Canadian food DYK: The not-so-tropical beginnings of Hawaiian pizza

Love it or hate it, Hawaiian pizza is a Canadian creation

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Sorry to break it to you Hawaii, but the infamous and highly debated Hawaiian pizza was in fact not invented in the land of aloha, but rather, in the small town called Chatham, Ontario. With its tropical name and flair of pineapples, the confusion is understandable. The late Greek-Canadian Sam Panopoulous was the alleged brain-child behind the polarizing ham and pineapple combo that seems to garner as many avid fans as harsh critics, first serving the dish at Satellite Restaurant in the 1960s in an attempt to attract new customers.

Well, the tactic certainly worked. Today, the controversial pizza is a staple on menus across the globe, and has even become the most popular type of pizza in Australia. Our Commonwealth pals down under have good taste buds!