Pizza's Evolution: From Nasty Cake to America’s Favorite Food

09/07/23 • 35 min

Americans can’t seem to get enough pizza. We eat billions of pies every year. So, how did this love affair with pizza begin? Look back with us to the Persian Empire, where young soldiers fill their bellies with flatbread cooked over an open flame. Then travel to 18th century Naples, as pizzaiolos slice thick wedges of pizza on Napoli streets. Plus, meet a modern-day pizzaiolo in the Midwest and learn to bake the perfect pizza crust, with just the right amount of chewiness and crunch.

Hosted by Claudia Hanna

Guests:

Carol Helstosky, history professor at the University of Denver and author of Pizza: A Global History

Brian DiCintio, founder of DiCintio’s Pizza Cucina in Marlow, Oklahoma

Recipes from this episode:

Persian Flatbread Recipe

Pizza Dough Recipe

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Hosted by Claudia Hanna

Guests:

Carol Helstosky, history professor at the University of Denver and author of Pizza: A Global History

Brian DiCintio, founder of DiCintio’s Pizza Cucina in Marlow, Oklahoma

Recipes from this episode:

Persian Flatbread Recipe

Pizza Dough Recipe

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Previous Episode

Frozen in Time: Ice Cream and America’s Past

America loves ice cream and we think we know the story of the delicious treat, but join us as we explore the ties of this frozen dessert to surprise and delight us during different eras of our country’s past. We'll venture back in time to the diplomatic dinner parties of the founding fathers, where ice cream took on mesmerizing disguises using molds reminiscent of "Is It Cake." Discover how ice cream's evolution intertwined with the rise of nutrition science, pharmacy innovations, and the temperance movement, transforming soda fountains into sanctuaries for women and children. And don't miss the inspiring story of the U.S. Navy's ice cream barge, a floating morale booster during WWII. As a cherry on top, we'll share a tantalizing rum raisin recipe that bridges the gap between history and your taste buds. Tune in for a scoop of history that'll leave you craving more.

Hosted by Claudia Hanna

Guests:

-Sarah Wassberg Johnson, food historian (https://www.thefoodhistorian.com)

-Samantha Brown, host of Samantha Brown's Places to Love on public television ( https://samantha-brown.com/)

Recipes:

Homemade Rum Raisin Ice Cream

Vegan Rosewater Muhallebi

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Next Episode

Swimming in Olive Oil: An Ancient Love Affair

In the Mediterranean, olive oil is more than an ingredient. It’s a way of life. For thousands of years, the humble olive has been used for everything under the sun. It’s been made into a cooking oil, a holy offering, a balm, a bite-sized snack, and even sunscreen. Today, we’re taking you to the ancient Greek isle of Crete to explore the early life of one of the oldest living olive trees in the world and to uncover its sacred relationship with the Minoan people. We’ll then follow olive oil’s influence from past to present with a guided tasting from an olive oil sommelier. Plus, we share a few tips on how to choose and store your olive oil, and a roasted olive recipe that will be the star at your next dinner party.

Hosted by Claudia Hanna

Episode Guests:

-Diane Kochilas (Cookbook author, Host of My Greek Table)

-Tassos Kyriakides (Olive Oil Sommelier & Associate Professor, Yale School of Public Health)

-Anaya Sarpaki (Archaeologist and Olive Oil Preservationist)

Recipe:

Roasted Black Olives

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