Let’s Celebrate the Underappreciated Cheese Pizza

Cheese pizza may have a reputation for being boring (and we may have contributed to that), but it’s not entirely fair. The classic cheese is the basis for all other pizzas. If you’re on the hunt for “pizza near me” and you want to find out how good a pizzeria is, sample a slice of their plain cheese. The crust, sauce, and cheese blend should all work together to form the perfect bite. Once that baseline is established, you know you have a good pizza that you can load up with toppings.

 

A Centuries-Old Tradition

At Alley Cat Pizzeria, we’re proud to be a part of the centuries-old tradition of making delicious pizza. No one quite knows where pizza began, but the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all ate flatbreads with oil and toppings. But we have the Italian city of Naples to thank for modern pizzas. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Naples was a thriving waterfront city. Poor workers, called lazzaroni, made up a large portion of the population. They needed an inexpensive food that was easy to eat quickly. Enter pizza.

 

A Royal Endorsement

Naples was a separate kingdom until Italy unified in 1861. In 1889, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita graced Naples with a visit. No one knows exactly why they decided to ask for pizzas, but the story goes that they were tired of French haute cuisine and wanted to taste something local. They asked for multiple pizzas from Pizzeria Brandi, making this the first instance of pizza delivery as well. The pizzas were brought, and the queen’s favorite was one called pizza mozzarella, topped with (you guessed it) mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil. From that time forward, chefs called that combination of toppings the Margherita in her honor.

 

Get some “Pizza Near Me” on September 5th!

You didn’t think that cheese pizzas had such a storied history, did you? Even if you already knew that story, did you know that September 5th is National Cheese Pizza Day? And you thought the only important thing happening then was Labor Day. To celebrate, head to Alley Cat Pizzeria to grab some delicious “pizza near me” and give cheese the respect it deserves.

 

Contact us at 603-669-4533 or visit us at 486 Chestnut Street in Manchester!