The 74th session of the United States General Assembly gets underway this week in New York City. There, leaders from around the globe will convene to hash out the world’s most pressing issues.
There will be ample coverage of the events from the CNNs and the MSNBCs of the world, but this is the only #UNGA74 preview you really need to read. This is The Sauce’s rundown of the most unique pizzas from around the world:
Sweden – Banana Curry Pizza
Known as the “Africana” pizza in Sweden, this pie is a national favorite for its distinct and bold flavors. Recipes vary, but the Africana often includes:
- Meat, usually ham or chicken
- Bananas
- Curry powder
- Peanuts
- Raisins
Sounds like a pretty out-of-the-cardboard-box pizza, right? Well, actually, this pie is found under the “Classic” section of pizzeria menus in Landet Lagom.
The Africana pie shouldn’t feel all that foreign to Americans. In essence, it draws from the same principles as the Hawaiian pie by pairing sweet fruit and ham.
Finland – Pizza Berlusconi
The UN aims for peace and harmony but, sometimes, things get heated between different nations. Unfortunately, in 2005, Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi sparked an ugly international incident when he took a jab at Finnish cuisine.
After the European Food Safety Authority held its annual meeting in Parma, Berlusconi said he was happy the event was in Italy – rather than Finland – so that he did not have to “endure” Finnish cuisine.
“There is absolutely no comparison between culatello (a slightly smoky specialty ham) from Parma and smoked reindeer,” Berlusconi said.
Finland did not take this insult lightly. Kotipizza, the largest pizza chain in the Nordic region, later launched the Pizza Berlusconi, a rye pizza topped with smoked reindeer, mushrooms, and red onions.
What originally started as a humorous dig and clever PR stunt eventually became a staple of Finnish pizzeria menus everywhere. As it turns out, pizzas with reindeer, mushrooms, and onions are delicious.
Japan – Squid Ink Pizza
Squid ink is one of nature’s greatest food coloring agents. In Japan, pizzerias use it to give their pies a bit of briny flavor and a whole lot of jet black flare.
When blended with tomato sauce, the saltiness of the ink is offset by the sweetness of the tomatoes and the flavors of the other ingredients on the pizza. The end result is a pie that is delicious, memorable, and highly Instagrammable.
Brazil – Tuna Pizza
Anchovies, shrimp, squid, octopus, and other ocean treasures are widely beloved pizza toppings. So, why not raw tuna?
Brazil’s Pizza de Atum combines raw grated tuna with tomato sauce, mozzarella, chopped onions, and melted butter to create one of the globe’s most unusually delicious pizzas.
United States – St. Louis Style Pizza
With the aid of melty Provel cheese, St. Louis-style pizza is one of the gooiest pie styles you’ll ever find.
What is Provel cheese, you might ask? Well, it’s said to be a mashup of provolone, Swiss, and cheddar cheeses, though it has a unique flavor that doesn’t really fit into any of those categories. The cheese is spread across a cracker-like ultra-thin crust, creating a pie that some liken more to nachos than a typical pizza.
With so many inventive pizzas on this planet of ours, there will be lots for the world’s foremost leaders to discuss at the UN.
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