Amongst all of the pizza toppings, none sparks more debate than pineapple. Its sweet, slightly tangy flavor adds an interesting note to accompany the melty cheese and rich tomato sauce of traditional pizza, but not everyone agrees with the addition. So, where did the concept of pineapple pizza come from, and how did it become so popular?
The History of Hawaiian Pizza
Hawaiian pizza is made using a traditional cheese pizza base with the addition of pineapple chunks and ham on top. There are a few different stories as to how the idea came to be, but one man claims to have started this culinary craze all on his own: Sam Panapoulos. After moving from Greece to Canada in the early 1960s, Panapoulos was aiming to gain more visitors to his restaurant by revealing something so unusual on the menu that customers would have to try out for themselves. Thus, the pineapple was added to his infamous pies, and Hawaiian pizza was born.
At first, this sweet yet savory pizza creation was only served at Panapoulos’ establishment, Satellite Restaurant. However, the buzz surrounding Hawaiian pizza soon began to extend far beyond Canada’s border, with other countries trying out this new sensation for themselves. Pretty soon, pineapple slices were popping up on menus around the world, deepening the culinary divide.
To this day, adding pineapple to pizza is still a hot topic of debate. For those who like to indulge in the sweetness of pineapple on their pizzas, we have just the pie for you here at Northlake Tavern. Give our Maui Pizza a try: Real Canadian bacon sprinkled on top of a freshly baked cheese pizza, complete with Hawaiian pineapple, mushrooms, and green pepper. Or, try out our build your own pizza option on the menu to add any number of toppings that you’d like, including Hawaiian pineapple.
We are now proudly open again for dine-in at Northlake Tavern in Seattle, Washington! Our staff is working diligently to ensure a safe and healthy experience for our customers and employees alike. Come by today to enjoy a pizza fresh out of the oven in-house, or place an order for takeout or delivery. For takeout, we offer either a baked or unbaked version, so that you can have the freshest, hottest pizza whenever you choose to eat. Stop by or make an order for takeout today!
