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The word pizza derived from the latin word focaccia which means fire, it is prepared by in different forms garnished with olives,honey,herbs,nuts etc. The italian meaning of pizza is pie or flat bread. We may not be able to find pizzas in these parts of Mediterranean. After 1700s when the tomato becomes popular in an around Naples. The hisory of Pizza in Naples can be traced back to the Year 1000. The name of pizza or the flat bread was laganae later it was renamed to picea. Pizzas at those time were prepared with olive oil and garlic or cheese or may be with some local fish. Open fire was used to bake closed as into two. Pizzas at those time didnt get much recognition because it was considered as the food of poor people. Pizza stores were opened at those times at Naples with oven with in with brick wood covered with lava stones from Vesuvius Mountain. But pizzas got attention even from the royal family in 1700s as tomato also entered with pizzas to the kitchen. In 1700s the King of Naples Ferdinand I loved this food and wanted to include in the courts food menu but due to opposition from the queen he failed in his attempt. His son Ferdinand II succeded to throne and made a pizza oven at the palace of Capodimonte. Soon the pizza became more popular as it was also incuded into the folklore of Naples. Soon lot of shops were opened at Naples and near by places. Pizza Margherita was named after Queen Margherita of Italy as she visited Naples in 1889. Three pizzas were baked for the Queen at the royal palace by cook Raffaele one with basil and cheese, second with tomato oil and garlic, and the third with tomato mozzarella and basil. She was impressed with the last one as it resembled the national flag. Last century saw the appearance of pizzerias in American Continental and later it became the phenomena of the masses. The best pizzas available belongs to Naples even today.
Source : Experts Column