P is for Pepperoni Roll

Philadelphia has the cheesesteak, New England has clam chowder, and West Virginia has the pepperoni roll.

Alright, I know what you're thinking, "What in the world is a pepperoni roll?" 

Well, a traditional pepperoni roll consists of a soft white yeast bread roll with pepperoni baked in the middle. During the baking process, the fats in the pepperoni melt, causing the spicy oils to saturate the surrounding bread, adding a little kick to the bread.

The creation of the pepperoni roll is credited to Giuseppe Argiro, an Italian immigrant who created the pepperoni roll sometime in the 1920s or 30s. Supposedly, many Italian immigrants who worked in the coal mines during that time period often took a slab of bread along with a chuck of pepperoni for lunch. That is where Argiro got his inspiration for the pepperoni roll. He simply took the two ingredients and combined them.

Because pepperoni rolls not require refrigeration, are easily portable, can be eaten with one hand, do not require utensils, and do not need to be heated prior to eating, they became an easy and popular lunch option for coal miners.

Being from West Virginia, I grew up eating pepperoni rolls.  They were a lunchtime staple of mine in high school and were a great alternative to the traditional hot lunch line. The pepperoni rolls served at my high school, however, were a little different from the traditional pepperoni roll because the cooks baked mozzarella cheese in the center along with pepperoni.

Although there are many variations, one ingredient that I've always heard is strictly a no-no is the addition of pizza or marinara sauce.  It should never be baked in the roll or offered on the side.

Pepperoni rolls were featured on an episode of Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern.  Click here to see the segment.  There are also numerous recipes available online if you are so inclined to make some.

Have you ever eaten an authentic West Virginia pepperoni roll?  If so, what did you think?

As always, thanks for stopping by!

This is the sixteenth of twenty-six alphabetized blog entries that I am publishing this month as a part of the 2016 Blogging A to Z Challenge.  Many bloggers who participate in this challenge, select a theme.  My theme is - "Whatever I Think Of."  

For more information on the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge, click here.