You’d think that Adam Richman would be sick of pepperoni by now — after all, he had to eat a slice of pepperoni pizza on “Man v. Food” that was so massive that, in his words, “you’d see me hold a slice next to a baby, and it was bigger than the baby.” But for the TV host, choosing pepperoni pizza is more than just a taste preference — it’s also an act of patriotism. He explained, “No one realizes that pepperoni’s not Italian — it’s American. They’ve been making it here since 1915. It’s American.” He appreciates that the pepperoni industry has helped provide livelihoods to thousands of blue-collar workers, and he’s proud of how this piece of American food culture has spread across the world.
Richman told us that pepperoni is the best pizza topping because it distills every aspect of the pizza experience into meat form: “The condiments at every pizzeria — it’s oregano, a pungent spice; red pepper flake, a heat spice; and garlic powder, something that’s profoundly savory. What if you mashed these things together into a meat incarnation to make the meat, cheese, and bread combo?” That, along with its iconic visual appeal, is why he thinks this humble American meat log has conquered the global pizza landscape.
The Hormel Pepperoni Pizza Pop-Up Shop is selling pepperoni-themed wearables, home goods, bedroom gear, and more for as long as supplies last.