For decades, pizza delivery has been as much part of our society as street signs and sidewalks. It’s a widely recognized dish. A staple on college campuses nationwide, and a food group all on its own for college students, pizza delivery can be found all over the world. Mention pizza to anyone you know, and they will be able to tell exactly how they like their pizza made, what their favorite toppings are, and what restaurants they prefer to use to order pizza delivery online.
Travel anywhere in the world, and you will find every region has their preferred pizza. From the New York thin crust to the Chicago deep dish, all the way around the world to the Italian Neapolitan and Pizza Di Sfrigole, each region has adopted their own twist on this tasty dish. It’s hard to imagine what life was like before we could order pizza and have it delivered to our homes.
Pizza is, in fact, one of the few foods that is almost guaranteed to be offered for delivery anywhere you go in the United States and in major cities all over the world. When in doubt about what to have to dinner, most people know pizza is always an option even if they don’t know the area. And only the most famous, out of the way, and locally kept secret pizza places can survive without offering delivery services to their customers.
Today, ordering pizza delivery online is as simple as clicking a few buttons. But have you really thought about the history of pizza delivery, and how it became so simple that it pre-dates even the most famous food delivery apps? Well, read on to learn more about the history of pizza and pizza delivery, and how this ancient dish evolved to become just as American as apple pie.
The Early History of Pizza
The use of the word “pizza” can be traced back to 997 A.D. in Italy, where pizza is widely believed to have been invented. However, early forms of pizza have been around since the dawn of time. If you consider pizza to be dough with toppings, then pizza has existed since the time we discovered how to cook dough.
Certain forms of pizza have existed for thousands of years, all the way back to the Neolithic age, which began at about 10,200 BC:
- The ancient Greeks flavored flatbread with oil, onions and garlic.
- Archeologists have found the equivalent of pizza shops, and even a pizza cookbook, in the Pompeii ruins, which were preserved under layers of hot ash in 79 A.D.
- Soldiers in the Persian army in the 5th and 6th centuries would use their shields to cook dough when they got hungry out on the field, adding whatever toppings they had available, including spices, cheese and dates.
The first type of pizza to hold its namesake is most likely focaccia bread, since dough, olive oil and cheese were always readily available in the Mediterranean region. Pizza with tomato sauce and toppings, the style of pizza most recognized today, didn’t really become popular until the 19th century. Although tomatoes were readily available in Italy since the early 16th century after the discovery of the New World, many believed the fruit was poisonous, since tomatoes are in the nightshade family.
But once Frenchman Antoine-Augustine Parmentier proved tomatoes were safe to eat, the marriage of these two ingredients was inevitable. However, this early history is very important to the pizza we know today. Since the early history of pizza began with adding ingredients to dough to make it more flavorful, it is no surprise really good pizza is often noted for having a flavorful crust that enhances the flavors of the pie.
Pizza Delivery In The Early 20th Century
In the early 19th century, bakers would send boys out on the street to sell pizzas and breads in hopes of making a bit of extra cash. These boys were known as stufa boys, after the small stoves they used to keep the breads and pizza warm. They’re probably the very first versions of delivery boys as well, only they sold premade breads and pizzas instead of made to order.
At the dawn of the 20th century, about 100 years later, pizza came to New York. Italians who had immigrated to the United States brought their favorite recipes with them, and rumor has it pizza was sold on the streets to go, wrapped in paper and tied with twine.
It’s not clear when pizza delivery as we know it began, but had it not been for these early Italian immigrants, our love for pizza might not exist today. They were the first to introduce Americans to this tasty dish. And the telephone, which was becoming more readily available in homes by the day in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was the key that made pizza delivery possible.
It was at the end of World War II that demand for made-to-order pizza delivery multiplied in the states. Millions of American GIs came home with a craving for the pizza they’d enjoyed overseas, and three factors led pizza delivery to grow the way we know it today:
- Demand
- New methods of communication
- Entrepreneurial spirit
In time, pizza was no longer an Italian dish or New York street food, but an American staple.
Today, it is easy to picture businesses expanding their delivery services to meet the demand, and it’s never really died down. Although fast food is a multi-billion-dollar industry today, these companies are still small tomatoes, mere infants compared to the history and great strides companies have made to deliver pizza that is hot, fresh and tasty.
The Boxes That Make Hot Pizza Delivery Possible
When you order pizza delivery online, you might not think twice about the box it comes in. What you may not know is a lot of thought and research went into developing the right boxes that would keep pizza warm without making it soggy from all the hot steam.
The very first containers to deliver pizza were paper bags, a method that is still used in some pizza shops today. The pies are placed on top of round pieces of cardboard and then stuffed in large paper bags to be delivered. This method allows steam to escape through the delivery or carry out process, but does not retain heat. Yet for many companies and customers, that’s not enough when you want a hot pizza delivered to your door.
Since pizza was also found in many bakeries, it has often been sold in thin paperboard boxes akin to the ones used for pastries. Although many places still use these boxes as well, they have their drawbacks:
- Paperboard is not meant to withstand high heat or steam, and can sometimes break apart during delivery.
