Pizza – it’s one of those food items that are enjoyed universally because of its amazing flavours. Yet, for something loved worldwide, it is not the same for every country. In fact, it may not even be the same for every city! Keep in mind that there are different pizza versions, flavours, and toppings that it’s hard to tell if the slice you like in your side of the country is the same as the one we enjoy from ours.
That may actually be the magic of pizza. If you order a pizza from Pictou County Pizza in Nova Scotia, you’ll be served with a unique slice with brown sauce and Halifax-made pepperoni. Order one from Atlantic Canada and you’re likely to receive their "garlic fingers," which is a pizza with melted butter, cheese, garlic, and sometimes bacon, drizzled with Donair sauce and sliced into fingers.
But where did pizza really come from? How did it reach Canada, and more importantly, how did it become a part of our local cuisine? Here’s a quick look at pizza’s deliciously colourful history:
From Italy
The pizza that we know and love today originated from the city of Naples, Italy. It started as a blank slate that held fresh and in-season ingredients found locally. The commonly used ingredients were the San Marzano tomatoes, fresh basil, and buffalo mozzarella – yes, you may recognize this is the Margherita pizza that’s now one of the most popular pizzas in the world!
The pizza had soon become a staple for most Italian households, and naturally, it was taken everywhere the Italians went.
To North America
Through the 19th and 20th centuries, Italians flocked to the United States, searching for jobs in factories that were growing in number in the United States of America. Later on, the very first pizzeria, named Lombardi’s, opened its doors to its customers in Little Italy in New York City.
To Canada
As the Italians reached New York City, they had to choose between going to the west into the US or further north to Canada. Those who have chosen to go to Canada introduced pizza to Canadians as they settled in the Eastern provinces, including Ontario, Quebec, and other cities along the shore.
The first Italian pizzas looked like the New York-style pizza. Still, when the Chicago-style deep dish pizza was introduced to Alberta and Saskatchewan provinces, this variation of the dish became extremely popular.
But it wasn’t until the 1960s when a Greek-Canadian pizzaiolo experimented with the combination of savoury and sweet when they added chunks of pineapple to the traditional slice. Already, Canadians love different kinds of meats and veggies on their slice, but the pineapple was new. The combination of this new sweet ingredient and the ever-popular Canadian bacon gave birth to what we now know as the Hawaiian pizza.
Fast Forward to Today
To this day, Canadians still consider pizza to be among their favourite comfort foods, and different provinces and regions even came up with a type that’s originally theirs. Pizzerias are all over Canada, and many also love to make their own in their homes!
Conclusion
It may be that pizza originated in Italy, but it indeed found a second home in North America, and it has become an integral part of our cuisine and culture. We have made pizza our own and even come up with a combination that still has fans all over the world torn. So, whether or not you are team pineapple on pizza, one thing is clear, if you’re from Canada, one way or another, you will love pizza!
If you want to turn your love for pizza into a profitable business, Pictou County Pizza has the perfect pizza franchising opportunity for you. If you are from Amherst, Antigonish, Dartmouth, or Halifax, you can become one of the franchisees of one of Canada’s must-try pizzas! Contact us today to know more about it!
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