Business
10 Pizza Hut Items You Can’t Get in America (Part 2)
There are so many types of Pizza Hut items offered worldwide, and it would be impossible to list them all. It’s almost an injustice to only list just a few, because they’re all so original. Some are very similar to the ones in America, and some are definitely a little bit weirder. Here is a list of another 10 Pizza Hut items you can’t get in America.
10. Hot Dog Bites Pizza
Japan, Finland and the United Arab Emirates all sell a variation of the Hot Dog Bites Pizza. Finland’s Hot Dog Bites Pizza is toned down compared to the Japanese version of this proverbial favorite. Finland’s version comes minus the Tempura shrimp, mayonnaise, wasabi, potato, and pineapple chunks. Which frankly, sounds like a better choice because of its simplicity. Pizza Hut first started stuffing their crust with mozzarella cheese, and soon the idea caught on everywhere and a whole new evolution of pizza crusts ensued. Pizza Hut Finland got the Hot Dog Bite Pizza first, where 28 mini hot dogs were built into and wrapped around the crust like pigs in a blanket. It also comes with one topping, but most choose pepperoni. Visually interesting and appealing, it resembles a crown, like the Crown Crust Pizza, except it’s even better. The hot dogs are perfectly cooked, so you are not getting a raw, semi cooked meaty mess, and it is also better tasting than the Crown Crust Pizza. The best thing about this pizza is you can rip off the jewels and bite into them before biting into the pizza, or save them for last! In 2015, after popular demand, Pizza Hut USA brought this specialty to the US market. It was for a limited run but you never know if may come around once again.
9. Escargot and Pizza
We find this weird mix in China, the land of some strange food combinations. Escargot, if you don’t already know, is the French word for snails. Often served as an hors d’oeuvre or appetizer, one would assume that you could find this delicacy mainly in fine Parisian eateries or maybe at a restaurant in Portugal or Spain, as these countries are also big consumers of the little creatures. One place you will definitely never find them is on the menu at your local Pizza Hut. Unless you are in China, where you can order escargot as a side dish with your favorite shrimp pizza. Chinese consumers are the most flexible and almost non-judgmental when it comes to where they get their food. Pizza Hut China’s menu options are extensive and extravagant across most locations throughout the country. You will definitely see items on the menu listed here that you would never even imagine could exist back home. You can order a simple, traditional pizza and keep it classic, or opt for some escargots and a glass of wine.
8. Madu Padu Pizza
Madu Padu is an organic honey from Indonesia. It’s very popular and frequently used for many sweet desserts made in neighboring countries. Madu Padu Pizza is the catchy name for this sweet pizza specialty found at Pizza Hut in Malaysia and Indonesia. This pizza consists of chicken pieces, diced cheddar cheese, topped with crispy tortilla chips and drizzled with this special organic honey. A weird combination for the American palate: a sweet pizza with cheddar cheese and chicken? The pairing doesn’t exactly win a prize for flavor combo on this side of the planet. This would probably be considered more of a dessert pizza given its sweetness. We have to give it kudos for originality. And who are we to judge? We love our dessert pizza smothered with Nutella. We can always use the honey as a dipping sauce for pizza sticks. The Tortilla chips addition is not a new thing to the US market either, but drizzled with honey? Salsa maybe! Seems like the biggest complaint about this pizza is that the diced cheese looks like blocks of cheddar cheese placed sporadically on the pizza, not an issue with the sweetness.
7. Chicken Tom Yum Pizza
Yes, tom yum is usually a type of soup, so… a soup on top of a pizza, how is that even possible? It turns out it’s actually pretty easy, since this version is not a soup at all. Tom Yum is a flavor notorious for being spicy, sour and tart at the same time. The soup served at many traditional Thai and Asian restaurants is delicious. Commonly made with lemongrass, ginger, kaffir, lime, fish sauce, chili paste and lots of vegetables, the flavor is very distinct, and pairing it with anything else is questionable. If the Chicken Tom Yum Pizza has all the flavors, plus cheese and chicken, it leaves us to wonder how it can truly be authentic. The flavor combination is odd and not usually associated with pizza. But Pizza Hut’s Chicken Tom Yum Pizza has become very popular since it launched in Japan. Other fast food outlets have also jumped on this bandwagon. Dominos Pizza, Pizza Hut’s main competitor, is doing the same thing. But it also adds prawns, eggplant, spinach and mushrooms to their Tom Yum Pizza. Hmm… There are a lot of interesting pizza combinations, depending on the country you’re traveling through.
6. Crayfish Pizza
We have established that the Japanese are big seafood lovers. Much of their cuisine consists of one or more seafood delicacies. This is also true of many other Asian nations that have an abundance of fish in their waters, and Pizza Hut in Hong Kong is no exception. Heavy on the seafood options, like prawns, crayfish and shrimp, the menu can be slightly overwhelming for anyone who thinks that putting pineapple on a pizza is going too far. While they may seem a little similar, crayfish are bigger than shrimp and prawns, their structure is different and so is their flavor. Often called the foie gras of the sea, basically they are small freshwater lobsters, prized for their creamy texture and intense lobster flavor. This all sounds great if you’re offered crayfish at a Red Lobster, but there’s something unsettling about offering a pizza topped with crayfish or other seafood along with the regular toppings. Common in the Asian market, seafood pizza is loved and gobbled up like it’s going out of style. In China, many line up around the block to buy crayfish by the pound at their local eateries. This pizza trend is very popular with millennials who have large appetites for new things and who quickly spread the word via food websites and social media. The Pizza dubbed the “Crayfish Seafood Deluxe” mashes together crayfish, scallops, shrimp, clams, cherry tomatoes, peppers, red onions, and Thousand Island sauce. Maybe crayfish pizza will catch on elsewhere but don’t hold your breath waiting to get a slice at any American Pizza Hut restaurant.
