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North Koreans Eat Pizza—After 10 Years' Wait

Kim Jong-Il wanted perfect recipe before authorizing restaurant

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 16, 2009 7:50 AM CDT

(Newser) – Millions of North Koreans suffer from undernourishment, but in Pyongyang, the ruling elite have a new dining option: the country's first pizzeria. It opened last December, more than a decade after Kim Jong-Il, reportedly a serious gourmand, brought a stable of Italian pizza chefs to teach army officers how to make the dish—down to how far apart to space olives on the pie, reports the Guardian.

Last year, he sent chefs to study pizza-making in Naples and Rome; finally satisfied, Kim authorized the restaurant, which uses cheese, butter, and flour flown in from Italy. "General Kim Jong-Il said that the people should be allowed access to the world's famous dishes," the restaurant's manager told a newspaper. The dictator has indulged other culinary yens in the past: He once sent a chef to Denmark to fetch bacon and to Iran for caviar.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il inspects the firing exercise as he inspects Unit 1811 under the Korean People's Army artillery command at an undisclosed location, North Korea.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-il inspects the firing exercise as he inspects Unit 1811 under the Korean People's Army artillery command at an undisclosed location, North Korea.   (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service)
North Korean students celebrate the birthday of leader Kim Jong-Il, in Pyongyang, North Korea.
North Korean students celebrate the birthday of leader Kim Jong-Il, in Pyongyang, North Korea.   (AP Photo/Korean Central News Agency via Korea News Service)
A pizzeria has opened in Pyongyang, a decade after Kim Jong-Il first directed army officers to study Italian cuisine.
A pizzeria has opened in Pyongyang, a decade after Kim Jong-Il first directed army officers to study Italian cuisine.   (©nederhoed)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 5 comments
Kookey90
Aug 9, 2009 11:18 AM CDT
The North Korean chef whom makes the pizza probably spent three weeks in Rome working in a pizzaria as a dish washer. I hope they all choke over an olive pit.
sache
Mar 16, 2009 4:10 AM CDT
Kim Jong II really takes it to the extreme. Betcha the pizza doesn't taste any better.
Mjoh3
Mar 16, 2009 3:54 AM CDT
Just goes to show that everyone loves pizza
 

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