Taco pizza facts for kids
Taco pizza from Casey's
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| Type | Pizza |
|---|---|
| Course | Main |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | Midwest |
| Created by | Joe Whitty potentially |
| Invented | 1974 potentially |
| Serving temperature | Hot |
Taco pizza is a fun and tasty pizza that uses ingredients you would normally find in a taco! Imagine your favorite pizza, but with a taco twist. It often has things like seasoned ground beef, lettuce, and tomatoes on top.
Contents
The Story of Taco Pizza
Who Invented Taco Pizza?
A pizza place called Happy Joe's in Davenport, Iowa, says they created the taco pizza. The owner, Joe Whitty, wanted to make something special. He claims he invented it in December 1974. He put taco chips, lettuce, and tomatoes on his pizza. His daughter, Kristel Whitty-Ersan, said that back then, no one was making unique pizzas like this.
The Name Game
Later, in 1979, another restaurant chain called Pizza Inn wanted to get a special right, called a patent, for the name "taco pizza." This would mean only they could use that name. But Pizza Hut disagreed! Pizza Hut said that "taco pizza" was just a description of the food, not something special enough to be owned by one company.
Pizza Inn had already protected the name in eight states. They then tried to get a national patent for it. Pizza Hut started making their own taco pizza and using the name in their ads. Pizza Inn sent a letter to Pizza Hut, saying they had the only right to the name. But Pizza Hut replied that "taco pizza" was just a general name for the food. Happy Joe's even joined Pizza Hut in court, agreeing that "taco pizza" is a common name for this type of pizza.
Where Can You Find Taco Pizza?
Popular Places to Eat Taco Pizza
Many places serve taco pizza today! The gas station chain Casey's is very famous for their version. Author Chuy Renteria described Casey's taco pizza as having ground beef, lettuce, and tomato on a crust with a bean dip spread.
You can also find taco pizza at the chain Godfather's Pizza. Even Taco Bell sells a similar item called the Mexican Pizza. In 1995, The Pillsbury Company even made a recipe for taco pizza using Totino's frozen pizzas.
Iowa's Favorite Pizza
A study in 2020 found that taco pizza is the most loved pizza in the state of Iowa! It seems like Joe Whitty's invention really took off in his home state.
See also
In Spanish: Pizza de taco para niños
