Norfolk pizzeria charges £100 for Hawaiian pizza to stop customers
- Lupa Pizza in Norwich introduced a £100 Hawaiian pizza on their Deliveroo menu as a means to dissuade customers.
- The restaurant's staff, including co-owner Francis Woolf, voiced strong objections to pineapple as a pizza topping.
- This pricing strategy has incited discussions about the culinary merits and controversies surrounding pineapple on pizza.
In the United Kingdom, specifically Norwich, an upmarket pizzeria named Lupa Pizza has stirred controversy by pricing its Hawaiian pizza at £100. This decision arose after the restaurant received numerous requests from customers wanting to order the divisive pizza, which traditionally includes ham, cheese, and pineapple. The restaurant's team felt passionately against the topping, which they consider a 'tropical menace,' leading to the steep price increase as both a deterrent and a statement about their culinary beliefs. Co-owner Francis Woolf openly expressed his disdain for pineapple on pizza, calling it morally wrong. Hawaiian pizza has long been a contentious topic among pizza lovers, sparking debates globally. Prominent culinary figures such as Stanley Tucci and Gordon Ramsay have condemned the combination, with Tucci labeling it 'repellent' and Ramsay asserting that it doesn't belong on pizza at all. Despite this, there remains a dedicated following for the topping, with fans like TV personality Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson advocating for its inclusion on pizzas. This peculiar pricing strategy by Lupa Pizza not only reflects the restaurant's strong stance against a widely criticized topping but also illustrates the cultural dichotomy surrounding pineapple on pizza. While the dish has its critics, it was not originally created in Italy or Hawaii but is believed to be inspired by Greek immigrant Sam Panopoulos in Canada. In 1962, he experimented with canned pineapple and ham on pizza, leading to its branding as 'Hawaiian.' The opposing views on this culinary choice highlight the evolving tastes and preferences that define international dishes today. The pizzeria's decision to sell Hawaiian pizzas at such an exorbitant price has sparked discussions in the community and beyond. Some see it as a clever marketing tactic while others view it as an exaggerated distaste for a popular topping. Lupa Pizza's actions have succeeded in bringing attention to the ongoing debate about pineapple on pizza, capturing both the ire and humor of pizza aficionados everywhere.