Does pineapple belong to pizza or not? In the kaleidoscopic world of pizza toppings, options stretch far beyond the ordinary. What about rhubarb or Brussels sprouts or even kiwi fruit?

In Costa Rica it’s not unusual to order a pizza sprinkled with shaved coconut and a favourite in Sweden, so they say, is a banana curry pizza which is topped with peanuts, bananas, chicken, pineapple and lots of curry powder or Ed Sheeran’s unconventional choice: hot slap chips and lashings of tomato sauce.

Apparently, even rockstars can have quirky tastes.

But regardless of your topping preference, South Africa’s love for pizza is as undeniable as its passion for rugby.

According to a 2023 GlobalData report, pizza is a whopping 20% of all restaurant menus in South Africa and Uber Eats reveals it is the most widely ordered and delivered food choice.

The top seven pizza chains in the country have a combined 1,240 stores across the country, leaving little doubt that the Italian fast food is indeed a firm favourite amongst South Africans appealing to young and old alike

Enter the Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge. Now in its fourth year, the contest asks pizza-loving South Africans to vote for their favourite pizzeria, which in turn entices those eateries taking part to fire up their ovens and serve the perfect pizzas to their loyal patrons.

From Ballito to Bloemfontein and from Paarl to Potchefstroom and all the others in between will be battling it out for the next six weeks to win the most votes and be crowned the country’s favourite pizzeria.

A YouGov survey, released in April 2023, reveals that America’s favourite pizza topping is pepperoni, with 24% listing it as their number one choice. Sausage is a distant second (13%), followed by extra cheese (11%), mushrooms (9%), and chicken (6%). Least favourite is anchovies with 29% saying it’s a no no.

When it comes to South Africans, it seems they fancy pizzas with salami, ham, mushrooms, pineapple and, what could be unique to local menus and palates, the ubiquitous bacon, feta and avo combination.

Toni’s Fully Furnished Pizza Co in Pretoria shared, “Our customers are split between our pesto pizza, lamb pizza, and the classic Hawaiian on a thin, crispy base. Capers and veggies don’t quite hit the mark for us.”

Meanwhile, at Dino’s Trattoria in Sandton, salami reigns supreme, while artichokes are a rare sight. Enrico from Caraffa in Pretoria noted, “We’re seeing a surge in orders for pork and avocado, but mushrooms aren’t as popular.”

Celebrity pizza preferences offer a fun peek into the tastes of the rich and famous.

Selena Gomez opts for jalapeños and mushrooms, while Beyoncé likes her pizza with jalapeños and extra tomato sauce.

Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner, Khloe Kardashian, and Gordon Ramsay all gravitate toward the simplicity of a Margherita, but Jamie Oliver gets adventurous with sausage, onion, pine nuts, and grapes on his creations.

Locally, South African celebrity chef Jenny Morris, aka the Giggling Gourmet, loves her pizza with mushrooms, chili, a drizzle of olive oil, and a dusting of Parmesan.

“Bananas and cooked avocado should be banned from pizzas,” she insisted.

IOL