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Eating History

Eating History

Level Media Inc. 6 Episodes Aug 18, 2026

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, they slice into the ultimate global obsession: Pizza, exploring how a dirt-cheap street food from Naples conquered the globe. New episodes drop every Wednesday.

Episodes

Pizza Bites: The Rise of Pizza Delivery
Pizza Bites: The Rise of Pizza Delivery Aug 18, 2026 415 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 Ameri
Pizza Bites: How WWII Created America’s Pizza Obsession
Pizza Bites: How WWII Created America’s Pizza Obsession Aug 11, 2026 578 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 reali
Pizza Bites: How One Pizza Oven Changed New York Forever
Pizza Bites: How One Pizza Oven Changed New York Forever Aug 4, 2026 371 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 deba
Pizza Bites: Chicago’s Pizza Identity Crisis (Deep Dish v Tavern Style)
Pizza Bites: Chicago’s Pizza Identity Crisis (Deep Dish v Tavern Style) Jul 28, 2026 453 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
Pizza Bites: Is This City the Pizza Capital of America?
Pizza Bites: Is This City the Pizza Capital of America? Jul 21, 2026 523 In the third edition of Pizza Bites from Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen ask a big question: Is New Haven, Connecticut, the real pizza capital of America? Tune in to explore the intense family rivalries and unique coal-fired "apizza" that put this small city on the culinary map. In this episode: Why New Haven produces more elite pizza per capita than any other city in America The de
Pizza Bites: America’s Favorite Pizza Topping Isn’t Italian
Pizza Bites: America’s Favorite Pizza Topping Isn’t Italian Jul 14, 2026 499 In the second Pizza Bite from Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen tackle America’s undisputed favorite pizza topping: pepperoni. From the surprising reality of ordering "peperoni" in Italy to its mysterious origins in early 20th-century New York, they explore how an Italian-American community creation transformed into a national culinary staple. In this episode: Why ordering a "pepperoni" piz
Pizza Bites: The World’s Most Controversial Pizza Was Invented in Canada
Pizza Bites: The World’s Most Controversial Pizza Was Invented in Canada Jul 7, 2026 439 Welcome to the first installment of Pizza Bites, a new series from Eating History featuring short stories from the evolution of pizza. This week, Adrienne and Stephen tackle one of the culinary world's most polarizing debates: pineapple on pizza. From an international controversy involving Iceland’s proposed ban to its true origins in Canada, they explore how a 1960s experiment by a Greek immigran
Episode 8: Pizza Forever: The Future of Pizza on Earth and Beyond
Episode 8: Pizza Forever: The Future of Pizza on Earth and Beyond Jun 30, 2026 1759 In episode eight of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey look ahead to the future of pizza while asking one final question: what is pizza now? After tracing its journey from the streets of Naples to every corner of the globe, they explore how technology, sustainability, and changing ideas about authenticity are shaping the next chapter of one of the world’s most beloved foods
Episode 7: The Gourmet Pizza Revolution
Episode 7: The Gourmet Pizza Revolution Jun 23, 2026 1457 In episode seven of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey explore the gourmet pizza revolution that transformed pizza from an everyday meal into a culinary canvas. From Beverly Hills restaurants to neighborhood pizzerias, they trace how innovative chefs, changing tastes, and new technologies challenged traditional ideas about what pizza could be. Topics Covered: How Wolf
Episode 6: The Great Italian Pizza Migration: From Naples Street Food to Italy's National Dish
Episode 6: The Great Italian Pizza Migration: From Naples Street Food to Italy's National Dish Jun 16, 2026 1701 In episode six of Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen follow pizza on an unexpected journey back home. After conquering America and much of the world, pizza returned to Italy transformed, forcing Italians to reconsider a food that had once been a regional specialty. Along the way, they explore how migration, globalization, and cultural exchange helped turn pizza into a true international phenomen
Episode 5: The Pizza Franchise Wars
Episode 5: The Pizza Franchise Wars Jun 8, 2026 1470 In episode five of Eating History, Adrienne and Stephen explore the battle that changed pizza forever. What happens when a beloved local food becomes a national business? From a small pizza shop founded by two brothers in Kansas to the rise of massive restaurant chains, this episode examines how franchising transformed pizza from a regional specialty into one of the world's most recognizable foods
Episode 4: Pizza Goes Deep: Chicago and Detroit Styles Are Born
Episode 4: Pizza Goes Deep: Chicago and Detroit Styles Are Born Jun 2, 2026 1347 In episode four of Eating History, hosts Adrienne Cheatham and Stephen Bailey dive into one of pizza’s greatest debates: how did America’s regional pizza styles emerge, and why do people defend them so fiercely? From wartime Chicago to the factories of Detroit, they explore the innovators who transformed pizza from an immigrant tradition into a distinctly American phenomenon. Topics Covered:

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