Aficionadough: Little Italy Pizza – A Lesson in Geography

Geography plays a critical role in pizza consumption and ideation. Water buffalos found their way to South Central Italy in the seventh century, but it took until the 12th century for a new style of cheese made with their milk called Mozzarella di Bufala Campana to become a favored staple in the region. The tomato arrived in Italy around 1548 but did not transform into an accepted staple food in the region surrounding Naples until the 1800s. Them BAM! Like the Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup commercials of the 1970s, two great tastes that go great together – mozzarella paired with tomatoes transformed into sauce – became the core ingredients for the pizza created in Naples, Italy.