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"Forgotten pizza cook" Pete Evans' wild new look

Former Seven personality Pete Evans has made an unexpected appearance on social media, though many took a moment longer than usual to realise who it was they were looking at in the clip. The former chef and My Kitchen Rules judge was a far cry from the polished persona audiences had come to expect from his days at the helm of the hit cooking competition, roaming through an outdoor kitchen in a ‘Food is Medicine’ t-shirt and unexpected mullet cut. The footage marked a new chapter in Evans’ public fall from grace, and as one account sharing the content wrote, it had “captured a quick raw video of the set up” for a cooking retreat with eight guests and “approx 25 recipes”. It did provide some insight into Evans’ new ‘career’ path, with the chef having turned his back on the entertainment industry in 2020, after 11 years as a household name hosting My Kitchen Rules. His controversial opinions on health - and his mounting support in conspiracy theories as well as his non-scientifics views - had initially turned attention his way, but it was his take on the global COVID-19 pandemic that sealed his fate. Also in 2020, Evans received a $25,000 fine from the TGA for his part in peddling a $15,000 ‘Biocharger’ device with the incorrect claim that it could combat the coronavirus. Evans was quickly removed from social media - namely Facebook and Instagram - for spreading misinformation during the pandemic, and lost 15 different sponsors in just 38 hours after sharing a meme that contained a neo-Nazi symbol with his remaining followers. It was estimated that the latter act alone could cost Evans millions of dollars. In the time since, Evans has purchased a $1 million tourist ‘healing’ retreat close to Byron Bay, where he offers the likes of ‘fasting retreats’ - charging $2250 a head for a “5-day juice, water, and froth fast” with Evans. When news of the venture broke on social media, opinion poured in thick and fast, with most condemning the experience. However, it wasn’t enough to keep Evans from returning to the internet, with the 50-year-old launching his presence on the alternative platform, Telegram, where he shares the likes of detail on his retreats, his experience with bitcoin, anti-vaccination takes, and right-wing political opinion. As one user wrote in response - and on behalf of the majority - to the fresh footage of the disgraced chef, “I won’t have what he’s having”. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Obviously vaccines are bad. Not ‘licking toads’ though. That’s cool. Forgotten pizza cook Pete Evans continues to have a normal one. <a href="https://twitter.com/krunchymoses?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@krunchymoses</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/petesscience?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@petesscience</a> <a href="https://t.co/a5fDzGIups">pic.twitter.com/a5fDzGIups</a> — Cam (@camliveshere) <a href="https://twitter.com/camliveshere/status/1664565941219508225?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 2, 2023</a></blockquote> “This is a hard second-hand cringe,” one said. “And here I was thinking that scone of his couldn't get any more offensive,” another said. “I was wrong.” “So funny, and sad at same time hope he is ok,” one wrote, “but I have had 4 vax, travelled [the] world twice in ]the last 12 months, kept a good job and have healthy friends and fam around me. Pete's approach hmmmm”. And as someone else pointed out., “he seems quite short of breath after placing a few small sticks under the pizza oven. Not a great advert for his lifestyle.” Images: Twitter, Facebook

Food & Wine

Pizza chain's delightfully devilish scheme lets you pay when you die

A delightfully devilish pizza chain is taking the 'buy now, pay later' scheme to the next level, giving customers the chance to pay for their pizza when they die. HELL Pizza is inviting pizza fans to apply for the trial scheme, which involves amending their wills to have their total cost included. The chain has one store in Brisbane, with the rest of its stores located around New Zealand, with customers from both countries able to apply for the scheme, which involves no late fees or penalties. The restaurant will select 666 applicants from each country, who will be invited to sign a real amendment to their wills allowing the cost of their pizza to be collected upon death. According to HELL Pizza CEO Ben Cumming, pizza is one of the simple joys of life, and AfterLife Pay means diners can get their fix without having to dip into the bank account immediately. The scheme emerged after the business was approached by popular 'buy now, pay later' providers who wanted HELL Pizza to offer the service to its customers. The pizza chain's unique AfterLife Pay came as a direct response to this proposal, as a statement against “schemes trapping a growing number of Aussies in spirals of debt”, Cumming said. “We’re seeing a growing number of people using the schemes to buy essential items like food, and we think it’s taking it a step too far when you’ve got quick service restaurants like ours being asked to offer BNPL for what is considered a treat,” he said. “Especially when you consider people are falling behind in their payments and 10.5 percent of loans are in arrears." “AfterLife Pay is a light-hearted campaign that reinforces HELL’s stance on BNPL schemes - you can have your pizza and eat it too without any pesky late fees or penalties.” Applicants can apply for the scheme <a href="https://afterlife.hellpizza.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">online</a>, with the chain's restaurant assuring that you will you won't pay anything for your order until "you're resting six feet under". Image credits: HELL Pizza

Food & Wine

Hilarious hiring sign tells it like it is

A restaurant scorched by unreliable employees has bluntly advertised what they’re searching for with an ad that reads, “Now hiring: non-stupid people.” Santino’s Pizzeria hung the all-caps banner outside its Columbus, Ohio, storefront in jest, according to local news outlet WSYX, but it’s just now come to the attention of the public after a customer posted a photo of it on social media. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2023/03/PIZZA-SIGN-FULL-HERO.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Jayden Dunigan, whose family owns the pizzeria, told WSYX that the sign was meant to be a joke, explaining the struggle of spending the time and money to train new employees only for them not to turn up. “A lot of the people we’ve hired just don’t want to work,” Dunigan said. “There is no work ethic behind them, so that’s the meaning behind the ‘non-stupid’.” The sign was backed by the online community, with the restaurant receiving plenty of support after the sign went viral on social media. “They are 100 per cent correct,” one person commented. “In addition they should add non-lazy, also!” Another comment read, “Honest hiring practices are always best.” There were a few users who did not see the humour in the sign. “If that’s the first impression you choose to make as a business owner, don’t complain when your employees leave,” one person wrote on Twitter. The restaurant has faced some costly backlash, with the Pizzeria getting calls and pranks. Dunigan told the news outlet than someone called the restaurant to place a fake. Order that was over $100 in response to the sign. “It was about 10 pizzas. We made the order, he called back, he talked down to one of our employees. He said our pizza sucks, and he’s cancelling the order,” Dunigan said about the prankster. Instead of letting the food go to waste, Dunigan said they donated it. “Since we don’t enjoy wasting food here, we always think that someone else in need can enjoy the food,” Dunigan said. Another manager at Santino’s, Heather Stockton, told WBNS, “Instead of judging our signs, why don’t you come judge our pizzas? Our pizzas are really good.” Image credit: Twitter

