One of our relatively newer food traditions is the pepperoni roll, a soft bread roll with pepperoni (an Italian cured sausage) baked inside. The pepperoni’s grease makes orange-red spots on the ends. Unlike pizza crust, it stays soft and is easy to eat by hand.

It was invented in 1927 by Giuseppe "Joseph" Argiro, a former coal miner in Fairmont. He got the idea from miners who brought bread and pepperoni to work. He passed the recipe to his son, Frank "Cheech" Argiro. Other locals made their own versions. One man, Filippo Colasessano, opened a lunch spot in Fairmont, and his son, “Spider,” added cheese, hot peppers, and even hot dog sauce to the rolls.

Today, pepperoni rolls are still most popular in northern West Virginia, but you can find them across the state. They’re even included in U.S. military meals, helping spread this tasty West Virginia treat even farther.