I rarely post breaking news on here. But I could not resist writing this one, even though itās 2:30am 3:30am 4:20am where I am.
The big news? Pineapple pizza has finally arrived in Italy. And not just anywhere, but in Napoli at the famous Sorbillo.
In the video, Gino Sorbillo announces that while heās connected to tradition, he also wants to try something new. Then he (rather oddly) cuts a pineapple round from the center of the pizza, takes a bite, and makes a āyum, this is so good!ā face.
I love that this news is breaking about a day after USMNT and Juventus player made headlines in Italy for suggesting that Italians could be more open-minded about food.
There are English translations on the McKennie video above, but his main point is that Italians are too afraid of innovation when it comes to food. He cites a pretty poor example of pesto pasta with tomato and chicken as something that Italians tell him is disgusting (schifosa). Yeah ok, itās not a real Italian dish but itās not uncommon in the rest of the world.
Look, I know itās not some culinary feat to put pineapple on pizza or even try a bite of it. But the outrage over pizza con ananas feels like performative nonsense after a while. You say itās disgusting but you wonāt even try it? Are you a toddler?
Whatās weird to me is how Italians prize innovation in so many areas, like architecture, design, fashion, but āCucina Italiana non si tocca!ā Really?
McKennie and Sorbilloāa Juventino and a Napolitanoāare in agreement and it makes me giddy because I feel the same way.
Italyās culinary traditions are wonderful, of course. Nobody is suggesting changing them. But getting upset because pineapple is not an āindigenousā ingredient or because fruit doesnāt belong on pizza makes little sense when you remember that tomatoes (fruit) arenāt indigenous either.
Sorbillo says pizza bianca con ananas will be on the menu in Naples. Itās an āoutrage marketingā gimmick, for sure. But Iām curious to see what happens.
Buon anno nuovo! ššššš
The Canadians should have gotten UNESCO protection for their pineapple pizzas when they had the chance.