The world's first pizzeria opened its doors in 1738. The Naples, Italy restaurant was called Antica Pizzeria Port'Alba. Its pizzas were cooked in an oven that used lava from nearby Mount Vesuvius.
In 1889, Queen Margherita Teresa Giovanni, wife of Umberto I, King of Italy, visited the city of Naples. A man by the name of Don Raffaele Esposito was the owner of the tavern Pietro Il Pizzaiolo and was asked to create a special dish in honor of Queen Margherita. He responded by serving the queen a pizza containing mozzarella cheese and basil.
Mozzarella was an ingredient never before used on a pizza. The pizza's characteristic red, white, and green color echoed the colors of Italy's flag, and Esposito dubbed it the Margherita Pizza. Pizza's popularity continued to grow throughout the centuries. Italian immigrants traveled to America and brought pizza with them. In 1905, the first licensed pizzeria opened on U.S. soil.
Congratulations to bloodybobber and OrlandoHolleys on the FTF! Sorry about the wasp sting!!