“From Pasta to Porridge: How Berlusconi’s Bold Insult Ignited a Culinary Controversy with Finland”

Who would’ve thought that a pizza could turn into a culinary ambassador of sorts—especially one named after a controversial Italian politician? In a delightful twist of fate, the saga of “Pizza Berlusconi” began with a cheeky jab at Finnish cuisine back in 2005. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi jokingly claimed that Finns feasted on “marinated reindeer.” Fast forward to 2008, and Finland not only embraced this stereotype but turned it on its head by winning an international pizza competition with—wait for it—“Pizza Berlusconi,” featuring smoked reindeer as its star ingredient. Now known as Poro, this unique pizza brings together smoked reindeer, tomato sauce, cheese, and even chanterelle mushrooms—because why not? It’s a savory slice of history that’s bound to leave you curious! Curious about how a little humor could lead to a delicious culinary revolution? Well, buckle up and let’s dig in! LEARN MORE

In 2005, the Italian Prime Minister, Berlusconi, insulted Finnish cuisine and joked that Finns ate “marinated reindeer.” In 2008, Finland won an international pizza contest, beating Italy. The name of the winning pizza was “Pizza Berlusconi,” which was made from smoked reindeer.

Poro, formerly known as the Berlusconi, is Kotipizza’s product name for a pizza with smoked reindeer, tomato sauce, cheese, chanterelle mushrooms and red onion. [source]