Ordering pizza should be simple.
You call the pizza place, choose a size, and tell them what you'd like on it.
Easy.
Until someone says, “Let's get one with everything.”
Everything?
Pepperoni? Sure.
Mushrooms? Absolutely.
Onions and peppers? Wonderful.
But then someone suggests pineapple, another person wants anchovies, and suddenly you're negotiating a peace treaty over a large hand-tossed crust.
Welcome to Pizza with the Works Except Anchovies Day, celebrated on November 12!
Yes, that's the holiday's gloriously specific traditional name, although it's often shortened to Pizza with the Works Day.
And I have to admire whoever came up with it.
They didn't just celebrate pizza.
They celebrated pizza with a very firm boundary.
All the toppings.
All the flavor.
All the delicious chaos.
But please, for the love of mozzarella, hold the anchovies.
Of course, if you love anchovies, you're still welcome at our table.
Just maybe order your own half.
🍕 Affiliate Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep Celebrate Quirky going and supports my ongoing research into whether leftover pizza counts as a balanced breakfast. So far, the evidence is delicious but inconclusive.
🍅 A Brief History of Pizza's Delicious Evolution
Pizza has traveled a long way from its humble beginnings.
People have eaten flatbreads topped with various ingredients for thousands of years, but the pizza we recognize today developed in Naples, Italy, particularly during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Early Neapolitan pizzas were relatively simple.
Tomatoes.
Cheese.
Olive oil.
Herbs.
Sometimes garlic or anchovies.
They were inexpensive, filling, and popular with working-class residents.
No stuffed crust.
No twelve-topping extravaganza.
And definitely no online ordering app asking whether you'd like to add cinnamon twists.
As Italian immigrants brought pizza traditions to the United States, the dish gradually developed new regional personalities.
New York embraced large, foldable slices.
Chicago became famous for deep-dish pizza.
Detroit gave us thick, rectangular pies with crisp, cheesy edges.
And countless neighborhood pizzerias developed their own combinations.
Eventually, Americans began piling on the toppings.
Pepperoni.
Sausage.
Peppers.
Onions.
Mushrooms.
Olives.
And whatever else looked promising in the refrigerator.
The supreme or “works” pizza became a celebration of abundance.
Why choose one topping when you could have six?
Or eight?
Or enough to require a second spatula?
The exact origin of the November 12 observance isn't clearly documented, but the holiday has become a playful excuse to enjoy a generously topped pizza.
And unlike some holidays, this one comes with a very practical celebration plan.
Dinner is handled.
🐟 But What's the Deal With Anchovies?
Poor anchovies.
They've spent decades serving as the punchline of pizza jokes.
They're small, salty fish, often preserved in oil or salt, and they have a bold, savory flavor.
Some people adore them.
Others can detect one from across the room.
There's very little middle ground.
Interestingly, anchovies have a long history in Italian cooking.
They contribute a deep, savory flavor to sauces, dressings, and traditional dishes.
So excluding them from a pizza holiday is less a historical judgment and more a matter of modern pizza humor.
Personally, I think anchovies deserve a little respect.
Even if they don't get an invitation to tonight's pizza party.
🍕 Seven Fun Facts About Pizza
🍅 Tomatoes originated in the Americas, so the tomato-topped pizzas we know today couldn't have existed in ancient Rome.
🇮🇹 Naples is central to modern pizza history, and traditional Neapolitan pizza-making has been recognized by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
🧀 Mozzarella is a classic pizza cheese because of its mild flavor and excellent melting qualities.
🍕 Pepperoni is especially popular in the United States, although American pepperoni differs from many traditional Italian cured meats.
🔥 Traditional Neapolitan pizzas cook very quickly in extremely hot ovens.
🥬 Vegetables release moisture as they cook, which is why too many watery toppings can leave a pizza crust soggy.
🍄 Umami is one of the basic tastes, and ingredients such as mushrooms, tomatoes, cheese, and cured meats can contribute to pizza's savory appeal.
And here's one more observation.
Pizza is one of the few foods where people will passionately debate toppings for twenty minutes and then happily eat a cold slice standing in front of the refrigerator.
Human beings are fascinating.
🎉 Host a Build-Your-Own Pizza Night
The best way to celebrate Pizza with the Works Day is to let everyone become a pizza designer.
Set out individual pizza crusts.
