Regarding pineapple on pizza, there is no sign yet of an escalation.
How does victory taste? Like pineapple on pizza, according to Hong Kong. Following its win over Italy in the men’s foil final at the Paris Olympics, a food fight ensued. Italy, which has long dominated fencing at the Olympics, took its defeat poorly, registering an official complaint against the refereeing in the gold medal bout. The Chinese territory retaliated by hitting out at Italy’s proud culinary tradition. Hong Kongers boasted about enjoying pizza with pineapple and pasta with soy sauce, while the Hong Kong and Macau branches of Pizza Hut celebrated by offering free pineapple toppings. Touché, as they say in fencing.
That outraged sentiment has been expressed in culinary terms is not surprising considering that of all possible insults, the ones that can pierce through the thickest skins are often based on food. Sometimes, as in the case of fans of West Bengal’s rival football teams, Mohun Bagan — who swear by their prawns — and East Bengal — who consider the hilsa to be far superior — food is a harmless expression of difference. Occasionally, though, contestations over food can escalate into international legal wrangles, like Greece’s lawsuit in the European Court staking sole claim to feta.
Regarding pineapple on pizza, there is no sign yet of an escalation. With even Gino Sobrillo, one of Italy’s best known pizzaiolos, embracing the fruit as a topping, Italians may feel that the conversation around pizza moved on long ago. Or it could be that there is a growing acceptance of pizza as a global food, not just a part of Italian heritage. In any case, even a slice of pineapple pizza is sure to taste better than the loss of a gold medal.
