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Eating History: Daily Summaries Delivered
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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 conquered the globe, sparked endless fiery debates, and built a multi-billion-dollar empire. Along the way, you’ll cross paths with emperors, immigrants, hustlers, chefs, and royalty—the fascinating people who turned food into history. Grab a seat at the table. New episodes drop every Wednesday!
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago9 min
Pizza Bites: The Day Pizza Became American
Welcome to the grand finale of Pizza Bites! After an entire season devoted to the evolution of the slice, Adrienne and Stephen tackle the biggest question of them all: When exactly did pizza stop being an Italian import and become an undeniable American staple? By narrowing down the historical timeline between World War II and the rise of fast-food chains, they pinpoint the exact day pizza officially conquered American pop culture. In this episode, we explore: Why returning WWII soldiers sparked the fire, but didn't immediately make the dish mainstream The incredible six-year window (1947–1953) where the press went from explaining what a pizza was to declaring it a threat to the hot dog and hamburger Why the founding of Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kansas in 1958 was a symptom of the pizza boom, rather than the cause August 10, 1953: The release of The Caddy and why the debut of "That's Amore" by Dean Martin is the perfect marker for pizza's American takeover
- 1 weeks ago8 min
Pizza Hut Used to Be Really Cool
Welcome to the newest slice of Pizza Bites! This week, Adrienne and Stephen take a nostalgic trip back to the 1980s to explore the cultural phenomenon of Pizza Hut. What started as a humble $600 investment grew into a $2.7 billion empire that defined the modern experiential dining era. Discover how a brand that once represented the futuristic cutting edge of pop culture is now successfully betting on the comforting power of the past. In this episode, we explore: The 1958 origins of Pizza Hut and the delayed arrival of its iconic red roof The brilliant 1984 launch of the BOOK IT! reading program that turned Personal Pan Pizzas into kid currency How red plastic cups, Tiffany-style lamps, and Pac-Man machines transformed dining out into pure entertainment The irony of PizzaNet, the chain's pioneering 1994 attempt at internet ordering The surprising success of "Pizza Hut Classic," a retro-revival movement doubling dine-in sales by recreating the 1980s experience
- 2 weeks ago17 min
Eating History Presents: History Daily "The First McDonald’s Opens"
What if we told you the story of McDonald’s didn’t start with the Big Mac, drive-thrus, or billions of burgers? In this special episode, Eating History presents one of our favorite episodes of History Daily, exploring the surprising story of how McDonald’s got its start, and the people and ideas that would ultimately change the way the world eats. Every weekday, host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal, American History Tellers) takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ‘on this day’ in history. So if you’re stuck in traffic, bored at work—wherever you are, listen to History Daily to remind yourself that something incredible happened to make that day historic.
- 3 weeks ago6 min
Pizza Bites: How Friday Became Pizza Night in America
On the latest Pizza Bite, Adrienne and Stephen unpack a beloved cultural phenomenon: how Friday became America’s undisputed pizza night. Instead of being engineered by a clever corporate marketing campaign, this shared national ritual evolved organically from the everyday choices of millions of exhausted families looking to kick off the weekend with ease. In this episode: How older customs, like Catholic meatless Fridays, laid the groundwork for cheese pizza as a weekly staple The postwar suburban boom that created a desperate need for no-cleanup dinners Why returning WWII veterans and the advent of delivery perfectly positioned pizza for the American family The golden age of home video rentals and how a trip to Blockbuster cemented the "pizza and a movie" weekend kickoff How the practical need for a shareable, couch-friendly meal continues to drive modern ordering apps today
- Aug 18, 20266 min
Pizza Bites: The Rise of Pizza Delivery
Welcome to the newest installment of Pizza Bites! This week, Adrienne and Stephen explore the origins of pizzas delivered straight to your door. While pizza didn't invent the concept of food delivery, it was uniquely built to perfect it. Discover how post-WWII suburban sprawl, the rise of the telephone, and the golden age of home video rentals turned a convenient dinner choice into a beloved American cultural tradition. In this episode: The culinary engineering that makes pizza the perfect travel food (hint: it's all in the crust and cheese) How suburban growth and longer commutes fueled a massive demand for at-home convenience Domino’s revolutionary impact on turning food delivery into a speed-driven business model
- Aug 11, 20269 min
Pizza Bite: How WWII Created America’s Pizza Obsession
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 How returning soldiers fueled pizza's rapid expansion across America Why the grassroots post-war pizza boom laid the essential groundwork for massive chains like Pizza Hut and Domino's
- Aug 4, 20266 min
Pizza Bites: How One Pizza Oven Changed New York Forever
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 Lombardi's family tree: Totonno's, John's of Bleecker Street, and Patsy's How Adrienne and Stephen's personal Harlem favorite, Patsy's, helped carry them through the pandemic The dramatic story of Patsy Grimaldi and his enduring legacy Why the true secret to New York pizza isn't the water or the dough, it's mentor
- Jul 28, 20267 min
Pizza Bites: Chicago’s Pizza Identity Crisis (Deep Dish v Tavern Style)
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 brilliant business strategy behind the square "party cut" The legendary baseball-related origin story of Home Run Inn Why deep-dish became the global tourist ambassador while tavern-style remained the true hometown favorite
About Eating History
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 conquered the globe, sparked endless fiery debates, and built a multi-billion-dollar empire. Along the way, you’ll cross paths with emperors, immigrants, hustlers, chefs, and royalty—the fascinating people who turned food into history. Grab a seat at the table. New episodes drop every Wednesday!
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