Sure, let's dive into this pizza situation with a little flair!
In the realm of pizza, the name Sam Panapoulos will forever be synonymous with controversy. His creation, dubbed the "Hawaiian pizza," broke Italian culinary traditions and started a conversation that still echoes today. This debate, over whether pineapple belongs on pizza, divides nations, communities, and even families.
Fast forward to present day, a pizzeria in bustling Norwich, England, has taken a stand by introducing £100 pineapple pizzas to their online delivery menu. Despite being the priciest pineapple pizza of the past year, it's not even close to the £100 mark set by a Californian variation from last May. This exorbitant price tag is met with a playful challenge inviting customers to order champagne as well, upon placing their order.
This shocking price tags sits next to more traditional toppings such as Napoli, meatball, and pepperoni, all priced at a modest $17 or less. Lupa Pizza's head chef, Quin Jianoran, defends this by stating, "People literally love it or hate it. We're just taking a stance." As of now, no one has taken the bait to order the extravagant pineapple pizza, although the online response has been quite remarkable.
The restaurant has agreed to put pineapple on their monthly special board if the results of a local newspaper poll favor the tropical fruit. Currently, pineapple is leading with a full 62% of the vote and that would in theory translate the dish being offered at the brick-and-mortar restaurant, but that's yet to be seen. Jianoran seems open to altering the price tag, jokingly mentioning "£200, it could be £2, who knows."
Pineapple has long been a divisive topping among Italian pizza-makers, but last year saw a shift when Napoli pizza maestro Gino Sorbillo introduced the controversial ananas pizza to his menu. His goal was to "combat food prejudice." This debate has reached such heights, it almost sparked a political crisis in Iceland in 2017, when the president had to clarify that he would not be banning pineapple pizza and did not even have the authority to do so after his disdain for the combo went viral.
Jianoran may prefer traditional toppings, but he appreciates the creativity of New York-style pizzas, with seemingly limitless toppings. Lastly, a New York pizzeria claimed the title of the best in the world in 2024. Una Pizza Napoletana, on Manhattan's Lower East Side, topped the Italy-based 50 Top Pizza Awards last September.
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After discovering the high-priced pineapple pizza in Norwich, some people expressed the desire to pair it with a luxurious champagne. (foodanddrink)
Traveling to Naples, Italy, pizza lovers can explore various pizza shops and even witness the making of the traditional Napoli pizza. (travel)
