$120 for Pineapple Pizza Topping. Image: CNN News Source
The debate over whether pineapple belongs on pizza has been one of the most controversial topics in food history, and now, a pizzeria in Norwich, England, has taken the debate to a whole new level. The restaurant, Lupa Pizza, has added a pineapple topping to its menu, but at a price that has caught everyone's attention—£100, roughly $122.
The story of pineapple on pizza began back in the 1960s when Canadian chef Sam Panapoulos and his brother, who was also his business partner, created the Hawaiian pizza. Their decision to add tinned pineapple to a ham pizza was seen as a major break from Italian tradition, and it sparked a food debate that continues to divide people even decades later. Some love the combination of sweet and savory, while others consider it an offense to pizza traditions.
Now, Lupa Pizza has made a bold move by offering a pineapple topping at a hefty price. The pizza sits alongside more traditional options on the restaurant's menu, such as Napoli, Meatball, and Pepperoni, which are all priced at $17 or less. For those willing to pay the premium for pineapple, the menu listing offers a playful tone: “Yeah, for £100 you can have it. Order the champagne too! Go on you Monster!”
While it may seem like an extravagant price for a topping, it’s not the most expensive pineapple-related item to hit the market in the past year. In California, a rare red-hued pineapple variant was priced at $395.99 last May, far exceeding the cost of a can of tinned pineapple from a UK supermarket.
Despite the bold price, Lupa Pizza has yet to receive any orders for the £100 pineapple pizza. Head chef Quin Jianoran admits the online reaction has been overwhelming, with many expressing strong opinions about the pineapple debate. The restaurant has also promised to offer pineapple as a monthly special if a local poll on whether pineapple should belong on pizza tips in its favor.
Currently, pineapple is leading the poll with 62% of the votes in its favor. If the pineapple topping makes it to the restaurant’s brick-and-mortar location, the final price might be adjusted. Chef Jianoran joked, “My views might change! It could be £200, it could be £2, who knows.”
The pineapple-on-pizza debate has stirred up more than just passionate foodies. It even sparked a political discussion in 2017 when Iceland's president had to clarify that he wouldn’t be banning pineapple pizza after his personal dislike for it went viral.
While Chef Jianoran is not a fan of pineapple on pizza, he prefers more traditional toppings. However, he mentions that New York-style pizza has no limits when it comes to toppings, and that's his favorite style of pizza.
Despite the ongoing debate, the pineapple topping trend has continued to gain traction. Even Naples, Italy—the pizza capital of the world—saw pizza master Gino Sorbillo add a controversial "ananas" pizza to his menu to combat food prejudice. Whether or not pineapple will become a permanent fixture on Lupa Pizza's menu remains to be seen.
