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It’s a pizza question for the ages: pineapple, yes or no? According to Postmedia’s great Canadian pizza poll, it’s a resounding “Yes!” with 68 per cent of responses. As for the country’s greatest pizza invention, it may come as no surprise that Hawaiian pizza took the crown (40 per cent), followed by Windsor pizza (34 per cent).
As universally loved as pizza is, Hawaiian seems widely despised — but not by our readers. During Paris 2024, fans used it as an insult over the outcome of the Italian-Hong Kong fencing final. It’s even sparked international incidents, prompting some high-profile Canadians to come to its defence. “I have a pineapple. I have a pizza. And I stand behind this delicious Southwestern Ontario creation. #TeamPineapple,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted in response to the president of Iceland’s sleight in 2017.
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As I learned during my summer pizza project, there’s something special happening in Ontario’s Essex County. Greek immigrant Sotirios “Sam” Panopoulos invented Canada’s most controversial addition to the global pizza canon at Satellite, the Chatham restaurant he owned with his brothers, in 1962. According to local legend in Windsor, it all kicked off in 1957 at Volcano, an Italian diner run by cousins Gino Manza and Frank Gualtieri.
Today, our readers consider Windsor the country’s top pizza destination, followed by Regina, Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton. The Southwestern Ontario city has the most pizzerias per capita and, as our poll and research on Reddit showed, some of Canada’s most passionate pizza fans.
As Reddit user zuuzuu, a non-native Windsorite, put it, “Even though I’m not a die-hard convert, I love that Windsor-style is so beloved here. I love that Windsor-style includes a dedication to using one particular local brand of cheese (Galati). You sure can’t deny that Windsor is passionate about pizza, and supporting local pizzerias. And that’s just wonderful in itself.”
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Another Reddit user, Comprehensive-Swan-3, noted, “I personally think what makes Windsor pizza unique is it evokes a passion and connection within the community that is hard to find sometimes in Windsor. We all agree on it, and will stand up for it. Defend it. It shows how loud our voice can be together.”
According to our poll, Antonino’s Original Pizza is the top Windsor pizzeria, followed by Capri, Naples, Armando’s and Arcata. The Super is Windsor’s most popular pie, topped with shredded pepperoni, bacon, canned mushrooms and green peppers on a medium-thin, cornmeal-dusted crust and locally made mozzarella from Galati Cheese. However, according to the Windsorites who weighed in, the best way to understand it isn’t with words — but to experience it yourself.
“Because they are all just a little bit different. Armandos, Antoninos, Capri, Naples, Bullseye, etc each have their own very dedicated fan base that will go to their grave saying their pizza place is the best. The best part for me is the shredded pepperoni as you get pepperoni in every bite,” said mustardtiger_14.
Farren246 responded: “I’ll go to my grave saying they’re all the best and refusing to commit to one at the expense of the others.”
Pizza road trip to Windsor, anyone?
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