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So you thought the hamburger was the world’s most popular fast food? After all, McDonald’s Golden Arches span the globe. But no, there is another truly universal fast food, the ultimate fast food. It’s easy to make, easy to serve, much more varied than the hamburger, can be eaten with the hands, and it’s delivered to your front door or served in fancy restaurants. It’s been one of America’s favourite foods for over 50 years. It is, of course, the pizza.

It’s kind of silly to talk about the moment when pizza was invented. It gradually evolved over the years, but one thing’s for certain – it’s been around for a very long time. The idea of using pieces of flat, round bread as plates came from the Greeks. They called them “plakuntos” and ate them with various simple toppings such as oil, garlic, onions, and herbs. The Romans enjoyed eating something similar and called it “picea”.

cheese, ham, anchovies, and finally the tomato, brought to Italy from Mexico and Peru in the sixteenth century. Naples became the pizza capital of the world. In 1889, King Umberto I and Queen Margherita heard about pizza and asked to try it. They invited pizza maker, Raffaele Esposito, to make it for them. He decided to make the pizza like the Italian flag, so he used red tomatoes, white mozzarella cheese, and green basil leaves. The Queen loved it and the new pizza was named “Pizza Margherita” in her honour.

By about 1000 a.d. in the city of Naples, “picea” had become “pizza” and people were experimenting with more toppings:

Pizza migrated to America with the Italians at the end of the 19th century. The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in 1905 at 53 ½ Spring Street, New York City, by Gennaro Lombardi. But the popularity of pizza really exploded when American soldiers returned from Italy after World War II and raved about “that great Italian dish”. Americans are now the greatest producers and consumers of pizza in the world.

1. What are some similarities and differences between the hamburger and the pizza?

2. How did the pizza we are familiar with today evolve?

3. How did pizza become so popular in the U.S.A?

4. What does “global pizza” mean?

1 Americans eat 350 slices of pizza per second.2 There are 61,269 pizzerias in the United States.3 October is national pizza month in the United States.4 Pizza Hut has over 12,000 restuarants and takeaway outlets in over 90 countries.5 In America, pepperoni is the favourite topping. Anchovies is the least favourite.6 In Japan, eel and squid are favourites.7 In Russian the favourites are red herring, salmon and onions.8 The Mexicans love beef and refried beans on their pizzas.9 In Brazil, they like green peas on their pizza.10 In Australia the favourites are shrimp and pineapple.11 The French love bacon and sour cream on theirs.12 The English love tuna and sweetcorn.

1. Which facts in “Pizza Trivia” do you find most interesting? Why?

2. Which facts do you find least interesting? Why?

3. Do you like pizza? What are your favourite toppings?

“THE KING OF QUEENS” revolves around Doug and Carrie Heffernan, a loving blue-collar couple from Queens, N.Y., who share their humble home with her eccentric father, Arthur. After a long day working as a parcel deliveryman, Doug retreats to his home for some peace and quiet, which is often interrupted by Carrie’s father.

Dialogue:Doug (thinking): O.K. Two pieces left…two pieces left. (Carrie takes another slice.) Oh boy, one piece left. O.K. Let’s do the math. I’m on my third, he’s had two and this is her second. O.K. She’s outta the game. She’s a two-slicer. It’s between me and the old man. Technically, he is entitled to it, but I should be O.K. After all, I’m the only one counting.

Arthur (thinking): Three slices and he’s eyeing his fourth. No wonder he’s huge. Well, that one’s got my name on it big man.

Doug (thinking): Oh God, he made eye-contact with the slice. I gotta throw this one down and grab it. (He begins eating faster.)

Arthur (thinking): Oh, so that’s your game, is it? (He starts eating his slice quickly.)

Carrie (thinking): Oh God! They’re racing for the last piece again. I’m pretty full…but let’s have some fun. (She takes the last piece.)

In Napoli where _________ is kingWhen boy meets girl here’s what they say

ChorusWhen the moon hits you eye like a big ________ pie

That’s amoreWhen the world seems to shine like you’ve had too

much _________ That’s amoreBells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling

And you’ll sing “_______________”Hearts will play tippy-tippy-tay, tippy-tippy-tay

Like a gay ____________When the stars make you drool just like

_________________That’s amore

When you dance down the street with a cloud at your feet

You’re in loveWhen you walk in a dream but you know you’re not

dreaming signoreScuzzami, but you see, back in old Napoli

That’s amore … Repeat Chorus

love

pizza

wine

Vita bella

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