Bowls of sauce.
Shredded mozzarella.
And a glorious selection of toppings.
Try:
Pepperoni and cooked sausage
Sliced mushrooms
Bell peppers
Red onions
Black olives
Spinach
Roasted garlic
Pineapple, if your household enjoys controversy
Let everyone create their own masterpiece.
This solves the age-old problem of one person wanting extra mushrooms while another believes mushrooms are a personal insult.
Everyone wins.
Especially the person who doesn't have to make separate dinners.
🧀 Try a New Topping Combination
Most of us have a favorite pizza order.
And we rarely stray from it.
There's comfort in knowing exactly what you're getting.
But today, try something different.
Caramelized onions and goat cheese.
Roasted peppers and feta.
Pear, walnuts, and blue cheese.
Barbecue chicken and red onion.
Or spinach, ricotta, and garlic.
You might discover a new favorite.
Or you might decide pepperoni was right all along.
Either outcome is acceptable.
🍕 Make Pizza Dough From Scratch
If you've never made pizza dough, today is a great opportunity.
It's surprisingly satisfying.
Flour.
Yeast.
Water.
Salt.
A little olive oil.
And some patience.
There's something wonderful about watching a simple ball of dough rise.
It's kitchen science.
It's homemade comfort food.
And it's a fantastic excuse to cover the counter in flour.
Just don't wear black.
Trust me.
🎈 More Ways to Celebrate Pizza with the Works Day
Order a supreme pizza from your favorite local pizzeria.
Make homemade pizza with all your favorite toppings.
Host a build-your-own pizza party.
Try a topping you've never eaten before.
Make pizza dough from scratch.
Have a family pizza taste test.
Create mini pizzas on English muffins.
Try a vegetarian works pizza.
Learn about different regional pizza styles.
Make a dessert pizza.
Support an independent neighborhood pizza shop.
Create a silly name for your signature pizza.
Watch a pizza-themed movie or TV episode.
Save a slice for tomorrow's lunch.
And if you accidentally make too much pizza?
Congratulations.
You've invented leftovers.
🍽️ The Ultimate Pizza Party Dinner
Tonight's menu is designed for a cozy, casual pizza night.
No fancy table settings required.
Just good food, plenty of napkins, and perhaps a friendly agreement about who gets the last slice.
🍕 The Ultimate Works Pizza
Ingredients
1 pound prepared pizza dough
½ cup pizza sauce
2 cups shredded mozzarella
½ cup sliced pepperoni
½ cup cooked Italian sausage
½ cup sliced mushrooms
½ cup diced bell peppers
¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
¼ cup sliced black olives
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Olive oil
Directions:
Heat oven to 475°F, or follow your dough package's instructions.
Stretch dough onto a lightly oiled pizza pan or baking sheet.
Spread pizza sauce over the dough.
Sprinkle with mozzarella.
Arrange toppings evenly over the cheese.
Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
Bake approximately 12–16 minutes, until the crust is golden, cheese is bubbling, and toppings are cooked through.
Let rest a few minutes before slicing.
And don't overload the center.
A pizza with the works should be generous.
Not require a building permit.
🥗 Italian Chopped Salad
Ingredients
1 romaine heart, chopped
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cucumber, diced
¼ red onion, thinly sliced
¼ cup sliced pepperoncini
¼ cup shredded Parmesan
Italian dressing
Directions: Combine vegetables and Parmesan.
Toss with dressing just before serving.
Fresh, crunchy, and perfect beside a loaded pizza.
🧄 Easy Cheesy Garlic Knots
Ingredients
1 tube refrigerated pizza dough
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
Chopped parsley
Directions: Heat oven to 400°F.
Cut dough into strips and tie each into a loose knot.
Place on a baking sheet.
Brush with melted butter mixed with garlic powder.
Sprinkle with Parmesan.
Bake 12–15 minutes until golden.
Finish with parsley.
🍋 Italian Lemon Sparkler – Mocktail
Ingredients
3 ounces lemonade
2 ounces sparkling water
1 ounce orange juice
Ice
Lemon slices
Directions: Combine lemonade and orange juice over ice.
Top with sparkling water.
Garnish with lemon.
Bright, refreshing, and perfect with a cheesy slice.
🍹 Pizza Night Aperol Spritz – Cocktail
Ingredients
3 ounces prosecco
2 ounces Aperol
1 ounce club soda
Ice
Orange slice
Directions: Fill a wine glass with ice.
