Foods A-Z - P is for Pizza

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I like to bring you the more unusual foods; but I couldn't pass up pizza. We'll leave the poi for a future post! Pizza, one of the most popular foods in the world, is consumed by 13% of the United States population on any given day. 83% of consumers eat pizza at least once a month. Foods similar to pizza have been made since approximately 12,000 years ago. In the 6th century B.C. the Persian soldiers baked flatbreads with cheese and dates on top of their battle shields. Modern pizza evolved in the 18th or early 19th century. Prior to that time flatbread was topped with garlic, salt, lard, cheese and basil. The first pizzeria in the United States is said to have been opened in 1905 (Lombardi's); but the term pizza was first coined in Latin in Italy (part of the Byzantine Empire) in the 10th century; and modern pizza evolved in Naples, Italy. There are expensive pizzas that are topped with gourmet items such as truffles, caviar, lobster and 24-carat gold dust. Do you like pizza? What are your favorite toppings? I like either a cheese pizza or pizza with tomatoes, black olives and mushrooms. I love pepperoni but try to stay away from it. Photo Credit: Pixabay