Succulent pineapples became synonymous with gracious hospitality in colonial America. Sea captains who sailed the Caribbean would spear a pineapple on a fencepost outside their home to signal their safe return and welcome friends to come eat, drink and be merry.
According to a 2017 poll by Public Polling, the United States is a nation divided over whether or not pineapple is an acceptable pizza topping, with 47% of Americans approving, 32% disapproving, and 20% undecided.
Cecile and I are taking this opportunity to confess once and for all—on this pineapple chair—that we like pineapple topping on our pizza, a virtual taboo to some celebrities like Gordon Ramsay, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stanley Tucci. My Italian family and friends on the East Coast would probably take issue with adding pineapple on my pizza too. On the other hand Dwayne Johnson does eat pizza with pineapple, and I would venture that he has our back:-)
As to what country first put pineapple on pizza? It was in Canada in 1962 by a Greek immigrant called Sam Panopoulos, who along with his brother owned a restaurant in the province of Ontario.
