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The West virginia pepperoni roll

By Candace Nelson

The pepperoni roll, a soft bread roll with pepperoni baked in the middle, originated in the coal mining areas of north central West Virginia when Italian immigrants invented a food that could be eaten easily underground.

This spicy snack soon found its way out of the mines and into bakeries, bread companies, restaurants, and event venues around the state, often with additional ingredients like cheese, red sauce, or peppers added to this humble food staple.

As the pepperoni roll’s reputation moves beyond the borders of West Virginia, this food continues to embody the culinary culture of its home state. It is now found at the center of bake offs, eating contests, festivals, as a gourmet item on local menus, and even on a bill in the state’s legislature.

The West Virginia Pepperoni Roll is a comprehensive history of the unofficial state food of West Virginia. With over 100 photographs and countless recipes and recollections, it tells the story of the immigrants, business owners, laborers, and citizens who have developed and devoured this simple yet practical food since its invention. 


The West Virginia Pepperoni Roll Media Kit


Pepperoni Roll Poster

Pepperoni Roll Poster

30.00

A collaboration with Sean McNamara

18”x12” hand signed poster

Text on bottom of poster: “The pepperoni roll, a soft bread roll with pepperoni baked in the middle, originated in North Central West Virginia sometime between 1927 and 1938. It was likely first crafted by the wives of coal miners, who immigrated to the area from Italy to work in the mines and could enjoy the shelf-stable, portable snack underground. Bakeries soon began offering the iconic pepperoni roll all across the state and in various iterations - like with cheese, red sauce or peppers.”


PAST Events:

May 26, 2017 - Three Rivers Festival at 5 p.m. in Fairmont, W.Va.

June 3, 2017 - Apothecary Ale House & Cafe from 2 -5 p.m. in Morgantown, W.Va.

June 8, 2017 - Taste of West Virginia at the WVU Alumni Center from 5:30-8p.m. in Morgantown, W.Va.

June 10, 2017 - Weirton Book Company from 4-6 p.m. in Weirton, W.Va.

June 15, 2017 - Taylor Books from 6-7 p.m. in Charleston, W.Va.

June 17, 2017 - Barnes & Noble from 1-4 p.m. in Morgantown, W.Va.

June 20, 2017 - Rolls on the River from 5:30 - 8 p.m. in Charleston, W.Va.

June 24, 2017 - Empire Books from noon- 2p.m. in Huntington, W.Va.

July 8, 2017 - Town Run Brewing (hosted by Four Seasons Books) at 5 p.m. in Shepherdstown, W.Va.

July 13, 2017 - Upshur County Public Library from 4-5 p.m. in Buckhannon, W.Va.

July 22, 2017 - Wheeling Italian Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Wheeling, W.Va.

July 30, 2017 - The Great Pepperoni Roll Cook-Off at the Morgantown Market Place Pavilion from 2-4 p.m. in Morgantown, W.Va.

Sept. 2, 2017 - West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival Author Forum at noon in Clarksburg, W.Va.

Oct. 22, 2017 - Pepperoni Roll Day at the Mountainlair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Morgantown, W.Va.

Oct. 28, 2017 - West Virginia Book Festival at the Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, W.Va.

Nov. 4, 2017 - Bridgeport Public Library from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Bridgeport, W.Va. 

April 5, 2018 - Edgewood Summit from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Charleston, W.Va.

Aug. 5, 2018 - 4th Annual Great Pepperoni Roll Cook Off from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Morgantown, W.Va.

Sept. 9, 2018 - Rolls on the River from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Charleston, W.Va.

Oct. 21, 2018 - Pepperoni Roll Day as part of Mountaineer Week at the Mountainlair from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Morgantown, W.Va.

Jan. 10, 2019 - Book reading at Cicada Books at 6 p.m. in Huntington, W.Va.

June 22, 2019 - 12th Annual BBQ Bash & Pepperoni Roll Bake-Off at The Citadel Holliday Alumni Center at 1 p.m. in Charleston, S.C.

Aug. 3, 2019 - Lewisburg Literary Festival from 4-6 p.m. at Bella The Corner Gourmet in Lewisburg, W.Va.

Aug. 10, 2019 - The Great Morgantown Pepperoni Roll Cookoff - 2 p.m. at the Morgantown Market Place in Morgantown, W.Va.

Others:

Salt Rising Bread: Recipes and Heartfelt Stories of a Nearly Lost Appalachian Tradition

Quoted in Nonfiction book; published 2016

Provided an endorsement quote for the book. In the universe of breads, salt rising bread stands alone. There is nothing else remotely like it, in flavor, personality and technique. It was slow food before there was slow food -- a yeast-less bread with a colorful American past going back to early pioneer days in the hills of Appalachia. (It might be the first "mountain-to-table" bread.) Over time, the knowledge was nearly lost, but now a new generation of bakers is rescuing the tradition.

 

West Virginia Hometown Cookbook

Quoted in Nonfiction book; published 2014

Provided two recipes for the book. Fill your kitchen with the aroma of deep southern dishes from the locals of West Virginia – these easy-to-follow recipes and fun-filled facts about West Virginia make for the 7th edition of the State Hometown Cookbook Series. Recipes from barbeque to apple butter can be found amongst authentic down-home recipes straight from the heart of West Virginia.

 

Bookstore Explorer: West Virginia

Quoted in Nonfiction book: published 2019

A celebration of the Mountain State’s independent bookstores, Bookstore Explorer: West Virginia by Matt Browning showcases the state’s bookshops through photos and firsthand accounts from owners, employees, customers, and locals. Plus, literary luminaries like best-selling author Rajia Hassib (“A Pure Heart”) and West Virginia Poet Laureate Marc Harshman, among others, share their own bookstore memories. From the tips of the panhandles to the southern coalfields, it’s a literary journey throughout West Virginia.

RP Unwrapped

Featured in nonfiction zine: published 2020

RP Unwrapped Vol. 1 compiles all the stories of Rolling Pepperoni’s first Story Series throughout 2019. Read the answers of 23 people from 7 different Appalachian states to our favorite question, “What is Appalachia?” Proceeds from each sale goes back to all 23 story contributors and continues funding future story work.