Money & Banking

Elderly pizza lady receives $390k tip after falling during delivery

Barbara Gillespie was completing a typical Friday night pizza delivery when things took an unexpected turn. The 72 year old had just made her way up a home’s front veranda stairs, arms laden with her pizza boxes, when she stumbled and fell on to a small white chair. The family, whose <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@momofthe5ks/video/7195696356508372266" target="_blank" rel="noopener">security camera captured the entire tumble</a>, came outside to see what had happened as the elderly driver was picking herself up from the ground. On shaky legs, Barbara apologised again and again for what had become of the family’s food, telling them that she’d “ruined” it. But the family - otherwise known as the Keighrons - were only concerned about her. “I opened the door and there she is, just laying on the ground trying to get up,” Kevin Keighron said on Good Morning America. “She was more worried about the food than anything else. And I was like, ‘I don't care about the food. I care about you’.” Kevin and his wife, Lacey, described Barbara as being “the sweetest”, and after the incident - which occurred in early February - the pair decided to set up a GoFundMe to give Barbara a “tip” for her hard work. “We would like to bless her by bringing by a ‘tip’ to help her with anything she may need,” Kevin said. “She is an older woman who fell and only cared about the food she dropped. “Let’s show her some kindness and take off some of this burden that our economy is causing the older generations especially!” More than 14,000 people donated, and the fundraiser achieved a whopping $390,000. “We thought we would get her a bigger tip and bring it to her. We never expected to get as much as we did,” Kevin said of their successful campaign. “We were just so excited and thrilled to be able to tell her the next day.” And when taking the surprise to Barbara, Kevin - Lacey, and two of their children - decided to make the grand reveal at her work. They later shared footage of the reunion to their TikTok account. <div class="embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; outline: none !important;"><iframe class="embedly-embed" style="box-sizing: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border-width: 0px; border-style: initial; vertical-align: baseline; width: 620.262px; max-width: 100%; outline: none !important;" title="tiktok embed" src="https://cdn.embedly.com/widgets/media.html?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2Fembed%2Fv2%2F7195971641262755114&display_name=tiktok&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.tiktok.com%2F%40momofthe5ks%2Fvideo%2F7195971641262755114&image=https%3A%2F%2Fp16-sign.tiktokcdn-us.com%2Fobj%2Ftos-useast5-p-0068-tx%2F763d48ec7b5b4f728dcbe02bb60cc22f%3Fx-expires%3D1677142800%26x-signature%3DPCfbQDrxw5It6Ey%252FV9NWSJXsZ6A%253D&key=59e3ae3acaa649a5a98672932445e203&type=text%2Fhtml&schema=tiktok" width="340" height="700" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></div> They have since shared that with the extra funds, Barbara was able to put in her two-week notice and finally enjoy her well-deserved retirement. Barbara said that the generosity of everyone involved was overwhelming, and admitted she was close to giving up on people because some of them can be “so mean.” “And here we got loving, caring people. They care about someone else” she declared, seemingly delighted to have had her mind so thoroughly changed, “about an elderly woman.” Images: TikTok

Money & Banking

Ping, your pizza is on its way. Ping, please rate the driver. Yes, constant notifications really do tax your brain

