Pepperoni roll facts for kids
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| Type | Bread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | United States |
| Region or state | West Virginia |
| Main ingredients | White bread, pepperoni |
The pepperoni roll is a tasty bread roll with pepperoni baked inside. It's a popular Italian-American food. This roll was first made as a quick lunch for coal miners. Today, it's super popular in West Virginia and nearby areas. You can find it in places like Western Pennsylvania, Western Maryland, and Appalachian Ohio.
In West Virginia, pepperoni rolls are everywhere. They are especially common in convenience stores. Many people think of this roll as the most famous food from West Virginia. Pepperoni rolls also became popular in Southeast Michigan. Factory workers there enjoyed them for lunch.
A classic pepperoni roll uses a soft, white bread. It's a yeast-leavened bread roll. The pepperoni is baked right into the middle. When it bakes, the fat from the pepperoni melts. This creates a spicy oil that soaks into the bread. People usually eat pepperoni rolls for lunch or breakfast. They can be eaten cold or slightly warm.
Contents
How the Pepperoni Roll Started
The first pepperoni roll was sold in 1927. It was made by Giuseppe "Joseph" Argiro. He sold it at the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont, West Virginia.
These rolls became a great lunch for coal miners. This was in north-central West Virginia in the early 1900s. Miners needed food that didn't need a fridge. Pepperoni rolls were perfect to pack for work.
Pepperoni and other Italian foods became popular there. This was because many immigrants from Italy came to work. They worked in the busy mines and on the railroads. The pepperoni roll is a bit like other foods. It's similar to the pasty and sausage roll from British mining towns. It also looks like the Italian calzone.
Different Kinds of Pepperoni Rolls
You can find many types of pepperoni rolls today. Some have different kinds of cheese inside. Others might include peppers or other ingredients. The pepperoni itself can be different too. It might be a single stick of pepperoni. Or it could be several folded slices. Sometimes, it's even shredded or ground meat.
A Legal Challenge for Pepperoni Rolls
In 1987, pepperoni rolls faced a problem. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) wanted to change how bakeries were seen. They wanted to call bakeries that made pepperoni rolls "meat processing plants." This would mean much stricter rules for them.
Bakery owners worried they would have to close. Meeting the new rules would cost too much money. Luckily, Jay Rockefeller, a U.S. Senator from West Virginia, stepped in. He helped stop the USDA's plan.
Pepperoni Rolls for Soldiers
In the early 2000s, the U.S. military started using pepperoni rolls. They put a version of the roll in their MREs. MREs are Meals, Ready-to-Eat for troops.
Later, the U.S. Army changed the roll for its First Strike Ration. These rations are for soldiers on quick patrols. They are used by light infantry and special forces. The pepperoni roll is small and has lots of energy. This makes it great for these patrols. Soldiers used these rations a lot during Operation Enduring Freedom. A company in North Carolina makes these military rolls.
Images for kids
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A pepperoni roll, ready to eat.
See also
In Spanish: Pepperoni roll para niños
