Eating is one of the foremost pleasures in life. Most of our hard-earned moneygoes toward eating good,healthy food. Every nationseems to have its traditional favorites that over time have become international favorites, as well. Among Italian specialties, pizza is seemingly a global favorite.Included within the microcosm of pizza are the Stromboli and the Calzone. They share many similar attributes, but also have their differences. Many people are under the misconception that these two sandwiches are one and the same. These people are wrong, albeit the ingredients of the calzone and the Stromboli can be quite similar.

The Stromboli is made of Italian bread dough which is rolled out into the shape of a square. Then the fillings of one’s choice such as cheeses, sausage, ham, salami; whatever the taste buds desire, are spread over the dough.Next,it is rolled into a cylindrical shape and baked until its crust is golden brown.The Stromboli is typically served with a dipping sauce of marinara on the side.  As to where Stromboli originated is anyone’s guess. Some individualsopine that it came from Italy while othersthink Stromboli was the brainchild of a Philadelphia restaurant owner named Nazzareno Romano. Still others claim that Spokane, Washington, is the true home of the Stromboli. For allwe know, the sandwich was initially baked by elves in a hollow tree. Whatever its origin, we’re just glad that someone thought of it!

Like the Stromboli, the Calzone is made from Italian bread dough and rolled out into the shape of a circle. It is then spread with the desired fillings and topped with marinara sauce, leaving a little room around the edges. Next, one side of the dough is folded over the filling and sealed onyo the dough on the opposite side. Unlike the Stromboli, the Calzoneis in the shape of a half-moon; reminiscent of a turnover rather than a cylinder. Originating in Naples, Italy,the precise meaning of the word ”Calzone” is “Pant Leg”, as the dish was inspired by an 18th century style of pants.Essentially, the two discernible differences between theStromboli and the Calzone are their shapes, and location of the marinara sauce.