Hawaiian pizza is the contentious pineapple-and-ham pizza invented in Chatham, Ontario in 1962. Toronto chains like Pizzaiolo and the city's pizzerias claim it as a Canadian original.
Where to eat it: 3 restaurants across 1 city.
Hawaiian pizza was invented in 1962 by Sam Panopoulos at the Satellite Restaurant in Chatham, Ontario, two hours west of Toronto. Panopoulos, a Greek immigrant who emigrated to Canada in 1954, added canned Dole pineapple to a ham-and-cheese pizza on a whim and named it Hawaiian after the brand on the can. The combination remains divisive; Toronto's reference Italian-Canadian pizzerias still carry it as a hat tip to the Canadian original.
Common allergens: Gluten, Dairy
Tip from the editors. Fresh pineapple is sweeter and less aggressive than canned; if using canned, drain and pat dry to prevent sogginess. Sam Panopoulos used canned Dole.
Pizzeria Libretto on the Danforth is the AVPN-certified Neapolitan pie chain since 2009, the Margherita with San Marzano DOP and fior di latte.
Signature: Margherita pizza, Verace Pizza Napoletana certified pies
Order: The Margherita pie or the Funghi with mushrooms and pecorino.
Tip: Walk-ins easier weeknights. Sister University, Yonge and Etobicoke locations carry the same pizza; the Ossington original is now Bar Libretto, late-night pivot.
Pizzeria Libretto University on University Avenue is the downtown business-lunch branch of the AVPN-certified Neapolitan chain, vegan and gluten-free pizzas.
Signature: Margherita, Vegan and gluten-free pies
Order: The Margherita or the Diavola with hot calabrese salami.
Tip: Lunch the easier walk-in. The downtown crowd thins after 14:00.
Bitondo Pizzeria on Clinton Street has run a Little Italy storefront since 1960, panzerotti and meatball sandwiches with hot sauce and sweet peppers.
Signature: Panzerotti, Meatball sandwich
Order: The panzerotti, folded over and fried with mozzarella and tomato.
Tip: Cash only. Closed Sundays and Mondays. The tiny room seats six; most customers eat on the curb.
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