A ping from the pizza company. A couple of pings from your socials. Ping, ping, ping from your family WhatsApp group trying to organise a weekend barbecue. With all those smartphone notifications, it’s no wonder you lose focus on what you’re trying to do do. Your phone doesn’t even need to ping to distract you. There’s <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2015-28923-001">pretty good</a><a href="https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/full/10.1086/691462">evidence</a> the mere presence of your phone, silent or not, is enough to divert your attention. So what’s going on? More importantly, how can you reclaim your focus, without missing the important stuff? <h2>Is it really such a big deal?</h2> When you look at the big picture, those pings can really add up. Although estimates vary, the average person checks their phone <a href="https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/30085/1/PubSub7601_Andrews.PDF">around 85 times</a><a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/trapped-in-the-net-are-we-all-addicted-to-our-smartphones-20190531-p51t44.html">a day</a>, roughly once every 15 minutes. In other words, every 15 minutes or so, your attention is likely to wander from what you’re doing. The trouble is, it can take <a href="https://lifehacker.com/how-long-it-takes-to-get-back-on-track-after-a-distract-1720708353">several minutes</a> to regain your concentration fully after being <a href="https://www.ics.uci.edu/%7Egmark/chi08-mark.pdf">interrupted</a> by your phone. If you’re just watching TV, distractions (and refocusing) are no big deal. But if you’re driving a car, trying to study, at work, or spending time with your loved ones, it could lead to some fairly substantial problems. <h2>Two types of interference</h2> The pings from your phone are “exogenous interruptions”. In other words, something external, around you, has caused the interruption. We can <a href="https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-46276-9_21">become conditioned</a> to feeling excited when we hear our phones ping. This is the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1360-0443.2002.00015.x">same pleasurable feeling</a> people who gamble can quickly become conditioned to at the sight or sound of a poker machine. What if your phone is on silent? Doesn’t that solve the ping problem? Well, no. That’s another type of interruption, an internal (or endogenous) interruption. Think of every time you were working on a task but your attention drifted to your phone. You may have fought the urge to pick it up and see what was happening online, but you probably checked anyway. In this situation, we can become so strongly conditioned to expect a reward each time we look at our phone we don’t need to wait for a ping to trigger the effect. These impulses are powerful. Just reading this article about checking your phone may make you feel like … checking your phone. <h2>Give your brain a break</h2> What do all these interruptions mean for cognition and wellbeing? There’s increasing evidence push notifications are associated with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352853217300159">decreased productivity</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2451958820300051">poorer concentration</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0927537116300136">increased distraction</a> at work and school. But is there any evidence our brain is working harder to manage the frequent switches in attention? One study of people’s brain waves <a href="https://www.hindawi.com/journals/cin/2016/5718580/">found</a> those who describe themselves as heavy smartphone users were more sensitive to push notifications than ones who said they were light users. After hearing a push notification, heavy users were significantly worse at recovering their concentration on a task than lighter users. Although push notification interrupted concentration for both groups, the heavy users took much longer to regain focus. Frequent interruptions from your phone can also leave you <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563219302596">feeling stressed</a> by a need to respond. Frequent smartphone interruptions are also associated with <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360131519301319">increased FOMO</a> (fear of missing out). If you get distracted by your phone after responding to a notification, any subsequent <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/2050157921993896">procrastination</a> in returning to a task can also leave you feeling guilty or frustrated. There’s <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563219300883">certainly evidence</a> suggesting the longer you spend using your phone in unproductive ways, the lower you tend to rate your wellbeing. <h2>How can I stop?</h2> We know switching your phone to silent isn’t going to magically fix the problem, especially if you’re already a frequent checker. What’s needed is behaviour change, and that’s hard. It can take several attempts to see lasting change. If you have ever tried to quit smoking, lose weight, or start an exercise program you’ll know what I mean. Start by turning off all non-essential notifications. Then here are some things to try if you want to reduce the number of times you check your phone: <ul> <li> charge your phone overnight in a different room to your bedroom. Notifications can prevent you falling asleep and can repeatedly rouse you from essential sleep throughout the night </li> <li> interrupt the urge to check and actively decide if it’s going to benefit you, in that moment. For example, as you turn to reach for your phone, stop and ask yourself if this action serves a purpose other than distraction </li> <li> try the <a href="https://www.themuse.com/advice/take-it-from-someone-who-hates-productivity-hacksthe-pomodoro-technique-actually-works#:%7E:text=The%20Pomodoro%20Technique%20is%20a,are%20referred%20to%20as%20pomodoros">Pomodoro method</a> to stay focused on a task. This involves breaking your concentration time up into manageable chunks (for example, 25 minutes) then rewarding yourself with a short break (for instance, to check your phone) between chunks. Gradually increase the length of time between rewards. Gradually re-learning to sustain your attention on any task can take a while if you’re a high-volume checker. </li> </ul> Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/ping-your-pizza-is-on-its-way-ping-please-rate-the-driver-yes-constant-notifications-really-do-tax-your-brain-193952" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Technology

Garlic pizza

For the perfect starter to any Italian feast, you’ll want to try this garlic pizza. Serves: 6 Ingredients: <ul> <li>3 cups plain flour, sifted</li> <li>2 teaspoons dried yeast</li> <li>1 teaspoon salt</li> <li>1 ¼ cups warm water</li> <li>3 garlic cloves, diced </li> <li>½ cup olive oil, plus extra to brush</li> <li>1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped</li> <li>Salt and pepper, to season</li> </ul> Method: 1. Mix flour, yeast and salt in large bowl. Make a well in the centre and gradually pour water and one tablespoon of oil. Using your hands, combine the mixture until dough forms. Place on lightly floured surface and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Store dough in covered bowl and set aside for an hour or until dough has risen in size. 2. Meanwhile, combine olive oil, garlic and rosemary together in bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Let sit so flavours infuse. 3. Preheat oven to 220°C. Grease baking trays with olive oil. 4. Divide dough into 6 portions and roll each out to equal-sized discs. Sprinkle with olive oil mixture and bake in oven for 10 minutes or until pizza is crisp and puffed. Cut into wedges and serve with salad. Image: Getty

Food & Wine

Healthy and refreshing breakfast pizza

Enjoy pizza for breakfast with this high-protein recipe that combines Greek yoghurt and plain flour, and is topped with fruit of your choice. Fruit Breakfast Pizza with NUTELLA® Difficulty: ⅔ Time: 40 minutes Serves: 8 people Ingredients: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 cup self-raising flour </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 cup natural Greek yoghurt </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Plain flour </li> </ul> For the Topping: <ul> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 4 tbsp Nutella® </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 cup fresh strawberries, sliced </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> ½ cup fresh kiwifruit, peeled and sliced </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> 1 cup fresh peaches, sliced </li> </ul> Method: <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Preheat the oven to 180℃. Then, in a bowl, combine the flour and yoghurt and bring together to form a big dough ball. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Place the ball onto a floured board and knead it for 5-8 minutes. Roll the ball into a pizza base shape, and then cook in the oven for 10 minutes. </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Remove pizza base from the oven and allow to cool until just warm. Spread 4 tablespoons of Nutella® evenly across the warm pizza dough, leaving about 1-2cm at the edge as crust </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Top the pizza with sliced fruit and berries, distribute evenly. Then slice the pizza into 8 equal wedges, and tuck in! </li> </ol> Image: Supplied

