Who Invented Hawaiian Pizza? Pineapple on Pizza, Explained

Nova, our AI presenter, tells the story in the video. This page keeps the same neutral stance.

The short version

Hawaiian pizza is not from Hawaii. It is credited to Sam Panopoulos, a Greek-born cook who ran the Satellite restaurant in Chatham, Ontario, with his brothers. In 1962 he put canned pineapple and ham on a pizza. He said he wanted the sweet-and-sour mix that was popular in Chinese-style dishes at the time. "Credited" matters here: NBC News calls him the alleged inventor, and some people dispute the claim.

Why it became a fight

In February 2017, Iceland's president, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, joked at a school visit that he would ban pineapple on pizza if he could. He then posted that he has no such power, likes pineapple, "just not on pizza", and suggested seafood. The story travelled worldwide.

Each side's best case

• Team Yes: sweet pineapple against salty ham and cheese is a contrast, and food scientists note that pineapple's acid differs from tomato's, so flavours contrast rather than clash.
• Team No: pineapple sits outside the Naples pizza tradition, and Italian pizza makers have said so.

The twist

In December 2023, Gino Sorbillo, a well-known Naples pizza maker, put a pineapple pizza on his menu. It was a white pizza with cooked pineapple, and it caused a row in Italy. He said people should taste it before judging.

What facts settle

Facts settle where it came from: a Canadian restaurant, credited to one cook, in 1962. Whether it belongs on a pizza is taste and tradition, and that part is up to you. Pineapple: yes or no?

Sources

• NBC News (2017), Alleged inventor of "Hawaiian" pizza dies in Canada
• The Globe and Mail (2017), Canadian Sam Panopoulos created the Hawaiian pizza
• Canada's History, Profane Pizza?
• Atlas Obscura, Hawaiian pizza origin
• Global News (2017), Iceland president and pineapple pizza
• VOA Learning English (2017), Iceland's president suggests banning pineapple on pizza
• PMQ Pizza Magazine, What scientists say about pineapple on pizza
• Science Meets Food, The science behind food pairings
• ANSA (2023), Famed Naples pizza maker adds pineapple, spurring row
• CBC (2024), Pineapple pizza is dividing Naples

Nova is an AI-generated presenter with an AI-generated voice. Not affiliated with any restaurant or brand.