Fun Facts About Pizza You Probably Didn't Know
Who doesn’t love pizza? It’s cheesy, endlessly customizable, and always hits the spot. But there’s more to this favorite food than just sauce and toppings. From its humble beginnings to some pretty wild records, here are a few fun pizza facts that might just make your next slice taste even better.
1. Pizza Was Once Considered "Peasant Food"
In 18th-century Naples, pizza was sold by street vendors and considered a cheap, humble meal for the working class. It wasn't until Queen Margherita visited in 1889 that pizza began gaining popularity among the upper class, especially after a chef made her a pie with red tomatoes, white mozzarella, and green basil (to represent the Italian flag).
2. The First Pizza Delivery
That same Margherita pizza may have also been the first pizza delivered! The story goes that the chef, Raffaele Esposito, brought the now-famous creation to Queen Margherita’s palace, making it the first-ever delivery in 1889.
3. The U.S. Eats 3 Billion Pizzas a Year
Americans love their pizza. In fact, we eat an estimated 3 billion pizzas each year. That’s around 350 slices per second!
4. October Is National Pizza Month
Mark your calendars! The entire month of October is officially dedicated to pizza in the United States. It was declared by the founder of Pizza Today magazine in 1984 and has been a tasty tradition ever since.
5. The Most Expensive Pizza in the World Costs $12,000
The “Louis XIII” pizza, created by Italian chef Renato Viola, is topped with rare ingredients like caviar, lobster from Norway, and pink Australian sea salt. It takes 72 hours to prepare and comes with a personal chef and sommelier. But hey, at least the delivery is free!
6. Pineapple on Pizza Isn’t from Hawaii
Love it or hate it, Hawaiian pizza wasn’t invented in Hawaii. It was actually created in Canada by a Greek immigrant named Sam Panopoulos in 1962. He added canned pineapple to a pizza as an experiment, and the rest is (controversial) history!
7. The World’s Largest Pizza
In January 2023, Pizza Hut teamed up with YouTuber Airrack to break the world record for the largest pizza ever made. Assembled at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the pizza measured a staggering 13,990 square feet! That’s bigger than a basketball court! It used over 13,000 pounds of dough, nearly 9,000 pounds of cheese, and more than 600,000 slices of pepperoni. It was sliced up and donated to local food banks after the record was set.
Craving a Slice Yet?
You don’t have to travel the world (or spend $12,000) to enjoy an amazing pizza. Head over to City Pizza Co. at Metropolis Resort to try fun, flavorful creations like the Dill Pickle Pizza, a fan favorite topped with ranch sauce, cheddar drizzle, and a generous helping of dill pickle chips.
Whether you're here for a family vacation, birthday party, or just a good meal, City Pizza Co. has something for every kind of pizza lover.
Stay. Play. Eat Pizza. Only at Metropolis Resort.
