Gastropod Pizza Pizza!
96 snips
Oct 21, 2025 
Join historian Carol Helstosky, author of 'Pizza: A Global History,' and chef Francisco Migoya from Modernist Cuisine as they unravel the fascinating journey of pizza. Learn how Naples birthed this beloved dish, transitioning from simple focaccia to the iconic slice we know today. Discover the impact of tomatoes and hear lively debates on Chicago deep dish vs. traditional styles. From bizarre toppings to the evolution of frozen pizza, their insights reveal why this culinary favorite captures hearts (and appetites) worldwide.
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Defining Pizza By Dough And Toppings
- Carol Helstosky defines pizza as a yeasted flatbread with ingredients baked onto the crust.
- Francisco Migoya argues tomato sauce marks the shift from flatbread to pizza in practice.
Pizza Born In Naples Street Food Culture
- Naples developed tomato-topped flatbreads among very poor, densely packed urban populations eating street food.
- Vendors sold portable slices like marinara to fishermen who ate pizza before going to sea.
New York Pizza Is Its Own Creature
- New York pizza evolved from Neapolitan roots but changed due to coal ovens and canned tomatoes.
- American-style mozzarella factories created a stretchier, drier cheese that defined the New York slice.