Food & Wine

Companies scramble after being called out by gender pay gap bot

A Twitter account exposing the gender pay gap at companies tweeting about International Women’s Day has caused a stir, prompting several of those companies to delete their posts. The account, appropriately called the <a href="https://twitter.com/PayGapApp">Gender Pay Gap Bot</a>, has seemed to take the internet by storm after it was first started in March 2021. Using data from the UK government’s gender pay gap service website, the account retweets posts from British companies with the median hourly pay difference between male and female employees. For example, fashion house Missguided tweeted: “Happy International Women’s Day! We’re paying it forward this IWD, and we’re giving away prizes throughout the day, including x2 lots of £1000 CASH. “To win, tweet us using #PayItForwardWithMissguided and share the best piece of advice you’ve received.” <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> In this organisation, women's median hourly pay is 40% lower than men's. <a href="https://t.co/wm3Nsro6Zq">https://t.co/wm3Nsro6Zq</a> — Gender Pay Gap Bot (@PayGapApp) <a href="https://twitter.com/PayGapApp/status/1501146247964635144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote> The Gender Pay Gap Bot replied with, “In this organisation women’s median hourly pay is 40 percent lower than men’s”. For a majority of companies, the bot has actually reported that women’s pay was higher than men’s, including West London NHS Trust, Rowans Hospice and The Landmark Trust, and that St John’s Ambulance employees were paid equally. However, some of the companies where women earn less than men have scrambled to delete their tweets after they were called out by the bot. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> In this organisation, women's median hourly pay is 0.9% lower than men's. <a href="https://t.co/s9pLQU4jKf">https://t.co/s9pLQU4jKf</a> — Gender Pay Gap Bot (@PayGapApp) <a href="https://twitter.com/PayGapApp/status/1501346190008352768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> In this organisation, women's median hourly pay is 81.6% lower than men's. <a href="https://t.co/0v0YFNb1r2">https://t.co/0v0YFNb1r2</a> — Gender Pay Gap Bot (@PayGapApp) <a href="https://twitter.com/PayGapApp/status/1501315689738559493?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2022</a></blockquote> The creators of the bot, Manchester-based copywriter Francesca Lawson and software developer Alastair Fensome, told <a href="https://qz.com/work/2139235/the-creators-of-gender-pay-gap-twitter-bot-explain-their-goals/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Quartz</a> they made it to put the spotlight on companies and ensure their empowering words matched their actions. “[We] built it to put the gender pay gap data in the spotlight and enable the public to hold companies to account over the words of ‘empowerment’, ‘inspiration’ and ‘celebration’ they tweet on International Women’s Day,” Lawson explained via email. “The data shows their supportive posts are rarely backed up by action.” Image: @PayGapApp (Twitter)

Technology

An easy and delicious way to meet your protein goal

One shopper has gone viral for claiming to find a $12 snack that’s perfect for those “drunk 2am cravings” or really, a snack at any time of the day or night. The best part? it’s available in your supermarket freezer section. Woolies have launched a ‘FroPro’ Protein Pizza that has 50% less carbs compared to its delicious counterpart. The health-conscious range of pizzas have just hit shelves and are being rolled out at Woolies stores nationwide. “New high protein pizza from Woolies,” <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@dyldower/video/7070385220670770433?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1">@dyldower</a> on TikTok captioned a video of the pizza’s pepperoni and ham flavour. His video on the pizza has been viewed more than 124,000 times, with plenty of shoppers excited about the “epic” new product. “They are sooo good!” one person wrote. “Is that at every Woolworths? Keen as to try it,” another said. “This will be a great option for that cheat meal where you don’t want to go too crazy,” one shopper commented. A Woolworths spokeswoman said they were pleased to see the range had already resonated with shoppers. “We’re always looking to expand our range of unique snacks and collaborations that excite customers, so we’re pleased to see the range take off on TikTok. All three major supermarkets have expanded their range in recent years to include more low-carb product options, as well as gluten or lactose-free alternatives for those with dietary restrictions. Image: TikTok

Food & Wine

Fancy a fresh pizza cooked by a robot while you do your weekly groceries?

Sydney shoppers can now get a fresh pizza cooked by a robot while doing their grocery shopping at Aldi. The pizza vending machine is being launched at the supermarket’s North Sydney Corner Store. The completely unique newer style Aldi opened in July last year with products you won’t find at other Aldi stores. The supermarket has exclusively launched Pizzabot, an invention by Bondi start-up Placer Robotics. The company says it is the first pizza vending machine to be designed and manufactured in Australia and delivers premium restaurant-grade wood-fired pizza, cooked in just two minutes. “We understand our shoppers are motivated by quality, value and supporting local, and we are extremely excited by our collaboration with Pizzabot, a true Aussie innovation, to deliver great quality pizza and a unique experience, at the lowest price point,” Aldi Corner Store director Huw Longman said. The pizzas are priced from $8.99, but will only be available for a limited time as part of a trial. Unfortunately for pizza and Aldi lovers across the country, there are no plans to lunch Pizzabot at other stores … for now. Image: Aldi

Food & Wine

‘Similar to ordering a pizza’: how buy now, pay later apps influence young people’s spending

