EP9: The Real History of Italian Food: Class, Culture, and Carbonara скачать в хорошем качестве

EP9: The Real History of Italian Food: Class, Culture, and Carbonara

In this episode, I sit down with food historian Zach Nowak (PhD) to dig into the real history behind iconic Italian dishes — and why so much of what we think we know is wrong. This is a conversation about culture, migration, nationalism, and the stories we tell ourselves about food. We get into the salt wars in Umbria and why Umbrians still eat unsalted bread, the cultural symbolism of torta al testo, and how pizza evolved from street food to a national icon. We talk about the real story behind pizza Margherita, the messy (and possibly American) origins of carbonara, and the birth of Italian-American cuisine. Zach breaks down why “authentic” Italian food is mostly a myth, how bad wine used to be, and why culinary traditions — like food itself — are always evolving. It’s funny, surprising, and full of stories you probably haven’t heard before. 📚 Books mentioned in the episode: Hungering for America – https://amzn.to/4oYOsLT The History of Pizza (translated by Zach) – https://amzn.to/4pHmwxn On Food and Cooking – https://amzn.to/48GiXl5 Truffle: A Global History by Zach Nowak – https://amzn.to/3KYPARE Want to get in touch with Zach Nowak? You can reach him at [email protected] About me: I'm Anthony Calvanese — an American living in Italy since 2022. I’ve traveled across all 20 regions and share honest insights about Italian culture, travel, and food — without the fluff. Disclaimer: This description contains affiliate links. If you purchase through them, I may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you. Thanks for supporting independent Italy content. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Podcast Format 01:55 Journey to Italy: Experiences in Bolzano and Vienna 07:52 Italian Food Culture: Myths and Realities 10:43 The Debate on Unsalted Bread 11:12 The Taste of Unsalted Bread 13:07 Culinary Traditions of Umbria 14:37 The Salt Tax and Its Historical Context 16:59 The Salt War: A Local Rebellion 19:23 Cultural Significance of Unsalted Bread 21:21 The Evolution of Culinary Narratives 22:51 Torta al Testo: A Unique Umbrian Bread 26:19 The Evolution of Torta al Testo 30:55 Cultural Significance of Torta al Testo 33:32 Pizza: From Poverty to Popularity 41:24 The Origins of Pizza Margherita 43:31 The Myth of the Royal Pizza 45:04 The Evolution of Pizza in America 47:50 Cultural Exchange and Pizza's Journey 53:00 Regional Variations of Italian Cuisine 56:02 Culinary Traditions and Historical Context 59:03 The Evolution of Carbonara 01:01:52 American Influence on Italian Cuisine 01:04:56 The Changing Nature of Food Traditions 01:06:38 Culinary Nationalism and Historical Narratives 01:11:04 The Importance of Nixtamalization 01:14:03 Pellagra and Its Historical Context 01:17:50 The Mediterranean Diet: Myth vs. Reality 01:22:23 Social Aspects of Diet and Lifestyle 01:27:00 Culinary Indulgences and Morning Rituals 01:29:40 The People's History of Wine 01:32:34 Upcoming Projects and Future Endeavors 01:36:08 Cultural Perceptions of Food #ItalianFood #PizzaHistory #ItalyTravel #AnthonyInItaly #FoodCulture #Carbonara #FoodMyths #ZachNowak