5. Flying Fish Roe, Salmon & Cream Cheese Stuffed Pizza
Pizza Hut has become somewhat of a legend when it comes to the stuffed crust pizza as they were one of the first chains to offer it to the masses. In Japan, fish roe is very popular and is commonly used in sushi. Similar to caviar, this variety of fish roe is considered less salty. Fish roe, for those who may not know are the eggs found in certain types of fish, like sturgeon and salmon. The eggs must be cured or salted to eventually become caviar. Pizza Hut Hong Kong has created the Flying Fish Roe, Salmon and Cream Cheese Stuffed Crust Pizza for their local market. The pizza crust is stuffed with salmon, cream cheese and fish roe, then topped with one of two seafood options. Sounds good, but the thought of mixing fish eggs, cream cheese in a dough crust is enough to make anyone queasy. The combo of seafood and cheese can be delicious on its own, we often have both on bagels, but on pizza with cheese and other fish or seafood items? This sounds like it could make for a funky and smelly experience. Smoky, fishy, and overly-salty pizza is not for the faint of heart nor for those with an aversion to fishy flavors and odors. Hong Kong may take the cake for the most unique combination of flavors in a crust; this fish roe stuffed crust is offered with several menu items at Pizza Hut locations in Hong Kong. Though, we definitely gotta try it before we knock it.
4. Thousand Island Seafood Pizza
This is another weird pizza concoction that comes out of Hong Kong. The biggest question about this creation is why put salad dressing on pizza when there are much better alternatives for toppings. Furthermore, Thousand Island dressing is an American Classic, originally created by mixing ketchup, mayo, relish, Worcestershire sauce and boiled egg. Aside from the long-standing dispute about who actually invented it, this salad dressing belongs on salad. So how did Asia fall so in love with this favorite staple that it became acceptable to smear Thousand Island dressing on everything? One thing is for sure, it must have something to do with a love for Mayonnaise. This dressing is regularly offered on almost all of the pizzas that are topped with seafood. I guess it would go better than a spicy tomato pizza sauce. We get that seafood is big in Hong Kong, but the mixture of the mayonnaise-based dressing combined with the cheese and seafood seems like a recipe for an upset stomach if you’re a Westerner. The combination of the thick creamy dressing and cheese is not something we are accustomed to especially on pizza, but we have to give Pizza Hut points for adapting to the local masses.
3. Durian Pizza
There is a long standing debate about putting fruit on pizza. The Hawaiian Pizza is the perfect example of stirring up controversy among true pizza aficionados, but it is a common thing these days in most countries. Durian Pizza is a new one and particular to Pizza Hut in China. Durian is a controversial fruit that is popular in various Asian countries. Many people dislike Durian because of its bad smell. If you’ve smelled a Durian fruit, you will never forget the stench. It’s a cross between rotting garbage, onions, dirty socks and turpentine. Even with the husk intact, the notorious fruit has such a potent stench that it has been banned on the Singapore Rapid Mass Transit System. It also comes with health warnings and concerns, as eating durian fruit might cause stomach discomfort, gas, diarrhea, vomiting, or allergic reactions and shortness of breath in some people. However, there are enough fans of durian to make it quite popular in China. Does stinky fruit really have a place as a topping on a delicious pizza? Everyone has an opinion on this one. Love it or hate it, you won’t find in the US. The smell alone is a major turn off for many. Most of all the reviews of the Durian pizza were overwhelmingly negative. People already get annoyed at pineapple on pizza; this takes the fruit option to a whole other level.
2. Mac N Cheese Pizza – Germany
Germany is home to the next Pizza Hut concoction. It’s a combination of two of America’s most beloved comfort foods: Mac’n Cheese and Pizza. Pizza Hut decided it would be a good idea to combine these two favorites. Both foods are hugely popular with many people, no matter what country you live in. The only real issue that some may have is the cheese-overload quota. Pizza on its own already contains lots of cheese as its main ingredient; top it with macaroni and even more cheese and this would be a lactose intolerant person’s nightmare. For others with dietary restrictions, loading up on double the carbs would be problematic. For those with no health issues or dietary restrictions, this Pizza is a match made in heaven. The delicious macaroni and cheese is cooked on its own and then baked onto the pizza. Sounds like this would be delicious with a stein of good German beer. The new Mac ‘N’ Cheese pizza features a Stuffed Crust with a creamy Béchamel base, topped with deliciously decadent macaroni, cheese sauce, triple cheese blend and crispy onions. Pizza Hut has also launched two different mac and cheese stuffed crust pizzas in their United Kingdom locations, one classic and one BBQ. This sounds like it might be a big success if it ever hits American shores.
1. Tater Tots Crust Pizza – New Zealand
Tater Tots are a side dish made from deep-fried grated potatoes, much like hash browns, and served at many fast food restaurants. They are recognized by their compact cylindrical shape and crispy exterior. The term Tater Tots is actually a registered trademark of Ore-Ida, a division of the H. J. Heinz Company, but is often used as a generic term. The product was created in 1953 when the founders of Ore-Ida were trying to figure out what to do with leftover slivers of cut-up potatoes. They chopped up the slivers, added flour and seasoning, then pushed the mash through a potato ricer. First offered in stores in 1956, they were not an instant success at first. Today, like fries, Tater Tots are a popular side dish served with many fast food items all over the world. With their continued popularity, it is no wonder Pizza Hut has gone one step further and created the Tater Tot Crust pizza. Essentially the Tater Tot Pizza is a regular crust with tater tots pressed into it before baking. We can just imagine how crunchy the crust must be. Easy to eat, you should definitely give this pizza a try. Sadly, its only available in New Zealand, where apparently tater tots have always been a common side for pizza, anyway.