Young people are often blamed for making <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/life/weekend-australian-magazine/moralisers-we-need-you/news-story/6bdb24f77572be68330bd306c14ee8a3">irresponsible choices</a> with money. But the real issue is not whether they eat too many <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2016/oct/18/are-millennials-actually-bad-at-saving-or-are-houses-just-unaffordable?CMP=share_btn_fb">expensive cafe breakfasts</a>. Young Australians today face an uncertain job market, rising university fees and astronomical house prices. Unfortunately, <a href="https://theconversation.com/home-ownership-falling-debts-rising-its-looking-grim-for-the-under-40s-81619">debt</a> is also an inevitable part of their lives. This comes amid a huge rise in the number of “buy now, pay later” apps, such as <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-how-lending-startups-like-afterpay-make-their-money-86477">AfterPay</a>, and <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/ripoff-financial-experts-warn-of-the-dangerous-trap-of-payday-loans/news-story/1471cc4a61594cdb9e7a724a76e534d7">payday loan apps</a>, such as <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-18/payday-lending-consumer-risk-coronavirus-financial-hardship/12549412">Nimble</a>. It is possible to make purchases online with the the tap of a button, even if you don’t have the money in your account or on your credit card. It is also possible the able to borrow money <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/whats-up-with-payday-loans/7794806">within minutes</a>. To better understand how young people negotiate debt, we interviewed 31 people aged between 18 and 29 in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley area in 2020 and 2021. We asked them how they access credit and their views on different kinds of debt. <h2>Our study</h2> Our participants saw debt as a necessity if they are going to have an acceptable life in the present and plan for the future. As Steph, a 22-year-old university student, said: <blockquote> Large debts like the mortgage, the HECS debt […] things like that I suppose in a sense it’s useful debt. It makes sense and it gets you further by doing it because there’s still an equity in what you’re doing … It follows you not nearly as badly as some other debts. </blockquote> Young people also made distinctions about the way debt feels and how approachable it is. They acknowledged short-term consumer debts may not be “good”, but felt they were also part of being able to buy the things and have the experiences associated with being young. Those we interviewed talked about AfterPay (where you pay off the debt in four installments) as an everyday part of life. As Alexa, a 23-year-old university student, told us: <blockquote> AfterPay is for just those little wants that I don’t want to pay for up front. </blockquote> They also described it as a low-risk and almost friendly way to buy things. This was particularly when compared to a bank. Alice, a 21-year-old sales assistant, put it this way: <blockquote> AfterPay is like, ‘Oh, just pay this off in four quick things and you can have your item. We’ll send it out.’ But then banks are like, ‘If you don’t pay this back, you’re going to get so much interest and it’s going to suck, and you’ll have the sheriffs roll up at your house and you’re going to be sad.’ </blockquote> <h2>Like ordering a pizza</h2> Interviewees attributed some of this friendliness to the process of accessing the money or goods. Mia, a 21-year-old paralegal, described applying for a small loan on the Nimble app: <blockquote> When you apply for the money […] you can track at any point on it. The Nimble app is so similar to ordering a Domino’s pizza […] Whereas a credit card through a banking app, it’s nothing like that […] They send me letters and even opening the mail terrifies me, nothing good comes via snail mail ever. </blockquote> The online, easy nature of these loan services closely relates to how young people engage with information more generally in their lives. In this sense, there is a familiarity and comfort to the way they work. As Mia continues: <blockquote> [It’s] positive, it’s not daunting, it’s informative, it’s instantaneous. The second the money comes out, I get a thank you email and a notification on the app. It’s like, ‘you have this many payments left, this is how much you’ve paid, this is how much you have left to pay, you will still be paid in full by this date’. I don’t have any of that with my credit card. </blockquote> <h2>Familiar tactics</h2> Inteviewees also spoke of how services like AfterPay and short-term loan apps used similar tactics to social media platforms to encourage increased engagement and make the experience feel informal and even social. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/429684/original/file-20211102-10001-letons.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Young people using their phones and laptops." /> Applying for a loan via an app does not involve ‘scary’ paperwork, according to interviewees. www.shutterstock.com These include “on this day” reminders (such as, “this time last year, you bought this pair of shoes”) and waiting time indicators. There are also <a href="https://theconversation.com/gamification-status-you-score-ten-points-for-reading-this-article-5068">game elements</a>, including “rewards” for early repayments. Interviewees were aware this was manipulative. Lilian (26) works at a chain clothing store and was “rewarded ” for paying off a purchase early. <blockquote> I got this thing the other day saying that my first payment [on a new purchase] is actually going to come out [later] now. Of course, I’ve been rewarded for paying everything off early [before] […] Yeah it’s like it’s delaying it, it’s not an issue now, but it’s going to be an issue in two weeks’ time. </blockquote> <h2>What next?</h2> Our interviewees may see debt as a necessity, but they are also aware they have (some) choices within this. So they prefer to go with providers or platforms that feel less threatening, especially as using “buy now, pay later” services sometimes does not feel like being in debt. <img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/429686/original/file-20211102-25-9gi5ho.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="Young man on his phone with a coffee." /> Young people see debt as an inevitable part of life, according to new research. www.shutterstock.com There is a need for <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/calls-for-tighter-regulation-as-buy-now-pay-later-costs-mount-20210610-p57zuc.html">greater regulation</a> of the ways these products are promoted. It should always be made clear that this is a form of debt, not just a way to pay. Beyond, this, instead of “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2016/oct/18/are-millennials-actually-bad-at-saving-or-are-houses-just-unaffordable?CMP=share_btn_fb">blaming</a>” young people for their spending habits, we need a better understanding of the economy and society they are living and working in. And how debt it is all but inevitable for people on low wages, with poor job security and insecure housing. <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/steven-threadgold-167968">Steven Threadgold</a>, Associate Professor, Sociology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/david-farrugia-243862">David Farrugia</a>, Senior Lecturer, School of Humanities and Social Science, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/julia-coffey-129629">Julia Coffey</a>, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/julia-cook-869068">Julia Cook</a>, Lecturer in Sociology, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a>; <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-davies-290466">Kate Davies</a>, Human Services Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a>, and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kate-senior-1284499">Kate Senior</a>, Associate Professor, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a> This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/similar-to-ordering-a-pizza-how-buy-now-pay-later-apps-influence-young-peoples-spending-170024">original article</a>. Image: Shutterstock

Money & Banking

Crimpy, Pizza or Barbecue – which is the best?