Add prosecco and Aperol.
Top with club soda.
Stir gently and garnish with orange.
Enjoy responsibly.
🍫 Chocolate-Hazelnut Dessert Pizza
Ingredients
1 small prepared pizza crust
⅓ cup chocolate-hazelnut spread
1 banana, sliced
¼ cup strawberries, sliced
Powdered sugar, optional
Directions: Bake the plain crust according to package directions until golden.
Cool for five minutes.
Spread with chocolate-hazelnut spread.
Top with banana and strawberries.
Dust lightly with powdered sugar.
Slice and serve.
It's pizza.
It's dessert.
It's a beautiful loophole in the rules of dinner.
🎒 Pizza with the Works Day in the Classroom
Elementary: Pizza Fraction Fun
Give students paper pizza circles divided into equal slices.
Provide colorful paper toppings.
Ask students to decorate fractions of their pizzas.
For example:
Half with pepperoni.
One-quarter with mushrooms.
One-quarter with peppers.
Students can practice identifying fractions, adding fractions with common denominators, and comparing portions.
For younger students, use pizza slices for counting and simple addition.
Because fractions become considerably more interesting when imaginary cheese is involved.
Secondary: The Engineering of Pizza
Challenge students to investigate how pizza structure affects its ability to hold toppings.
Compare different crust thicknesses using paper or cardboard models.
Explore how folding a slice changes its stiffness.
Discuss the role of heat, moisture, and ingredient distribution in pizza-making.
Students can design a pizza that balances flavor, cost, nutrition, and structural stability.
Then present their reasoning.
It's science, mathematics, and engineering.
With a delicious theme.
💼 Around the Workplace
Host a “Works of Art Pizza Lunch.”
Invite employees to create or vote on imaginative pizza combinations.
Keep the categories lighthearted:
Most Creative.
Best Classic Combination.
Most Unexpected.
Pizza I'd Actually Order Again.
Offer vegetarian and allergy-conscious options, and make participation optional.
For a little extra fun, name pizzas after familiar workplace situations.
The Monday Morning.
The Deadline Deluxe.
The Reply-All Supreme.
That last one should probably come with extra onions.
🎬 Movie Pick: Mystic Pizza (1988)
This charming coming-of-age romantic comedy follows three young women working at a pizza restaurant in a Connecticut seaside town.
It's about friendship, relationships, growing up, and figuring out what comes next.
And yes, there's plenty of pizza.
It's the perfect movie for a cozy November evening with a slice in hand.
Bonus points if you make enough pizza to enjoy during the entire film.
📺 TV Pick: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – “The Case of the Killer Pizzas”
If we're celebrating pizza, it would be almost criminal not to invite the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
This animated episode from the original 1987 series involves a pizza-related science-fiction adventure that becomes considerably stranger than anyone expected.
It's silly.
It's nostalgic.
And it reminds us that the Turtles' devotion to pizza may be one of television's most enduring food-related love stories.
Cowabunga, indeed.
🍕 The Beauty of a Little Extra
There's something wonderfully generous about a pizza with the works.
It's not subtle.
It's not minimalist.
It doesn't believe in leaving perfectly good toppings in the refrigerator.
It embraces variety.
A little sweetness from the peppers.
A little richness from the cheese.
Something salty.
Something savory.
Something unexpected.
And somehow, all those different flavors come together.
Life can be a little like that.
Our favorite memories aren't always the carefully planned ones.
Sometimes they're the evenings when everyone ends up in the kitchen.
The dinner where someone tells a ridiculous story.
The pizza night that turns into a three-hour conversation.
The ordinary Friday when nobody wants to leave the table.
Those are the moments that stay with us.
Not because everything was perfect.
But because everyone was there.
And there was enough to share.
National Pizza with the Works Day is a playful reminder to enjoy a little abundance now and then.
Not necessarily more stuff.
Or more responsibilities.
Or more commitments.
Just more of the things that make life feel full.
Laughter.
Connection.
Good food.
Time together.
And maybe a few extra mushrooms.
A good pizza brings different ingredients together. A good evening brings people together.
So pile on the toppings.
Invite someone over.
Try something new.
And don't worry if your pizza isn't perfectly round.
Neither is life.
And both can still be absolutely delicious.
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