- For deep dish pizza, it is simply not an option, so the demand for a sturdy pizza box was high.
It was in the mid-1960s we had an answer. Partnering with a major pizza delivery company, Detroit-based box company Triad Containers developed a pizza box that was sturdy for the pie and could withstand high heat and steam without sacrificing taste, heat or texture. The box design, known as “Michigan style” for the way it locks into place by having the base double over itself, is still the best option for pizza delivery boxes today and is used across the country.
Pizza and Online Orders
The Internet has been noted for aiding the dawn of the introvert. People who were too shy to go out and socialize no longer have to miss out, instead using the Internet to reach out and connect with people all over the world. It’s no wonder pizza delivery and the Internet go hand in hand. In the dawn of the Internet age people realized they no longer had to speak to a person to get their food. Instead, they could go to a website and order to their specifications.
This was a huge advantage. Although there is nothing inherently wrong with calling an order in, for the introvert, it can be an anxiety filled experience: Shouting over loud noises, reciting credit card numbers out loud, and crossing your fingers and praying that your specialty order of half onion and mushroom and half peperoni is honored to your specifications can be daunting just thinking about it. So when ordering online became a viable option, introverts everywhere jumped at the opportunity.
But it’s not just introverts ordering pizza delivery online:
- College students, always at the forefront of technology and innovation, are a major factor of the online pizza delivery business.
- Pizza is also a great food for computer techs and programmers. When you’re sitting in front of a computer all day writing code, it can be easy to forget to get something to eat. But once the stomach starts growling, pizza delivery is only but a few clicks away.
Knowing this, there is no doubt why pizza and the Internet have such a beautiful relationship. It is as simple as it is universally recognized, and it is integral to our society.
Why Order Pizza Online?
Whether you’re a seasoned Internet surfer or are just learning about the online ordering experience, there is no better time to start ordering your favorite pizza online. Just like the rotary telephone of long ago, the Internet has opened up a limitless amount of opportunities to grow the ways we communicate, share information and, of course, enjoy our favorite foods.
Still on the fence about ordering online? Here are a few reasons why ordering pizza online might just be the best option for you:
Ordering Online Is Safe
Ever felt uncomfortable reciting your credit card information over the phone? Do you always know who is listening? Ordering online eliminates this problem, keeping your information safe and secure. With newer and more sophisticated options to help keep information safe online, you know the Giordano’s name will always keep your information protected so you can focus on the important things.
Ordering Online Is Convenient
Ordering pizza delivery online is a quick process that can be completed in the time that it takes a phone to ring. No more calling only to get a busy signal or being put on hold. When you order pizza delivery online, you will know your order is being taken in the moment, without wasting your time. So stop waiting on hold and hang up the phone. With just a few clicks, your order might be on its way while others are still waiting.
Ordering Online Gives You More Options
Have you ever discovered your favorite restaurant has more options than you previously thought? Ever had that feeling of discovering a completely new menu item from a place you thought you knew well? When you order in person or over the phone, there’s a certain amount of pressure to submit an order quickly without exploring your options.
Ordering your favorite pizza online eliminates that pressure so you can explore your options at your leisure. You may stick to your favorites or you may try something new. Either way, ordering pizza online gives you the opportunity to explore your options so when you place your order, you’ll always be sure of your final choice.
Ordering Online Opens Up New Possibilities
Once you’ve got the hang of ordering your favorite pizza online, a world of possibilities will open itself up to you. You will be delighted to discover Giordano’s doesn’t just offer incredible deep dish pizza, but also succulent pastas, tasty appetizers and crisp salads. Giordano’s also offers gluten-free options, so that is something for everyone to enjoy. Go wild and try our other dishes alone or with friends. You may find a new favorite dish in our amazing menu.
Ordering Online Is Simple
Once you learn how to use the system and how to place an order online to your liking, you will find the process is simple and takes very little effort. For seasoned veterans who love to order their pizza delivery online, they will tell you this option is much simpler and even preferable to making a call. If anything, the process is so simple and convenient that, once you experience ordering your pizza online, you might have to actively keep yourself from placing online orders to keep yourself from indulging in pizza every day.
Get Chicago Style Pizza Online from Giordano’s
Pizza delivery methods and different forms of distribution are being perfected every day, and it shows. Today, Giordano’s is offering its world-famous pizza for delivery in a way that satisfies its mission and meets its quality standards. While there is no substitute to eating a fresh pie at a restaurant, ordering a pizza online from Giordano’s is the perfect option for on-the-go families- or anyone who wants to enjoy their favorite fresh pizza- from the comforts of home without having to settle for imitators.
You will not see soggy or lopsided pizza arrive at your home. Only fresh, hot and delicious pies that live up to the Giordano’s name, with your convenience in mind. But don’t take our word for it. Visit Giordanos.com today and place an order from your favorite location, so that you, too, will be enjoying your favorite pizza at home within minutes.