"Pizza" describes the history and evolution of one of our favourite foods in Italy, the United States, and throughout the world, from its humble origins in eighteenth-century Naples to its current status as one of the world's most popular fast foods. The book looks at the history of pizza by focusing on what pizza has meant to people, and in turn the different things people have done to it. In Italy, pizza has constituted the diet of the Neapolitan poor, has been a source of opportunity for Italian entrepreneurs, and has contributed to national and regional pride and identity. In the United States, pizza has become the nation's most popular dish as well as a major source of profits for standardized, fast-food pizza corporations such as Pizza Hut and Domino's.Around the world, pizza has become a focus of culinary experimentation as well as a metaphor for cultural exchange. Yet throughout its complicated history, pizza has remained true to its simple form and straightforward tastes. "Pizza: A Global History" looks at the history of pizza from a variety of national, and global, perspectives, and also contains many illustrations and recipes.The book will appeal to readers interested in the food and history of Italy, and also those who are fanatical about their favourite fast food and want to learn a little more about it.
"Whether they''re pizza fanatics or pizza deniers, readers are quite likely to find Helstosky''s book fascinating. Her research is impressive, she writes clearly, the photographs are captivating, and the approach to delineating world history through a specific food actually works." -- Steve Weinberg "Denver Post"