Image: Shutter Stock Arnott’s is not one to shy away from hard truths. At least, that’s a conclusion that can be drawn from their latest announcement. Known for their delectable sweet and savoury treats, a staple as much as Tim Tams in Aussie childhoods is Shapes – the snack that comes in many flavour variations. The biscuit manufacturer, however, has declared one flavour the ultimate supreme: Chicken Crimpy. Although there exists discourse and debate online surrounding what flavour of Shapes should have the top spot on the picnic blanket, the company’s yearly survey takes no prisoners with its bold results. Coming in a close second are Pizza Shapes, followed by Barbecue Shapes in third place. As for who exactly prefers what oven-baked seasoned delight, the research by Arnott’s indicates the flavour preference mirrors generational divides. Both millennials and those from Gen Z indicate they prefer Pizza Shapes over Chicken Crimpy – 29% of millennials that were surveyed said they loved Pizza shapes and only 20% said Chicken Crimpy were their favourite. Gen Z mirrored millennials somewhat, though the margin of preference was only 6% narrower, meaning only 3% of Gen Z prefer Pizza Shapes to Chicken Crimpy. Arnott’s is nothing if not thorough in its research, having broken down the results on a state-by-state basis. Those residing in NSW and Queensland both agree Chicken Crimpy belongs in the top spot, but those in Victoria prefer Barbecue Shapes overall. Aussies in Canberra, however, threw out a real wild card by choosing Nacho Cheese flavour as an equal favourite alongside Pizza Shapes.

Food & Wine

How a New York pizza chef adopted a classic Aussie ingredient

After spinning pizzas for more than 40 years, Giovanni Fabiano knows a thing or two about what makes the perfect pizza. The Rosa’s Pizza chef from Brooklyn, NYC, is now venturing into uncharted territory with an experiment to get Aussies talking. Giovanni has teamed up with Vegemite to encourage more Australians to get creative when it comes to the nation’s iconic flavour. In a recent survey conducted by Vegemite, the majority of Australian respondents (89.4 percent) still associate the spread with toast, with only 17.6 percent using it in cooking. Giovanni, however, believes the unique flavour could be Australia’s best kept secret. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUgINjEhrF3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUgINjEhrF3/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Vegemite (@vegemite)</a> </div> </blockquote> “In New York City, you don’t need to go far to talk to an Aussie. And you don’t need to be talk’n for long before they start prattling on about the stuff,” he said. “Aussies love their Vegemite, but I only ever hear about them eating it on toast. I love it on pizza pie so I decided to try it on my menu, test it out with the crowds and maybe show the Aussies a thing or two.” Vegemite marketing manager Jacqui Roth says their venture with Giovanni will help people from all over the world fall in love with Vegemite. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUl92BYL_89/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CUl92BYL_89/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Vegemite (@vegemite)</a> </div> </blockquote> She said, “While we love Vegemite on toast and we always will, Vegemite is so much more than just a spread.” “We’ve loved getting behind Giovanni and his talented team and couldn’t be happier that they’ve put a taste of Australia on their secret menu – until it’s sold out at least!” Image credits: Vegemite / Supplied

Food & Wine

They did it! Baby Dominic scores 60 years of free pizza

Dominic Julian Lot came into the world at 1:47 am last Wednesday, weighing the same amount of approximately 23 garlic breads, at 3.9 kilograms. And while his arrival has left his parents overjoyed, they’re also celebrating another gift - 60 years of free pizza from Domino’s Pizza. The pizza chain was running a competition for their 60th birthday last Wednesday, and Clementine Oldfield and Anthony Lot were the lucky winners. The first baby to be born in Australia on that day called Dominic or Dominique would win the cash equivalent of a pizza a month, for six decades - $10,080. "My mother sent us a screenshot of the promo on Tuesday and we laughed it off thinking well that's kind of funny because he's coming today on Tuesday, not on Wednesday," Mr Lot told A Current Affair. But baby Dominic had other plans, arriving in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The couple had already chosen the name Dominic when they first discovered Ms Oldfield was pregnant with a boy. "It's one of my favourite names since I was a little kid," Ms Oldfield said. "We both liked it and we struggled with finding names we both liked to be honest." Dominic’s grandmother Janine, and cousin Dominique had both alerted the couple to the competition. "I sent it to Anthony just as a joke saying 'here is some inspiration if you need any names or anything'," cousin Dominique said. "The next day found out that he was born and then he was called Dominic and it was just the best day ever because I've never met another little Dominic before." "We had a lot of people who were pretty disappointed wanting nine months so they could prepare a little bit better," CEO of Domino's Pizza, Australia and New Zealand, Nick Knight said. "But it was great to see that we were able to celebrate that so early on in the competition." A copy of the birth certificate was provided before the prize was awarded.

Family & Pets

Naming your baby after this restaurant can get you what?!

While some parents choose traditional names for their children, or use movie stars and even royalty for inspiration — there is one name Aussie families could choose to ensure they are well-fed for decades to come. Domino's have put out a call to Aussie parents whose child may be born on the company's 60th anniversary, announcing they can go in the running to win 60 years' worth of free pizza — but there is a catch. Parents will have to name their newborn bub after the restaurant. Acceptable names include "Dominic" for a boy or "Dominique" for a girl, and they must be born in Australia on December 9, 2020. Domino's Australia and New Zealand CEO Nick Knight said that while there is nothing more important than the safe arrival of a new bub, being able to treat family and friends to free pizza from birth was still up there. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7839113/baby-grandma-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/495b91e2b3924d8993a0f4ae63ef8363" /> "We have been blessed with 60 incredible years as a company, with 37 of those here in Australia," he said. "What better way for our Domino's family to mark this occasion and to share the joy of the next 60 years than with a truly unique birthday gift for someone's own bundle of joy – from our family to yours! After all, nothing brings people closer like pizza… and the arrival of a new baby." Eligible parents must be the first to confirm with Domino's that their baby was in fact born on December 9, and have the name 'Dominic' or 'Dominique'. Entrants can notify the restuatant by emailing <a rel="noopener" href="mailto:dombaby@dominos.com.au" target="_blank">dombaby@dominos.com.au</a> the relevant details, with a lucky winner to be notified via phone and asked to provide a copy of the baby's birth certificate by January 30, 2021. If the family meets the criteria they'll receive a cash prize of $10,080 — which equals to a $14 pizza every month for 60 years.

