Country Club Bakery
Encyclopedia
Country Club Bakery, located in Fairmont, West Virginia
, USA, is a small family owned bakery that is significant because it is the home of the pepperoni roll. The pepperoni roll
is a snack
popular in West Virginia
and some nearby regions of the Appalachian Mountains
. Ubiquitous in West Virginia (particularly in convenience store
s), but typically little known elsewhere, it is arguably the food most closely associated with the state (a competitor for this distinction is the ramp
). the first pepperoni rolls were created at the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont, West Virginia
by Giuseppe "Joseph" Argiro at the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont in 1927, some argue that it was not invented until the 1940s, but no one disputes that they originated at the Country Club Bakery. Fairmont, West Virginia
, claims the title of "Pepperoni Roll Capital of the World."
The rolls originated as a lunch option for the coal miners of north-central West Virginia in the first half of the twentieth century. The pepperoni roll bears a resemblance to the pasty
and sausage roll
, which originated in the mining communities of Great Britain
, as well as to the Italian calzone
. All these foods allow a miner on a break from a tiring and dirty job to eat a full meal with a minimum of fuss. Pepperoni and other Italian foods became popular in north-central West Virginia in the early 20th century, when the booming mines and railroads
attracted many immigrants from Italy
.
Fairmont, West Virginia
Fairmont is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. Nicknamed "The Friendly City". The population was 18,704 at the 2010 census...
, USA, is a small family owned bakery that is significant because it is the home of the pepperoni roll. The pepperoni roll
Pepperoni Roll
The pepperoni roll is a snack popular in West Virginia and some nearby regions of the Appalachian Mountains such as Western Pennsylvania, Western Maryland and Appalachian Ohio...
is a snack
Snack
A snack is a small portion of food eaten between meals. The food might be snack food—items like potato chips or baby carrots—but could also simply be a smaller amount of any food item.-Snacks and health:...
popular in West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
and some nearby regions of the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
. Ubiquitous in West Virginia (particularly in convenience store
Convenience store
A convenience store, corner store, corner shop, commonly called a bodega in Spanish-speaking areas of the United States, is a small store or shop in a built up area that stocks a range of everyday items such as groceries, toiletries, alcoholic and soft drinks, and may also offer money order and...
s), but typically little known elsewhere, it is arguably the food most closely associated with the state (a competitor for this distinction is the ramp
Wild leek
Allium tricoccum — known as the ramp, spring onion, ramson, wild leek, wild garlic, and, in French, ail sauvage and ail des bois — is an early spring vegetable, a perennial wild onion. It has a strong garlic-like odor and a pronounced onion flavor. Ramps are found across North America, from the...
). the first pepperoni rolls were created at the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont, West Virginia
Fairmont, West Virginia
Fairmont is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. Nicknamed "The Friendly City". The population was 18,704 at the 2010 census...
by Giuseppe "Joseph" Argiro at the Country Club Bakery in Fairmont in 1927, some argue that it was not invented until the 1940s, but no one disputes that they originated at the Country Club Bakery. Fairmont, West Virginia
Fairmont, West Virginia
Fairmont is a city in Marion County, West Virginia, United States. Nicknamed "The Friendly City". The population was 18,704 at the 2010 census...
, claims the title of "Pepperoni Roll Capital of the World."
Pepperoni Rolls
Pasty
A pasty , sometimes known as a pastie or British pasty in the United States, is a filled pastry case, associated in particular with Cornwall in Great Britain. It is made by placing the uncooked filling on a flat pastry circle, and folding it to wrap the filling, crimping the edge at the side or top...
and sausage roll
Sausage roll
A Sausage Roll is a type of savoury convenience food commonly served at parties and available from bakeries and milk bars as a take-away food item...
, which originated in the mining communities of Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, as well as to the Italian calzone
Calzone
A calzone Italian: , "stocking" or "trouser") is a turnover that originates from Italy. It is shaped like a semicircle, made of dough folded over and filled with ingredients common to pizza....
. All these foods allow a miner on a break from a tiring and dirty job to eat a full meal with a minimum of fuss. Pepperoni and other Italian foods became popular in north-central West Virginia in the early 20th century, when the booming mines and railroads
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
attracted many immigrants from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
External links
- Bob Heffner's Pepperoni Roll page, based in Fairmont.
- Pepperoni roll recipes from cooks.com.
- Pepperoni Roll locations in West Virginia History of the pepperoni roll and locations to purchase a pepperoni roll in West Virginia.
- D'Annunzio's Bakery D'Annunzios Bakery operated by 3rd generation baker from West Virginia sells original Pepperoni Rolls online
- http://www.pepperonirolls.net/about.html Roger and Mazzas Bakery