Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE GREEK IMMIGRANT who created one of the world’s most popular and controversial pizzas – Hawaiian pizza – in his restaurant in Canada more than 50 years ago, has died.
Sam Panopoulos – who earned a place in history by putting canned pineapple and ham on a pizza at his Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario in 1962 – was 83 and had just celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary with his wife Christina.
He died suddenly in the hospital on Thursday, according to his obituary.
Panopoulos had operated a string of successful restaurants with his brothers Elias and Nikitas when he came up with his famous invention.
Created just for fun, the so-called Hawaiian soon spread around the world.
Last February, the dish became the target of ridicule by Iceland’s president, Guoni Johannesson.
Saying he was fundamentally opposed to pineapple on pizza, Johannesson declared that it should be banned.
After a public uproar, he clarified that he gladly does not have “the power to make laws which forbid people to put pineapple on their pizza”.
Defending his creation, Panopoulos told the public broadcaster CBC that “those days when I first came up with it, there was nothing to it… It was just another piece of bread cooking in the oven”.
“Nobody liked it at first,” he said.
But after that, they went crazy about it, because (in) those days nobody was mixing sweet and sour and all that. It was plain, plain food.
Others soon began experimenting, Panopoulos said, going beyond the traditional pepperoni, bacon and mushroom toppings to include salmon, green peppers, onions or “whatever you wanted”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
My favourite pizza.
And nobody can downthumb me now mwahahahahaha!
@Angelic Lestat:
You evil genius
@Angelic Lestat: agreed.. seems so wrong but tastes so good.
@Angelic Lestat: If Muslims run your source for pizza, chances are you are being sneaked dyed formed turkey to look like ham with your pineapple. They won’t serve pork etc because it is against their religion but have no respect for your religious beliefs. Sorry to break so many hearts but it is common practice across non muslim countries. I think everyone should know about the con that is being forced on us.
Um 19 so far Angelic…
@Steve; I just made it 21 muhaha
He was a Goodfella
I always wondered who first thought that pineapple would be good on a pizza.
What a weirdo
He topped himself
A Greek guy modifies an Italian food, in Canada… and it’s called a hawaiian.. makes sense
@Matty Killucan: Actually I think pizza is originally Greek… my bad
@Matty Killucan: actually both pizza and pasta were first invented in China. Marco Polo brought it back to Italy from his travels. In a way he was the world’s first pizza delivery guy
Ah, the ignorance of those who criticise someone for putting pineapple on a pizza…yet never quite grasped that the tomato was also a fruit which never appeared in traditional Italian cuisine until someone brought it over from the Americas…
@Harry Whitehead: but it’s no about the fact that it’s a fruit…It’s about how bad it tastes and it’s just wrong. Tomato sauce tastes great on pizza and it fits, that’s just why you don’t hear people complaining
@Negan: philistine!
@Negan: I don’t like tomato purée, yet I love tomatoes. I request no purée on my pizzas!
@Lily: I’d say you’re great craic at parties
@Bingobango: How well you know me! I’m a happy introvert who doesn’t like parties or crowds :)
And may he rest in peace knowing he created tasty heaven!
Ham pineapplous!! What a name!!
@Andy Byrne: Very clever :)
May he rest in pizz-a.
A vile combination
The margarita is the only true pizza according to the Italian gurus
@Quentin Moriarty: as a fussy shite I agree
@Quentin Moriarty: sure what would the Italians know about pizza toppings
@Jamie: they named a leaning tower after it they must know something
@Quentin Moriarty: that’s the leaning tower of Pisa not pizza
Probably in hell now for his crime against humanity
@Michael O Connell: Manning the pizza oven which produces nothing but ham and pineapple pizza to torment the damned for all eternity. Dantes seldom mentioned but much feared 10th circle of hell… for Dominos and 4 Star Pizza franchisees…..
Where was he based?
More details are emerging about his death, when police searched his home they found his body on the kitchen floor, it was covered in what they believe was a mixture of tomato sauce and grated cheese, first impressions are that he topped himself
A lot of death in the first few articles. Think I’ll watch a comedy :)
Hope he didn’t top himself!!
Leo will be devastated, his first job as leader is to attend the funeral and pay his respects.
have your say