Just when you thought the world had finally settled the "pineapple on pizza" debate, an Australian chain decided to pour gasoline on the fire. Bubba Pizza, a franchise with a footprint across Victoria and South Australia, recently took the internet by storm with their Bubba Pizza viral ham orange pizza. It sounds like a joke. Or maybe a dare. But if you walk into one of their shops, it’s right there on the menu, staring back at you with bright citrus wedges.
Most people saw the photos and immediately screamed "straight to jail." It’s a gut reaction. We’ve been conditioned to think fruit on pizza is either a Hawaiian staple or a culinary sin. Adding oranges? That feels like someone accidentally dropped their breakfast into the lunch oven.
The Story Behind the Bubba Pizza Viral Ham Orange Pizza
This wasn’t just some random experiment by a bored chef in the back of a kitchen. The idea actually came from Cooper Hamilton, an Aussie rules footballer. Apparently, he’s the one who pitched the concept of swapping out the classic pineapple for fresh orange segments.
Bubba Pizza didn't just quietly slip it onto the menu. They leaned into the chaos.
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They marketed it as the "common ground" that would finally unite the warring factions of the pizza world. Their logic? Italians supposedly hate pineapple on pizza, but they love oranges—especially in places like Sicily. So, by putting orange on a pie, Bubba Pizza claimed they were extending an olive branch to the purists. They even offered free slices to anyone with an Italian passport to prove their point.
Honestly, it’s a brilliant marketing stunt, but the actual pizza is a real product you can buy.
What’s actually on it?
If you order one, don't expect a complicated gourmet mess. It's basically a modified Hawaiian. You get the standard tomato base and mozzarella. Then comes the Bubba’s Original Smoked Leg Ham. The kicker, of course, is the "chunks of fresh orange." These aren't just little zest shavings; they are peeled, juicy segments of orange baked right into the cheese.
It’s weird. It’s colorful. And for some reason, people are flying across the country to try it.
Why Is Everyone Obsessed With This Citrus Disaster?
The "viral" part of the Bubba Pizza viral ham orange pizza isn't just a buzzword. It actually happened. A group of friends in Brisbane saw the pizza on social media and decided to fly 1,700 kilometers to Melbourne just to get a taste.
When they arrived, the pizza was sold out.
Imagine flying two hours for a pizza and leaving empty-handed. Bubba Pizza eventually felt bad and flew a cooler full of half-baked ham and orange pizzas to them via Jetstar. That’s the kind of dedication that keeps a trend alive.
The internet is split into three very distinct camps right now:
- The "Culinary Abomination" group who thinks this is an insult to dough.
- The "Orange Glazed Ham" defenders who point out that citrus and pork are a classic combo in French and South American cooking.
- The "I’ll try anything once" crowd who just wants to see if the juice makes the crust soggy.
Is it actually good?
Some reviewers say the orange doesn't have the same acidic "tang" that pineapple has. Instead, it offers a "cleaner" sweetness. When the orange slices hit the high heat of the pizza oven, they caramelize slightly. If you’ve ever had an orange-glazed duck or a Christmas ham with orange zest, the flavor profile isn't actually that alien.
The problem most people have is the texture. Warm, pulpy orange segments aren't exactly what you expect when you bite into a savory slice of mozzarella.
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Breaking the Pineapple Divide
The Bubba Pizza viral ham orange pizza thrives on the "outrage economy." Bubba Pizza's managing director, Damian Hopper, has been pretty open about using social media to build an organic, honest brand story. By creating something so polarizing, they guaranteed themselves a spot on the nightly news and Reddit's front page.
It’s a classic move: do something "wrong" enough that everyone has to have an opinion on it.
Whether it stays on the menu forever or disappears once the summer ends remains to be seen. But for now, it has achieved exactly what it set out to do. It made people stop talking about pineapple for five seconds and start arguing about Navels and Valencias instead.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you’re actually thinking about trying this—or making a "dupe" at home—here is how to handle the citrus-on-dough situation without ruining your dinner:
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- Pat the fruit dry: If you're using fresh orange, the moisture is your enemy. Blot the segments with a paper towel before putting them on the cheese to prevent a "soggy middle" situation.
- Pair with salty meats: The only reason this works at Bubba Pizza is the smoked leg ham. You need that salt to cut through the sugar. Prosciutto or spicy pepperoni would also work.
- Keep it simple: Don't add too many veggies. The orange is already doing a lot of heavy lifting. Adding peppers or mushrooms will just make the flavor profile confusing.
- Try it for the story: Let’s be real. You aren't ordering this because it's the pinnacle of fine dining. You're ordering it so you can tell your friends you survived the orange pizza era.
The Bubba Pizza viral ham orange pizza might be a flash in the pan, but it proves that in the world of fast food, being "weird" is often better than being "safe." If you find yourself in Melbourne or Adelaide, it might be worth the $15 just to see which side of the debate you land on.