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Eating History
15 episodes
Pizza Bite: How WWII Created America’s Pizza Obsession
Aug 11, 2026 · 10 min
This week, Stephen and Adrienne uncover the unexpected military history behind America's favorite food. When millions of servicemen returned home from Naples, their deep cravings transformed pizza from a regional Italian-American specialty into a nationwide phenomenon. In this episode: Why the strategic port of Naples became the greatest accidental pizza field trip in history The reality of wartime pizza: Why severe ingredient scarcity meant these slices looked very different from today's pizza…
Pizza Bites: How One Pizza Oven Changed New York Forever
Aug 4, 2026 · 6 min
Welcome to episode five of Pizza Bites! This week, Adrienne and Stephen explore how a single coal-fired oven in early 20th-century New York City sparked an entire culinary dynasty. Tune in to discover the intricate family tree of New York pizza and how master pizzaiolos passed down the unwritten secrets of the craft from one generation to the next. In this episode: Why serious pizza fans debate whether America's first licensed pizzeria was actually the first The legendary branches of the Lombard…
Pizza Bites: Chicago’s Pizza Identity Crisis (Deep Dish v Tavern Style)
Jul 28, 2026 · 8 min
Welcome to episode four of Pizza Bites! This week, Adrienne and Stephen tackle a fierce Midwestern debate: If Chicago is famous for deep-dish, why do most locals actually eat tavern-style pizza? Tune in to explore the 1930s neighborhood origins, the culinary differences, and the ultimate showdown between the city's two iconic pies. In this episode: The defining characteristics of tavern-style pie (crispy edges, caramelized cheese, and toppings to the rim) The 1930s tavern origins and the brillia…
Pizza Bites: Is This City the Pizza Capital of America?
Jul 21, 2026 · 9 min
In the third edition of Pizza Bites from Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen ask a big question: Is New Haven, Connecticut, the real pizza capital of America? Tune in to explore the intense family rivalries and unique coal-fired "apizza" that put this small city on the culinary map. In this episode: Why New Haven produces more elite pizza per capita than any other city in America The defining characteristics of coal-fired "apizza" (and how to properly pronounce it) The fierce, decades-long fami…
Pizza Bites: America’s Favorite Pizza Topping Isn’t Italian
Jul 14, 2026 · 8 min
In the second Pizza Bite from Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen tackle America’s undisputed favorite pizza topping: pepperoni. From the surprising reality of ordering "peperoni" in Italy to its mysterious origins in early 20th-century New York, they explore how an Italian-American community creation transformed into a national culinary staple. In this episode: Why ordering a "pepperoni" pizza in Naples will get you a pie covered in bell peppers The 1919 debut of the word and its evolution fro…
Pizza Bites: The World’s Most Controversial Pizza Was Invented in Canada
Jul 7, 2026 · 7 min
Welcome to the first installment of Pizza Bites, a new series from Eating History featuring short stories from the evolution of pizza. This week, Adrienne and Stephen tackle one of the culinary world's most polarizing debates: pineapple on pizza. From an international controversy involving Iceland’s proposed ban to its true origins in Canada, they explore how a 1960s experiment by a Greek immigrant sparked a global phenomenon. In this episode: The international pineapple-on-pizza controversy, fr…
Episode 8: Pizza Forever: The Future of Pizza on Earth and Beyond
Jun 30, 2026 · 29 min
In episode eight of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey look ahead to the future of pizza while asking one final question: what is pizza now? After tracing its journey from the streets of Naples to every corner of the globe, they explore how technology, sustainability, and changing ideas about authenticity are shaping the next chapter of one of the world’s most beloved foods. Topics Covered: What pizza means in the modern world The debate between authenticity and “authenti…
Episode 7: The Gourmet Pizza Revolution
Jun 23, 2026 · 24 min
