Who invented the cheese stick?

The cheese stick, often associated with the popular snack known as mozzarella sticks, doesn't have a single inventor. However, these snacks gained popularity in the United States during the 1970s and 1980s, particularly in pizzerias and bars. The concept likely evolved from various cheese-based dishes and appetizers. Mozzarella sticks, as we know them today, were popularized by restaurants and fast-food chains, but their exact origins remain unclear.