The Sterling Rock Falls Historical Society January Meeting, is Sunday, January 8, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. The general public is invited to a presentation titled, “The History of America’s favorite Food: Pizza!” The location is Lincoln Learning Center, 611 E. 3rd Street, Sterling, IL. Our presenter is Wolf Koch.
Most historical accounts claim that pizza originated as a food for the very poor in Naples, Italy, around the late 18h century. However, what we now call “fast food” made in mobile ovens was already known in Roman times. In fact, something known as Lahmacun, or Armenian Pizza, dates back to the late Stone Age, more than four millennia ago!
The earliest description of something resembling today’s pizza comes from the detailed chronicles of the Papal Council of Constance, during 1414-1418. Woodcuts and etchings from the Council proceedings show the use of handcarts, with baking ovens providing food to the Council guests; over the four years, guests far outnumbered the local population.
Since thermometers had not yet been invented, bakers determined the proper temperature of their ovens by baking a thin flatbread, known as “flame bread.” If the flame bread achieved good crusty edges within three minutes, the oven cart was ready for baking. Flame bread was filled with other foods, resulting in an early version of pizza. Flame breadmaking is still practiced today in parts of Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, and northern Italy; it usually includes crème fraiche, grilled onions, and bacon as filling. The dish is a specialty of Franc’s northeastern Alsace region and the southwestern Palatinate region in Germany, and it dates to the 4th century.
This program will review early flame bread development; the evolution of early pizza making; the main regional differences in pizza baking; some specialty variations of our favorite fast food.
Wolf Koch, a Sterling resident, is a Consultant to the oil and petrochemical industry and has been a Professor of Chemical Engineering. He is long-time member of the SRFHS and has given us several programs.
Join us Sunday, January 8, for an interesting look at edible history, and have a bite of Pizza Hut pizza with us afterwards.
2023 Membership Dues
As we resumed meetings this past year after the COVID-19 shut down, our membership and attendance has been greatly impacted. This is true of many other not-for-profits like our group.
Please support our mission of preserving local history and educating the public, especially our youth, about the importance of learning about our past. Dues can be mailed to SRFHS, P. O. Box 65, Sterling, IL 61021.
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Dues: Individual $20 Family $30 Sustaining Member $50 Business $100 Lifetime $300
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