216.  Holy Pizza!!

216. Holy Pizza!!

From Kimberly's Italy by Clever Dog Digital

July 15, 2026 · 31 min

About this episode

Kimberly and Tommaso explore the rich history and cultural significance of pizza in Italy and beyond.

Please follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ! If you enjoy our podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Grazie Mille! In this episode of Kimberly’s Italy, Kimberly and Tommaso take a deep dive into the history, myths, and personal stories surrounding Italy’s most beloved dish: pizza. Key Points: The Universal Appeal of Pizza: Pizza is a global phenomenon, with 3 billion pizzas sold annually in the United States and a similar production rate in Italy, despite the massive difference in size between the two countries. From ancient flatbreads like the Roman “penne focaccias” to the Greek “plakos,” the concept of topped dough is a universal cooking instinct. The History of the Tomato and Neapolitan Origins:  We examine the arrival of the tomato in the 16th century and why it was initially viewed with suspicion by the locals. Napoli in the 1700s served as the true birthplace of pizza, where it emerged as a necessary, affordable street food for the impoverished “Lazzaroni” population. We look at the rise of the first sit-down pizzerias, including the historic Antica Pizzeria Port d’Alba, which is still in…

People in this episode

Host: Kimberly Holcombe

Guest: Tommaso

Topics covered

  • pizza history
  • Italian cuisine
  • cultural myths
  • Neapolitan origins
  • global food trends

Keywords

  • pizza
  • history
  • Neapolitan
  • cuisine
  • cultural myths
  • Antica Pizzeria Port d’Alba
  • Margherita pizza

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Antica Pizzeria Port d’Alba

Places: Italy, United States, Napoli

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