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The History Of Hawaiian Pizza: A Slice Of Culinary Controversy

Author Ransom Garcia
Fans hold a banner reading 'pineapple on pizza should be illegal!' prior to the FIFA Women's World Cup

The history of the Hawaiian pizza is an interesting tale that often brings up debates and discussions among pizza enthusiasts. The Hawaiian pizza is known for its unique combination of pineapple and ham as toppings, and its origins can be traced back to Canada.

The Hawaiian Pizza Is Actually Canadian

The creation of the Hawaiian pizza is often attributed to Sam Panopoulos, who died in 2017. Sam was a Greek immigrant to Canada and in 1962 he and his brothers owned and operated the Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario. One day, they decided to experiment with their pizza toppings, seeking to create a new and intriguing flavor profile.

Their experimentation led them to add canned pineapple and ham as toppings to their pizzas. The combination of sweet and savory flavors struck a chord with their customers and became a hit. They named this creation the “Hawaiian pizza.”

The pizza’s popularity grew over time, and it eventually spread beyond the Satellite Restaurant to other pizzerias in Canada and around the world. Despite its name, the Hawaiian pizza is not a traditional dish from Hawaii, but rather a creation born out of culinary experimentation in Canada.

The Most Debated Toppings

While the pizza has its fair share of fans (myself included) who enjoy the contrast between its sweet and salty flavors, it has also sparked debates and controversy. Many pizza purists argue that fruit, particularly pineapple, has no place on a pizza, and they criticize the flavor combination. This has led to ongoing discussions about the appropriateness of pineapple as a pizza topping. Some soccer fans (pictured above) even took their dislike of the toppings to this year’s Women’s World Cup.

RELATED: Las Vegas Pizza Joint Amongst Best In Nation

Regardless of the debates, the pizza remains a popular and recognizable option on many pizzeria menus. Its creation by Sam Panopoulos highlights how culinary innovation and experimentation can lead to the creation of new and unexpected flavor combinations that resonate with people around the world.

Ransom Garcia is the music director and afternoon host on 1079 Coyote Country. He’s been with the station since 2017, but he’s been on the Las Vegas airwaves since 2003. Although he's Vegas Born AND Raised, Ransom also has on-air duties on sister station Kiss 95.1 in Charlotte, NC. He is also set to be inducted into the Nevada Broadcasters Hall of Fame in September of 2024. Ransom writes articles about pop culture, human interests, technology, video games and anything affecting Las Vegas.

Ranked: Best Pizza Places In Las Vegas

Extra pepperoni please… Vegas has delicious pizza and many different kinds. Looking for margarita? We got you covered. Supreme? Check. Classic cheese? Check.

Whether you’re looking for New York, Chicago or Neapolitan style there are plenty of fresh pies to go around. Dedicated pizza connoisseurs will go to war with you on what the best style of pizza is but regardless the taste is still magical with every bite. Pizza is an international delicacy that has been consumed for many years.

The origin of the word “Pizza” is a little unclear but Dictionary.com states many etymologists believe it comes from the ancient German Lombardic word bizzo which means “bite.” Some etymologists think that the word Pizza comes from the Greek word, “Pitta” which has the root word of pita referring to brand bread.

In any case of the meaning, the doughy-saucy goodness is so popular that customers can order it in many different shapes and sizes. The best part is that you can add just about anything to the top of pizzas… Except pineapple. Sorry, not sorry about it.

According to History.com, “the modern birthplace of pizza is southwestern Italy’s Campania region, home to the city of Naples.” That is not to say that the ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians didn’t create their own form of what we know as pizza today.

Pizza possesses many great qualities of convenience and taste. You can find pizza on street corners in New York to upscale restaurants in high-rises with city scape views. Many customers like to pinch it, folding it in half or inside out folding it in half. There is no incorrect way to eat a pizza. Don’t listen to the haters.

Pizza places were ranked based on their Google review star rating. Each business was chosen with more than 200 customer reviews.

Las Vegas may not be the origin place of pizza but with our fellow New Yorker and Chicagoan transplants we have saucy pies ready to eat. Did your favorite Las Vegas local pizza shop make the list? See below.

Listen to Ransom Garcia weekday afternoons from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on 107.9 Coyote Country!

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