Celebrating the Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge 2024
It’s the age old question … does pineapple belong on a pizza? 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. Whatever your personal preference, one thing is clear – South Africans love their pizzas.
Pineapple !!! Yuk!!!
According to a 2023 GlobalData report, restaurants featuring pizza on their menu constitute a 20% share among all restaurant types 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.
Love olives and wine
It’s no wonder then that the annual Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge stirs up so much passion, emotion and excitement. 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.
Yummy–mix it up
In a nationwide challenge, restaurants 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.
Go for it folks!
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!
Kiwi fruit pizza anyone?
And that’s the beauty of a pizza; tastes differ vastly. One person’s most favourite is another person’s most awful, but we can all sit down around a table in our local pizzeria and enjoy good wine, good company and great pizzas together!
For more information on the Porcupine Ridge Pizzeria Challenge, visit https://votepizza.wine/.