Cone Pizza
Kono Pizza is a cone-shaped pizza originating from Italy, developed as a fast food that transforms the traditional flat pizza into a portable ""on-the-go"" style. It consists of pizza dough shaped into a distinctive cone, filled with tomato sauce, cheese, and preferred toppings, then baked so it can be easily enjoyed with one hand. Invented in northern Italy in the early 2000s, Kono Pizza has spread to Europe, Asia, and the Americas. It is particularly popular among young people and tourists in various urban spaces such as shopping malls and event venues.
- Taste Rating
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- Price
- ? Baht
- Meal Date
- 5/2/2019
- Food Travel Log
- There once existed a fast-food place in Bangkok’s Terminal 21 called "Kono Pizza."
A genius idea of wrapping piping hot cheese pizza in a crispy cone for one-handed enjoyment. But it was too hot when freshly baked. Holding the cone with bare hands was impossible, so it had to be eaten from the box!
It was a fast food ahead of its time, much like Sega.
AI Gourmet Analysis
Overview of Kono Pizza
Kono Pizza is a unique fast-food menu that offers a convenient and portable adaptation of traditional Italian pizza. The main feature is its cone-shaped pizza dough (cone-shaped crust), which is filled with toppings, cheese, and sauce similar to conventional pizza and baked so that it can be easily eaten on the go with one hand. This shape stands in contrast to the flat slices in which pizza is usually served, making it a modern form of pizza that balances "ease of eating" and "fun."
Origins and Global Spread
The origins of Kono Pizza trace back to 2004, when it was conceptualized and developed in the Lombardy region of northern Italy. The inventor is Massimo Ivano. It has since expanded not only within Italy but also globally through a franchise model, available in countries such as Spain, the United States, and India, as well as various regions throughout Asia. The introduction of Kono Pizza in Bangkok gained attention in the context of the diversification of modern shopping malls and food courts, and became particularly popular among younger urban residents and tourists.
Deployment at Bangkok Terminal 21
Bangkok's Terminal 21 is a shopping mall known for its internationally diverse range of eateries and has served as a model case for the limited-time introduction of innovative fast-food concepts like Kono Pizza. There, Kono Pizza offered a system where customers could choose from various ingredients and cheeses displayed in a showcase, and had their hot, freshly made pizzas served at a dedicated stand. The unique style of eating it vertically from a box also matched the mall's casual atmosphere.
Structure and Preparation
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Crust (Dough) | Fermented wheat dough shaped into a cone and baked at a high temperature for a crispy texture. |
| Sauce | Primarily traditional tomato sauce. Some shops also offer basil or white sauce options. |
| Ingredients / Toppings | A wide variety, such as pepperoni, ham, salami, mushrooms, olives, and corn. |
| Cheese | Mainly mozzarella and cheddar. The hallmark is the piping-hot, melty texture. |
Features and Cultural Significance
Kono Pizza is recognized as a fast food that meets the needs of busy modern societies and urban dwellers by focusing on "portability" and "one-handed convenience," which conventional pizza could not achieve. On the other hand, since it is often served piping hot, it is commonly eaten vertically in its dedicated stand or packaging, rather than held directly by hand.
In cases where it was introduced in Asia, local preferences have been reflected in the tendency towards certain toppings or seasonings, making it a good example of global fast food merging with the diversity of local food culture. Especially in Bangkok, its proliferation symbolizes a facet of international culinary exchange.
Similar Products and Current Status
Portable-style pizzas like Kono Pizza are still sold on a limited basis at events and in certain regions around the world, but have yet to become mainstream. While they are praised for their portability and convenience, some purists express reservations due to their preference for traditional pizza shapes or textures. Nevertheless, it is pointed out that there remains potential for further development as urban, mobile-oriented fast food.