Why You Shouldn't Expect Pepperoni Pizza On Menus In Italy - Tasting Table

"The spicy cured meat is the most ordered topping in America, and a recent YouGov survey shows 82% of people say they either like or love it, with 24% of people naming it their number one topping choice, almost doubling second place sausage. In America at least, pepperoni is synonymous with pizza. In Italy however, it's not just not popular, it's non-existent. Chalk that up to Italian's love of local ingredients, something pepperoni very much isn't."

"It may surprise some people to realize this, but pepperoni is an original Italian-American creation, which is why you won't see it on menus in Italy. Like spaghetti and meatballs or cioppino, pepperoni is something Americans call Italian, but was created by immigrants outside their home country. Pepperoni is only first mentioned in print in 1919 in New York City, although it likely dates back to the late 19th century."

Pepperoni is an Italian-American cured meat topping that dominates pizza preferences in the United States while remaining essentially unknown in Italy. U.S. consumers show strong favorability, with 82% saying they like or love it and 24% naming it their top topping. Pepperoni originated among Italian-American pizzerias in the late 19th or early 20th century, with the first print mention in New York City in 1919. Spicy salamis exist in Italy but differ from American pepperoni, and the closest comparable product is Calabrese salami made with Calabrian chiles.

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