II. It made a tasty
grocer by trade, he opened a grocery store in 1897change to their rations and when they returned in 1945
and it is believed he opened the first pizzeria in 1905the pizzeria became a place for all, not just Italians.
having been granted a license. This came about whenThe Growth Of The Pizzeria
his assistant Antonio Totonnio Pero started making theAmerica now had a new and exciting type of food to
pizzas for sale in the store. Being a poor area peopletry, and new pizza companies were set up in the
would come in and ask how much they could have for1940's and 1950's that are now very much household
whatever money they had, and would duly receive anames. Domino's Pizza and Pizza Hut were two such
slice relative to their funds. Totonnio later went his ownfirms founded in the 1950's and still going strong. Today
way and set up his own pizzeria down in Coney Island.the market has changed and leans much more
Yet Another Claim To Being The Firsttowards home delivery. Just about every home in the
One Frank Pepe claims he opened up his PizzeriaUSA must at some time tried pizza, probably delivered
Napoletana in New Haven Connecticut beforeto the door too.
Lombardi started to sell his wares. Many of Frank'sDiscover the pizza recipe secrets to making
staff were Italian immigrants with the knowledge ofrestaurant quality pizzas every time..
years of making pizzas back home in Italy. This led to