Pizza is one of the world's favorite foods. The smell of pizza dough fresh from the oven (or delivery box) is something that puts a smile on everyone's face from child to adult.

When you ask someone what their favorite pizza is, most likely they will tell you what their favorite toppings are. But pizza goes far beyond toppings. In fact, there are many pizza fans that have taken on the art of making their own dough by hand, using a food processor for pizza dough, to using pizza stones, and even outdoor brick ovens for baking. Each method brings about its own different unique flavor and texture.

Here are a few pizza styles which are helpful to know - no matter which level of pizza enthusiast you may be.

New York Style Pizza

This style of pizza is the kind of pizza slice which is folded in half and eaten. It consists of lots of cheese and red pizza sauce. The New York style pizza is never thick, but is very thin and the slices are cut in large triangular slices.

Chicago Style Pizza

For those raised on New York style pizzas, the Chicago style could be considered as the black sheep of the pizza family. Unlike the New York style which is thin and crispy, this style has a thick crust which is baked in a deep sided pan. This is why this type of pizza is called, deep-dish pizza.

An interesting note is the order in which the ingredients are layered over the pizza. Typically on a pizza you have the sauce as the first layer, then the cheese, then toppings.

However, in this case it is in the opposite order. This style of pizza is made with the sauce on top, and the cheese on the bottom, with the toppings in the middle. Toppings can be anything from pepperoni to sausage to a bunch of vegetables.

California Pizza

The term California style pizza can be rather vague. There is no single style of California pizza, except that they mostly have a thin crust with a thicker edge. It is the unique choice of toppings which make this style of pizza earn its own place at the table. These could be a collection of unique vegetables, herbs, jerk chicken and really anything the Californian may enjoy. The list is never completed and innovation is the star ingredient. California pizzas are served as smaller pizzas suitable for a single person.

Neapolitan Pizza

The term Neapolitan comes from the south central region of Italy known as Naples. This is one of the most authentic versions of Italian pizza. It involves specific standards which must be met as dictated by Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana, a school located in Naples.
It is similar to the New York style pizza in that it is very thin and does not use a lot of toppings. Beyond that there are many differences. For example the crust must be an eighth of an inch or less and has a wide edge for a crust. The dough is not made using a machine, but rather kneaded and tossed by hand. These pizzas are always cooked in a brick oven at a very high temperature for only 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.

The most common type of Neapolitan pizza is called the Pizza Margerita. The Pizza Margerita was named after one of the Queens of Italy, Margerita di Savoia.

It is said the owner of a pizzeria in Naples heard word the Queen was coming to his store and chose to make a special pizza in her honor. He created a thin pizza which contained a layer of tomatoes, sliced mozzarella, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil. No garlic. The colors of the ingredients represented the Italian flag and the Queen loved it. Therefore he named the pizza after her.

This pizza is one of the most favored Italian pizzas, and despite the strict standards for Neapolitan pizza, it is very simple to make.

Brick Oven

A brick oven pizza is not a specific pizza with particular toppings, but rather it is a name which is defined by the style of cooking. Naturally it is baked in a brick oven. A brick oven is an oven which is lined with bricks and it uses burning wood as the heat source. The bricks radiate the heat and the temperature of the oven becomes extremely hot. It generally takes a few minutes to bake the pizza. Some restaurants base their identity on the use of brick ovens for all types of pizzas which they serve.

No matter where you are from, the truth remains pizza is a favorite among all who appreciate good food. Although pizza originated in the central parts of Italy just a few centuries ago, it is safe to say it has become an internationally appreciated cuisine for many around the globe.

Credit: This article was contributed by SimpleItalianCooking.com, a website featuring Italian recipes, and Italian kitchenware such as pasta bowls from Umbria, and the famous Alessi 9090 espresso maker.