Family & Pets

SA pizza bar worker breaks silence

The Spanish national accused of lying to South Australian contact tracers and prompting the nation’s hardest lockdown has expressed remorse for his actions. Speaking for the first time since news broke that a worker of the Woodville Pizza Bar misled the state’s authorities, the man said - via his lawyer - that he was apologetic for any consequences caused by his actions. Last week South Australia announced a six-day lockdown that would be the country’s hardest and shortest - but just three days later, it was announced that it would be over after finding out a worker had misled contract tracers. He reportedly let them know that he purchased a pizza from the shop, but the truth was he worked there. The man’s lawyer Scott Jelbert of Camena Legal said his client did not mean to cause harm with he information he gave contact tracers. "My client is in quarantine and I make this brief statement on his behalf. He is extremely remorseful and deeply sorry for any part his conduct played in any unnecessary lock-down actions," Scott Jelbert said in a statement. "He did not foresee or intend that things might unfold as they have. "Since entering quarantine he has had limited information about government media releases, public opinion and social media." But Mr Jelbert said some of the information circulating about his client was incorrect. "I am however instructed that some information is not fair, accurate or complete notwithstanding the State Government's comments, and he is concerned he has been all but publicly named," Mr Jelbert said. "My client's current focus is on cooperating with the authorities and completing quarantine. "He is sincerely concerned about the impact of the lock-down on South Australians. "My client has not been charged with any breach of the law but in the circumstances, including that such charges may emerge, no further comment about those matters is appropriate at this time."

News

SA Premier furious at pizza worker who sparked lockdown

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text redactor-styles redactor-in"> South Australian Premier Steven Marshall is furious at the "disgraceful conduct" of a pizza worker who claims he sparked the state's lockdown. Marshall said that one of the close contacts from Woodville Pizza Bar had "deliberately misled" contact tracers. “Their story didn’t add up. We pursued them. We now know that they lied. I stress this point, that this is still a very dangerous cluster and our expert health – our health experts remain extremely concerned,” he said. “I will not let the disgraceful conduct of a single individual to keep SA in these circuit breaker conditions one day longer than what is necessary. However, this lie still means that our contact tracers need breathing space to contact people but not for as long.” Despite putting the state into a sudden lockdown, the man will not be charged or penalised for withholding information, according to Police Commissioner Grant Stevens. He's urged angry South Australians to look towards Christmas instead. "I understand the community sentiment about the actions of this person. I don't think there will be a single person who is not going to be, for some reason, affected or upset by the fact we have had to go into such a strict lockdown," he said. "My expectations of the community are that we act as we have with every other challenge that we have faced through COVID-19. "There is a genuine basis for people to be outraged but we need to move past this, keep doing what we are doing so we crush this particular cluster and get back to where we were before 15 November and aim for December 1 where we see ourselves getting ready for Christmas and spending time with families." The state needs to stay in lockdown for one more day due to the actions of the person who initially lied. Stevens outlined the consequences to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/world/coronavirus/australia/coronavirus-australia-live-south-australia-victoria-nsw-updates/live-coverage/f6c07deca8947333c467379f9064a54b" target="_blank" class="editor-rtflink">news.com.au</a>. "The first consequence from this lie is we went into a six-day lockdown," he said. "The second consequence is this person's failure to be truthful with contact tracers means his close associates, who we understand he's had close contact with, haven't been identified and are currently in the community. "We need to lock that up before we move into a lower level of restrictions. Our goal is to do that by midnight Saturday." The state is currently managing 44 suspected cases of coronavirus, with 4,500 people in isolation. This is due to the state initially moving so quickly, according to SA's chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier. "I just want to give people a little warning we are expecting to see the number of cases here in South Australia rising over the next couple of days," she said. "That is because we moved so early in the beginning of this cluster, and put people in quarantine, and when we first tested them, they had not actually become positive. "But we will be expecting that to happen now over the next couple of days." "That is that double ring, directly linked to this cluster, in quarantine, and they will not be able to come out of that on Saturday night, they have their 14 days of quarantine," Prof Spurrier said. </div> </div> </div>

News

"Fan favourite" ALDI cult classic is back

ALDI's popular 3-in-1 barbecue and pizza oven is set to make a comeback and fans are thrilled. The oven is set to appear in Saturday's September 26 Special Buys sale for just $179. An Aldi spokesperson described the popular item as a "fan favourite". "This week, the fan-favourite Special Buy Woodfire Pizza Oven will be returning to the middle aisle," they wrote. "While a trip to Italy might be off the cards for now, for just $179 you can cook up a storm in your own backyard." <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837935/aldi-pizza-oven.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e350992d9e1a472696e13fc03c32dbe1" /> <div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> While the last pizza oven was $30 cheaper, an ALDI spokesperson confirmed that improvements have been made on the latest oven. "This year, the pizza oven comes with an improved heatshield to the oven, to help maintain a high temperature when cooking so you can perfect a crispy base. For recipe inspiration, visit ALDI.com.au." Excited fans are already thrilled with the news. "I have this one. We love it." "We have had ours for 2 years it's great." "It's great! My dad and partner both have one." Photo credits: <a rel="noopener" href="https://kitchen.nine.com.au/latest/aldi-bring-back-fan-favourite-3-in-1-woodfire-pizza-oven/054663f9-02a4-401d-b20a-45a328930852" target="_blank">Honey</a> </div> </div> </div>

