The actual impetus that moved me to make a blog (rather than just talk about it forever [you might find I just love parentheticals if you keep reading this blog]) was an idea I had on the way in to the office for my day job a few days ago. Sometimes things just pop into my mind - from whence… who cares! Anyway, this time the thing that popped into my mind was the idea to make a pizza shaped like a state, made with ingredients from that state. The state I had in mind first was the state I live in now: Pennsylvania.
See… let me back track a minute. I’m kind of a foodie - I enjoy eating new things, experiencing new flavors, experimenting with new ingredients. I’m also a big advocate for organic, local, and artisanal foods. My dream, some day, is to own a CSA that also grows hops and barley, so that we may make and sell beer in addition to the vegetables and meats or eggs we provide for our subscribers.
So, I think this local foods movement was sort of the wellspring for the pizza idea. In my mind the pizza would be made only from local ingredients. In a way, it would be me creating (and then eating) the location I call home. Quite literally.
Another side note about me. I love puzzles. Yes, puzzles and baking. Yes, even though I’m a tattooed 28 year old motorcycle rider (and also, a burly bearded man [hence, The Muffin Man {see, I told you}]), I am also kind of a little old lady.
Which all led to me thinking to myself, “Why not make a pizza for every state, in the shape of that state, and then fit them all together like a puzzle?” And really, that’s when the idea really took on a life of it’s own. I posted to Facebook about it and everyone seemed so excited.
In learning about food I’ve noticed something about the way Americans eat. It’s been noted many other places, by smarter and better writers than me, so I won’t belabor the point. America lacks a strong food identity.
What I think this outpouring of support was for, wasn’t just support for my idea from my friends, but support for exploring the American food identity. It exists, but it’s hidden. My hope, my plan, is to travel figuratively (and perhaps even literally, should the opportunity arise) to the 50 United States, and for each state create a pizza for that state, in the shape of that state, made from ingredients from that state.
We’ll see how it goes.
