Just what America needs: Pizza vending machines

Ever have a sudden urge for crisp-crusted, ooey-gooey, cheesy pizza? You want it STAT. Not in the time it takes to preheat the oven to 500 degrees for a frozen pizza. Not in the 20 minutes it takes for the pizza delivery guy to arrive. And certainly not in however many hours it would take to make homemade dough and marinara sauce.

Get ready for Let's Pizza, a pizza vending machine that promises to deliver a piping hot pizza pie made from scratch in less than three minutes.

The brainchild of Italian entrepreneur Claudio Torghel, the machine will be distributed by A1 Concepts, based out of the Netherlands. It's expected to hit our shores later this year, according to the industry website Pizza Marketplace. The company is expected to set up its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta.

What is remarkable about the new machine is that it truly makes pizzas to order, including kneading and rolling out the dough. (The above video says the leavening takes place in a blistering hot infra-red oven.) There are more than 200 toppings from which to choose. The machine can even accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions, such as those for vegetarian and Kosher diets.

"Let's Pizza is a huge success in Europe and especially in Italy. That was proof for us that we have a very good pizza," A1 Concepts Chief Executive Ronald Rammer told Pizza Marketplace.

Cons of pizza and pasta restaurants - There is always the risk of eating more than 2 or 3 slices of pizza. If you know extra pieces will be left over, ask for a container and pack them up before you start eating. - Do not order extra cheese, pepperoni, or sausage. They are quite high in calories and fat. - High fat toppings are also high in sodium. - If the restaurant promotes more toppings, bigger pizzas, or extra cheese just for a few more cents, ignore the promotion. You will pay much more when trying to get rid of the effects of the extra calories. - Do not order pasta with creamy cheese sauces. Tomato sauce is a healthier choice for your pasta - Pasta portions can be quite large. Order from the child’s menu or ask for a doggy bag and pack half of the past served to take it home. - If you are watching your calories, be aware that breadsticks and garlic bread have a lot of fat.

The pizza arrives in an insulated take-away box. The machine takes cash and credit cards. A 10-inch pizza will sell for about $5.95.

Rammer said Americans could expect to see the new machines at malls, airports, hospitals, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, universities, gas stations and bus stations.

Pizza was originated in Greece, as a part of the Mediterranean cuisine. However, this pizza looked a little different than our pizza today. Originally, it was a dough and tomato dish – flat rolled dough, sprinkled with oils, herbs, honey, and tomato, that resembled more of a pita bread with very light toppings. Later, Romans created what was called a placenta, and was a sheet of dough topped with honey, cheese, and bay leaves. In the 16th century, a Naples flat bread was referred to as pizza, which was considered food for the poor people and sold on the street. This “pizza” was not even allowed to be made in a kitchen at this time, as it was not worthy of a kitchen recipe. During these times, pizza was mostly covered in a tomato sauce with light oil and fish. It wasn't until 1889 when the first cheese was added to pizza, making the first ever Pizza Margherita, a pizza made to represent the colors or the Italian flag.