In episode seven of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey explore the gourmet pizza revolution that transformed pizza from an everyday meal into a culinary canvas. From Beverly Hills restaurants to neighborhood pizzerias, they trace how innovative chefs, changing tastes, and new technologies challenged traditional ideas about what pizza could be. Topics Covered: How Wolfgang Puck and Ed LaDou launched the California pizza movement at Spago The rise of California Pizza Kitche…
Episode 6: The Great Italian Pizza Migration: From Naples Street Food to Italy's National Dish
Jun 16, 2026 · 28 min
In episode six of Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen follow pizza on an unexpected journey back home. After conquering America and much of the world, pizza returned to Italy transformed, forcing Italians to reconsider a food that had once been a regional specialty. Along the way, they explore how migration, globalization, and cultural exchange helped turn pizza into a true international phenomenon. Topics Covered: The spread of pizza beyond Naples and across Italy Luigi Giordano and the first…
Episode 5: The Pizza Franchise Wars
Jun 8, 2026 · 25 min
In episode five of Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen explore the battle that changed pizza forever. What happens when a beloved local food becomes a national business? From a small pizza shop founded by two brothers in Kansas to the rise of massive restaurant chains, this episode examines how franchising transformed pizza from a regional specialty into one of the world's most recognizable foods. Topics Covered: The founding stories of Pizza Hut, Domino’s, and more How franchising revolutioniz…
Episode 4: Pizza Goes Deep: Chicago and Detroit Styles Are Born
Jun 2, 2026 · 22 min
In episode four of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey dive into one of pizza’s greatest debates: how did America’s regional pizza styles emerge, and why do people defend them so fiercely? From wartime Chicago to the factories of Detroit, they explore the innovators who transformed pizza from an immigrant tradition into a distinctly American phenomenon. Topics Covered: The origins of Chicago deep dish pizza The partnership that launched Pizzeria Uno How deep dish challenge…
Episode 3: Pizza on the Move: New York Style Is Born
May 26, 2026 · 23 min
In episode three of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey follow pizza across the Atlantic as it makes its way from the streets of Naples to the immigrant neighborhoods of New York City. Discover how pioneers like Gennaro Lombardi helped transform pizza from a quick street snack into a sit-down dining experience, setting the stage for America's pizza obsession. Topics Covered: Gennaro Lombardi and the birth of New York's early pizzerias The surprising ingredient differences…
Episode 1: Pizza Before It Was Pizza
May 19, 2026 · 29 min
Join us on episode one of Eating History as we explore the fascinating origins of pizza. Hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey start at the very beginning. Discover how this beloved dish evolved from ancient flatbreads to a global icon. Topics Covered: The beginnings of flatbread in ancient Persia Pizza's evolution through Roman and Middle Eastern cultures The introduction of tomatoes to Europe and their impact Stories of early pizza vendors in Naples How a royal decree helped popularize pi…
Episode 2: When Power Takes a Bite: The Birth of Margherita Pizza
May 19, 2026 · 27 min
In episode two of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey continue the saga of Pizza’s origins. Discover the intriguing story of how pizza evolved from a simple Neapolitan street food to a symbol of Italian identity. Was it truly a royal favorite, or just a clever marketing tale? Topics Covered: The legendary story of Queen ’s pizza Pizza as a symbol of Italian pride The iconic tomato, mozzarella, and basil combo How migration spread pizza globally Perfect for food enthusiasts…
Introducing: Eating History Season 1, Pizza
May 18, 2026 · 2 min
Every bite has a backstory. Welcome to Eating History, the podcast that serves up the wild, scandalous, and mouth-watering tales behind the foods that changed the world. Join Michelin-starred chef and Top Chef runner-up Adrienne Cheatham and her husband, history buff Stephen Bailey, as they pair elite culinary expertise with epic historical deep-dives. For Season 1, we’re slicing into the ultimate global obsession: Pizza. Discover how a dirt-cheap street food from the back alleys of Naples conqu…
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