THE ICONIC ONE: THE MARGHERITA PIZZA

🍕THE STORY BEHIND THE MARGHERITA: A PIZZA AS ITALIAN AS IT GETS. From Naples to the world: the red, white, and green story behind Italy’s most iconic pizza.

The story traditionally takes us to 1889, when King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Savoy were visiting Naples.

According to the famous tale, Neapolitan pizzaiolo Raffaele Esposito was invited to prepare pizzas for the royal couple. Among the pizzas he presented was one featuring three simple ingredients: tomato, mozzarella and basil.

The colours were striking.

🔴 Red – tomato
⚪ White – mozzarella
🟢 Green – basil

Together, they represented the colours of the Italian tricolour.

The story says that Queen Margherita particularly enjoyed this combination, and the pizza was subsequently associated with her name.

And just like that, the Pizza Margherita became part of Italian culinary legend.

But there is a little more to the story.

Historical sources point out that pizzas combining tomato and mozzarella were already being prepared in Naples before 1889. A book published in 1853 even describes tomato pizzas with mozzarella arranged in a flower-like pattern.

So, rather than being the moment the pizza was invented, 1889 may have been the moment when an already-loved Neapolitan combination became closely connected with the name Margherita.

MORE THAN THREE INGREDIENTS: A TASTE OF ITALY

What makes the Margherita so special isn’t an endless list of toppings.

It’s the opposite.

It’s about letting a few ingredients speak for themselves.

🍅 Tomato brings sweetness and tang.
🧀 Mozzarella adds creamy richness.
🌿 Basil brings freshness and aroma.
🫒 Olive oil brings everything together.

The result is beautifully balanced.

And that’s something Italian cooking has always understood: great food doesn’t need to be complicated when the ingredients are good.

The Margherita became a symbol of this philosophy — simple food, carefully prepared and meant to be enjoyed together.

❤️ THE BEAUTY OF KEEPING IT SIMPLE

There is something special about ordering a Margherita.

No complicated combinations.

No need to overthink it.

Just tomato, mozzarella, basil, dough, and the heat of the oven.

It is proof that sometimes the simplest things can become the most memorable.

At Criniti’s, Italian food is all about bringing people together — sharing delicious plates, enjoying good company and celebrating the flavours that make Italian cuisine so loved around the world. Our pizzas are made for sharing too, with our long pizzas available in Traditional, Half, One, Two, and Three metre sizes, making it easy to choose the perfect option whether you’re dining solo, sharing with a few friends, or bringing the whole family together.

Because behind every great Italian meal is more than food.

👑 WHY IS IT CALLED “MARGHERITA”?

The name is traditionally linked to Queen Margherita of Savoy, who became Queen of Italy in 1878.

Her connection with the pizza helped transform a simple Neapolitan dish into something with national symbolism.

The story of the queen, the pizzaiolo, and the tricolour pizza captured the imagination of generations — helping cement the Margherita as one of Italy’s most famous culinary icons.

Whether every detail of the royal story happened exactly as legend tells it is still debated.

But perhaps that’s part of what makes food history so fascinating.

Sometimes a dish becomes more than a recipe. It becomes a story passed from one generation to the next.

🍕🍷 COME TASTE THE STORY

From classic Italian favourites to wood-fired pizzas made for sharing, Criniti’s brings the spirit of Italy to the table. And when it comes to pairing, nothing complements a wood-fired pizza quite like a glass of rich, smooth red wine. Together, the smoky, crispy flavours of the pizza and the bold character of red wine create the perfect Italian combination. 🍕🍷

Gather your favourite people, order your favourite pizza, and let the good times begin.

Reserve your table at Criniti’s.

 

Reserve Your Table at Criniti’s