Is pineapple on pizza really that bad?

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

The Hard Shoulder, with Ciara Kelly and Shane Colman. On Newstalk, with Ciara.

Ciara Kelly (0:08)

Now, an Italian chef in Brisbane, Australia, denied a request to add pizza, or a pineapple, I should say, to his pizza, to the pizza, calling it an insult to his culture. He was subsequently fired. But what are the worst mistakes we're guilty of when making food and making Italian food in particular? In a moment, we're going to talk to Giuseppe Crupi, editor of Pinocchio Magazine and director of Pinocchio Cookery School in Dublin. But first, Henry McKean was out and about, asking people what they make of pineapple on pizza.

SPEAKER_3 (0:41)

There is lots of different pizza toppings that I do like, but one of the main ones would probably be cheese, pepperoni, any sort of meat, really. Pineapple is okay sometimes. It depends what country you're in. In Ireland, I don't think you should, but if you're away in Spain or something, it's nice, nice refreshing. My favorite pizza topping, probably pineapple.

SPEAKER_1 (0:59)

It's really nice. All the meatballs and all the sausages, it's really nice.

Ciara Kelly (1:03)

Margarita pizza, yeah.

Giuseppe Crupi (1:04)

So just basically cheese and tomato, not to be confused with the cocktail.

Ciara Kelly (1:07)

Oh no, I'll throw in the little cocktail as well.

SPEAKER_3 (1:10)

But no, yeah, plain, very plain.

Ciara Kelly (1:12)

Yeah, I don't like any toppings, nothing.

SPEAKER_1 (1:13)

Pineapple, ham. Is pineapple okay?

Giuseppe Crupi (1:15)

I know the Italians take it very seriously.

Ciara Kelly (1:17)

I like pineapple, but no, I wouldn't have it on a pizza. No, definitely not. No.

SPEAKER_1 (1:22)

Well, pineapple would be the main one.

Giuseppe Crupi (1:23)

So you would be a pineapple man.

Ciara Kelly (1:25)

I would be on a pizza, yeah. Barbecue chicken, yeah. If they're going for a meaty pizza, maybe, that's one of the options.

Giuseppe Crupi (1:30)

Yeah, definitely.

Ciara Kelly (1:31)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, 100 percent.

SPEAKER_3 (1:33)

Pepperoni, I think.

Giuseppe Crupi (1:34)

You're a pepperoni man?

SPEAKER_1 (1:35)

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_3 (1:36)

I'd say sausage man.

Giuseppe Crupi (1:37)

That's probably your GoLoud.

SPEAKER_1 (1:38)

Yeah, that's bagging. Pepperoni all the way.

SPEAKER_3 (1:40)

Pepperoni?

SPEAKER_1 (1:41)

Yeah. And what would you be?

SPEAKER_3 (1:43)

Pepperoni is there.

Giuseppe Crupi (1:44)

What about pineapple?

SPEAKER_3 (1:46)

I'm not against this, but I'd never choose it.

Giuseppe Crupi (1:49)

What is your favorite pizza topping?

SPEAKER_3 (1:50)

Pepperoni. A lot. I like my pizza.

Giuseppe Crupi (1:53)

Pineapple is OK.

Ciara Kelly (1:54)

Yeah, with mushrooms.

SPEAKER_3 (1:55)

With mushrooms.

Ciara Kelly (1:55)

Onions, garlic, mozzarella.

SPEAKER_3 (1:58)

All good.

Ciara Kelly (1:58)

No meat, thank you very much.

SPEAKER_3 (2:00)

All vegetables.

Ciara Kelly (2:01)

Yeah, absolutely. Mm, a surprising number favoring pineapple on pizza. Giuseppe Crupi, editor of Pinocchio Magazine, director of Pinocchio Cookery School and Dublin. Are you despairing when you listen to that?

Giuseppe Crupi (2:15)

No, no, no, no. Life is too short to despair over things like this. But yes, I can see the point there. I can tell you, in general, as Italians, we have no problem with Hawaiian pizza. Simply, we do not respect people who like Hawaiian pizza. That's how I stand on it.

Ciara Kelly (2:34)

You don't respect them.

Giuseppe Crupi (2:37)

We don't respect them. Now, over the years, people did ask me, because I don't know if you're aware of that, but back home, we will make pizza out of everything, like with Nutella and pistachios, even with fish, squid ink. So what's so bad about the poor pineapple?

The truth is, it was not invented by an Italian. So it's perceived as a cultural appropriation, if you like, but it's just good.

Ciara Kelly (3:03)

Cultural misappropriation, I would say more like, yeah?

Giuseppe Crupi (3:05)

Yes, it is.

Ciara Kelly (3:07)

It is.

Giuseppe Crupi (3:07)

It is. It is.

But in this case, for instance, I think that the actual area is quite famous for pineapples. So those pineapples must be very good. And I think there is something else that they are not telling us about the case, because apparently there was some sort of fight between the chef and the owner. So it's not just about the poor pineapple, I guess.

Ciara Kelly (3:31)

Now, we get a lot of things wrong in this country when it comes to Italian food, don't we? I mean, for example, like spaghetti bolognese is actually not a traditional Italian dish.

Giuseppe Crupi (3:44)

Well, it depends, because if you mean that the Bolognese sauce would be a very traditional Italian sauce.

Ciara Kelly (3:51)

Not served with spaghetti in Italy, though, sure it isn't.