Bellezza
The architecture of a Margherita
From humble Neapolitan street food to a royal masterpiece
When is pizza art? The authentic Italian margherita gives us a clue.
Originally humble working-class street food, it transformed into a national symbol when Queen Margherita visited Naples in 1889.
On her first official visit to Naples, Queen Margherita got tired of eating all the rich (French) dishes being prepared at court. Saying she wanted to try what the locals were eating, local pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito prepared a few pizzas for her to try. Her favorite was topped with tomato, mozzarella and basil, which Esposito had chosen to reflect the colors of the new Italian flag.
At least, that's the legend. And does it really matter if it's the truth? We know a few things for sure: Esposito was real, as was the queen, and he really did want to make her something that was delicious and memorable.
So when you look at the simple composition of a great margherita - the delicate crust, bright red sauce, patches of white mozzarella and a final stroke of basil - remember that it isn't an accident. Instead, it's the ability to combine beauty and flavor, the two existing together in a blend that shows how "art" can sometimes be self-evident.
