741: Pizza: Origin, Culture and Making It with Nathan Myhrvold
Aug 23, 2024
49:26
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Quick takeaways
Pizza's evolution from Naples to diverse regional styles worldwide showcases its adaptability and multicultural appeal.
Perfecting pizza sauce involves balancing flavors with umami-rich ingredients and experimenting with acids, sugars, and herbs for endless flavor possibilities.
Deep dives
Pizza Phenomenon History: From Naples to America
Pizza originated from Naples in the late 18th, early 19th centuries as a flatbread popular in the poorer parts of the city. The pizza of that era was different from today's varieties. As people from Naples migrated to America, South America, and other regions, pizza evolved and mutated, resonating with individuals in the US and beyond due to its adaptability and appeal.
Global Pizza Varieties: From Thin to Loaded Slices
South America, particularly Brazil and Argentina, boasts diverse pizza cultures distinct from traditional American styles. In Sao Paulo, pizzas are thin and often served formally at lunch. In contrast, Buenos Aires offers slices with copious amounts of cheese and unique sides like pizza cavallo, a chickpea pancake. Exploring these regional approaches provides insights into the multicultural evolution of pizza.
Pizza Preparation: A Science Behind the Sauce
The art of creating the perfect pizza sauce involves a delicate balance of ingredients to bring out the inherent flavors of tomatoes. Tips shared by experts include enhancing sauces with umami-rich components like fish sauce, Worcester sauce, or soy sauce, as well as experimenting with acids, sugars, and herbs to elevate the taste profile. The culinary exploration of various pizza sauces hints at endless flavor possibilities.
Pizza Making Techniques: Crust, Toppings, and Baking
Pizza-making techniques encompass a range of considerations, from the type of flour used to the baking process. Detailed discussions explore the nuances of dough preparation, baking temperatures, and topping arrangements. Insights reveal the science of baking pizza, including the role of infrared light in cooking and the ideal crust texture achieved through meticulous cooking methods.
This week, we take a deep dive into pizza with the co-author of the voluminous Modernist Pizza, Nathan Myhrvold. We get into the history, culture, and techniques behind great pizza. We hear stories from his worldwide travels and deep dives into pizza cultures and traditions. Plus, we hear about the culinary lab research devoted to making the best pizza ever, and he sticks around to answer your pizza-making questions. He is the founder of the Modernist Cuisine Lab. Then, we tune into our Family Kitchen series and hear from Journalist Liana Aghajanian about her childhood visits to Chuck E. Cheese and how she felt it was a magical food portal to America.
Broadcast dates for this episode:
September 24, 2021 (originally aired)
September 30, 2022 (rebroadcast)
August 23, 2024 (rebroadcast)
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