When it comes to the best pizza in Manchester, NH, Alley Cat Pizzeria is where it’s at. For decades, we’ve used Grandma’s secret recipe to provide the ultimate, most authentic New York slice in the city. This leads us to an ironic fun fact about pizza. Not just any pizza, but the pepperoni pizza.

Here we’re giving you an inside look at one of the most popular (next to cheese, of course) pizza choices across the country and why it hit so close to home here at Alley Cat.

The first pepperoni pizza is served.

No matter what the topic is, there is always a first. The first vehicle, the first time on the moon, and the first pizza. However, when it comes to food, there’s no telling an exact date of when a dish is first served. Instead, we have to go by the written word or photographic image. For the pepperoni pizza, history brings us to New York City during the year 1919. It was then that the pepperoni topping took storm of Lower Manhattan delis and pizzerias.

Why New York?

If you think about the era and happenings of the early twentieth century, you know immigration was at its peak. Many of these immigrants entered the United States through New York’s Staten Island. Connected to Lower Manhattan, you now have a livelihood of immigrants bringing pieces of their heritage along – like, the pepperoni (and pizza for that matter)!

If you’ve never heard of Lombardi’s, it was a grocery store turned pizzeria in 1905. Often credited for the pizza explosion around NYC, Lombardi’s is the grandfather of all things pizza in America.

Italian versus American pepperoni.

First appearing in Italian markets, pepperoni was much different than we know it today. Instead, authentic Italian pepperoni should be thought of more along the lines of fresh, spicy salami. In fact, if traveling to Italy today, don’t be surprised to never cross paths with the version of American pepperoni. Alongside variations of salami, you may find Italian pepperoni, which contains bell peppers in the ingredients. Furthermore, most Italian meats use natural casing, where American pepperoni is typically made with artificial casing.

Pepperoni pizza in Manchester.

When it comes to the best pizza in Manchester, Alley Cat Pizzeria has served up the freshest New York slice for decades. And, next to the cheese pizza, pepperoni is definitely a customer favorite!

One last fun fact

Pepperoni pizza isn’t just a favorite at Alley Cat, it’s one of the most popular choices across the country. According to a recent article by Jennifer Hussein, 251.7 million pounds of pepperoni are consumed every year in the U.S. from pizza alone. Pretty impressive if you ask us!

Next time you’re in the mood for the best pizza in Manchester, NH, visit the family at Alley Cat Pizzeria. With a dedication to authentic ingredients and superior service, we promise you’ll be happy you stopped by!