“Does pineapple belong on pizza?“ That is one of the most polarizing questions today. People can continue to argue about whether they love or hate the sweet and savory combo, but does anyone bother to ask how it came to be? This article covers when, where, and how Hawaiian pizza was born.

Most people have no idea where Hawaiian pizza originates. Sophomore Lauren Taylor guessed, “Maybe somewhere along the west coast?” Lauren, along with the majority of people, are unaware of the pizza’s beginnings. Despite most people thinking this tropical pizza originated from the Hawaiian Islands, this so-called “Hawaiian Pizza” actually comes from Canada!

The unique style of pizza was created by Sam Panopoulos in Ontario, Canada, at Satellite Restaurant. According to Panopoulos, during the 1960s in Canada, pizza was seen as an “ethnic delight”. Canadians considered it to be a typical Italian-American dish that was rare to find in Canada. Panopoulos admitted in various interviews that he used to frequently cross the border into American territory just to enjoy a cheesy pie. Although he found it so delicious, Panopoulos had yet to add it to his own restaurant’s menu. 

By this time, soldiers from World War II had come home from the South Pacific and were spreading the culture of the Pacific Islands. Inspired by the buzz around diverse food, Panopoulos began to experiment with his menu. He even added Chinese food at one point, in pursuit of attracting customers. His bold attempts to increase business began unsuccessfully, but he continued to experiment. One day, Panopoulos, along with his co-workers, decided to dump a can of pineapple onto a cheese pizza. Upon falling in love with their new creation, the workers decided it needed a spot on the menu. After combining it with ham, Ontario went crazy. 

Hawaiian pizza became all the rage as media outlets began to spread the idea. Today, you can find pineapple on almost any pizza restaurant menu. It has become so well-known that people have gone so far as to argue about it. 

In 2017, world-renowned chef Gordon Ramsay said, “Pineapple does not go on top of pizza.” Many AHS students such as Anvitha Marlapati, 9, disagree. Anvitha exclaims, “Pineapple on pizza for sure!” According to a magazine article from Refinery29, 47% of people surveyed approve of pineapple on pizza, 32% disapprove, and 20% are indifferent. No matter where you stand on this heated debate, the Hawaiian pizza that originated in Canada will forever be recognized as a classic. 

Graphic courtesy of GIFPHY.COM