13 Mar 2008
Press Center – Article (Pizza)
Pizza (pronounced /¿pi¿ts¿/ , in Italian: [‘pit.tsa]) is the name of an oven-baked, flat, usually round bread that is usually covered with tomatoes or a tomato-based sauce and often mozzarella cheese, with other toppings added according to region, culture or personal preference. While originating as a part of Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many different parts of the world. A shop or restaurant where pizzas are made and sold is called a “pizzeria” (from Italian) although the phrase “pizza parlor” is also used in the United States.
Various toppings may be added, most typically:
- sauce, although traditionally tomato-based, pesto, alfredo and barbecue sauce are also used;
- cheese, usually mozzarella but also provolone, cheddar, or a blend of other cheeses;
- herbs and seasonings such as basil, oregano and black pepper;
- fruits and vegetables such as garlic, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, eggplant, olives, onions, spinach, bell peppers, chilli peppers and pineapple;
- meat, such as sausage (pepperoni, salami or Italian sausage), ham, bacon, ground beef, and chicken, or seafood such as anchovies, tuna, salmon and shrimp;
In some pizza recipes the tomato sauce is omitted (termed “white pizza”), or replaced with another sauce (usually garlic butter, but sauces can also be made with spinach or onions). In the Philadelphia area there are also tomato pies ¿ sauce only, or sauce with ripe Roma tomatoes and spices but no cheese ¿ and upside-down pizzas, i.e., the cheese on the bottom and topped with sauce. Pizza is normally eaten hot (typically at lunch or dinner), but is sometimes eaten as cold leftovers for breakfast.