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

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices