1944: The Times Discovers Pizza

[KamaAina]

http://www.nytimes.com/times-insider/2015/04/13/1944-the-times-discovers-pizza/

It has been a staple of New York (not to mention newsrooms) for so long that it is hard to imagine a time when pizza needed an introduction. But that’s what it got on Sept. 20, 1944 — at a time when Italy was full of American troops who were acquiring a taste for the pies. Note the rare use of the plural “pizze”:

Three years later, on May 25, 1947, The Times noted the potential of this seemingly newfangled concoction. “The pizza could be as popular a snack as the hamburger if Americans only knew more about it”:

[irisblue]

1. I cannot imagine life without pizza

[Arugula Latte]

2. The un-pizzaed life is not worth living.

[LeftInTX]

3. In the 1970s, one set of my grandparents had never tried pizza

I think my grandfather died without ever tasting it.

[LiberalElite]

4. When I was a kid in the '50s

a slice was $.15.

What's more surprising to me than an article about pizza in the NYT is the country-fried steak ad to the right. IMO that's STILL more exotic in NYC than pizza! LOL.

[madamesilverspurs]

5. My first contact with pizza

was late 1950s/early '60s, homemade via Chef Boyardee. Yikes. It was probably 15 years or more before I got my first taste of decent pizza. That said, the wayback discussions of "how do you eat it?" were sometimes quite entertaining.

[OriginalGeek]

8. Late 60s/early 70s for me

my dad always made that Chef Boyardee kit. I still love them though. I'd eat them a lot more often if I wasn't so lazy - and nowadays it takes at least 2 kits to make a dent in the cavern that is my belly. (and so everyone else gets some too)

I have perforated pizza pans specifically because that was what my dad used to make that pizza. I love how they come out. I've been known to double the dough and make thick crust too.


But there's a guy from the Bronx that owns a shop that delivers to my house and he does a magnificent job so it's usually a lot easier to call him than get off my butt and go to the grocery store (that is right next to my Bronx guy) and get a couple kits.

But I'm adding some them to the grocery list anyway. Haven't done it in a while.

[alphafemale]

9. The Chef Boyardee pizza is not the best.

But do enjoy that taste of childhood every once in awhile.

The sauce has an interesting almost hint of smokey taste.


I normally just buy some pizza dough from the Publix and make my own sauce though.

I make sauce in large batches and freeze.

Sometimes make the dough from scratch. That is not really worth the effort though.

[malthaussen]

6. My first experience of pizza:

“Pavlov’s Dog Needs Only One Iteration”


“I hate pizza,” I said, and she smiled
as she held up a wedge to my mouth.
A bite, the cheese and sauce blending
on my tongue; crunch of crust as I chew, then swallow.

A few bites more, and then with mischief in her eyes
she presses her lips to my startled mouth.
Quick flicker of tongue, as she steals a crumb,
a taste cooler than any liquid to wash down
the commingled flavors.

God, I love pizza.


-- Mal

[Tommy_Carcetti]

7. I believe I shall have one of those Piz-Zas for home consumption, pronto!