Home & Garden

The crazy pizza toppings that are actually delicious

Sure, you've been eating your pizza with extra cheese, pepperoni, and mushrooms for years, but that's child's play compared to the craziest new pizza toppings out there. Try not to cringe when there is pineapple on a pizza. There’s a ton of other wild stuff happening out there more concerning. Corn Does corn pizza seem totally crazy to you? You’re probably more used to veggie pizza toppings like sun dried tomatoes or olives, but some fresh roasted sweet corn is actually delicious on a classic pizza thanks to its delicately sweet flavour. If you want add a little zest to your corn, try adding some chilli flakes to give your pizza a sweet heat. Crab meat Remember that old adage that seafood and cheese never go together by Italian culinary tradition? Apparently, American pizza experts are throwing that to the wind, because trend-setting pizza chains in New York are topping their famous pizzas with real lump crab meat and people are loving it. Crab meat is loaded with zinc, so you can tell yourself a slice isn’t the worst decision you could make today. Sriracha People are going crazy for Sriracha sauce-topped pies thanks to the gentle heat of this popular pepper-infused topping and low calorie content. Asian and Italian flavours may not seem like a natural fit, but one bite of a fresh pizza drizzled in spicy Sriracha sauce will make you question what other weirdly wonderful flavour combos you’ve been missing out on. Kale If you’re not the type to order a salad on your pizza, think again—kale is delicious when cooked. It’s one of the best pizza toppings for veggie lovers thanks to high vitamin C and fibre content. Kale-topped pizzas are currently trending in veggie-friendly areas like Los Angeles, where a popular local joint, Pitfire Pizza, tops their pizzas with black kale, field mushrooms, cheddar, chilies, and garlic. Yum! Hummus Hummus sounds like a seriously crazy pizza topping, doesn’t it? It should, but the truth is it’s gaining steam in the health-conscious food blogger seen, and even US brands like Sabra have created limited-time pizza-flavoured hummus lines because surprisingly, the flavours pair really well together. Cashew cheese It turns out cashew cheese is the vegan cheese of choice for foodies these days, and some pizza shops are going to great lengths to satisfy their vegan and dairy-free customers’ pizza cravings. Matthew Kenney, a vegan chef and expert who teaches workshops on going vegan at Turnberry Isle Miami, has been leading the cashew cheese pizza movement in New York and Florida. Try not to cringe when there is pineapple on a pizza. There’s a ton of other wild stuff happening out there more concerning. Nectarines Nectarines, peaches, and other stone fruit have a tangy-sweet flavour that is similar in some ways to the flavour profile of BBQ sauce. If you’re the type who likes a good BBQ-themed pizza, you need to try one topped with nectarine slices and an especially sharp or bold cheese. Milo & Olive, a popular pizzeria in the US state of California, has been serving up a salty-meets-sweet nectarine and bacon pizza that’s topped with Fontina, thyme, balsamic glaze, and deliciously ripe stone fruit. Spicy mac and cheese Mac and cheese is already great, and adding spice is always the next level of excitement, but if you haven’t tried adding fresh jalapeños and gooey mac and cheese to your pizza, have you even really lived? Vinnie’s, a popular local pizza spot in Brooklyn, has lines out the door for their magical, new-age comfort food slices. Eggs Cooked, runny, semi-solid—you name it. Eggs are one of the best weird pizza toppings to be found in both the United States and Italy, the birthplace of pizza. Eggs are healthy, too, so adding a few to your pizza gives you an excuse to have a slice for a responsible brunch. Entire Mexican dishes Why add just a little Mexican seasoning to your pizza when you can throw an entire plate of chilaquiles right on top of your favourite simple pizza. This recipe was the brainchild of Chef Martin Gonzalez in San Diego, California, and includes crunchy tortilla chips, warm green tomatillo sauce, red onion, and queso añejo (a Mexican cheese that is very similar to Parmesan) and crema fresca. There’s no reason this can’t be recreated at home, and you’ll be a hero for combining the world’s most addictive flavours. Avocado Your favourite, trendiest salad addition is also great on pizza. Avocado’s creamy texture is actually similar to that of some soft cheeses, and the mildly nutty flavour pairs well with everything from tomatoes to garlic. Avocado is one of the best pizza toppings you never expected because it can easily be combined with all the other weird toppings too, like corn, crab, and even Sriracha. Plus, avocados are a brain food, so you can feel good about loading your plate up. Written by Bryce Grubern. This article first appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/recipes/11-crazy-pizza-toppings-are-actually-delicious">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.

Food & Wine

Not all Karens are bad news

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> Many videos are popping out about self-entitled women called "Karen" refusing to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic. The phrase initially started in the US and has spread out to countries around the world as other videos pop up of women ignoring social distancing rules. "Karen" has come to represent a type of woman that thinks the rules don't apply to her. However, some "Karens" are deciding to take the name back, such as Karen Hayes, the CEO of Guide Dogs Victoria. She took to Twitter with a video message urging all people, including Karens, to be kind and respectful. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> To the good Karens and Kazzas of Australia – it’s time to stand up! Be the Karens that we want to see in the world. Wear your mask. Stay kind. Stay home. Share this message and stop the spread of CoronaKarens. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotAllKarens?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NotAllKarens</a> <a href="https://t.co/vu9rHc0coP">pic.twitter.com/vu9rHc0coP</a> — Karen Hayes AM DSJ (@karenlhayes) <a href="https://twitter.com/karenlhayes/status/1288014879022960641?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 28, 2020</a></blockquote> “To the good Karens and Kazzas of Australia – it’s time to stand up!,” she said. “Be the Karens that we want to see in the world. “Wear your mask. Stay kind. Stay home. “Share this message and stop the spread of CoronaKarens.” Her Twitter followers were quick to agree, saying that they weren't fans of the use of the name. “The derogatory use of the name ‘Karen’ has to be the dumbest thing I have seen years, which is a massive call in itself,” one person wrote. “Best of luck with your campaign.” “Good on you Karen!,” wrote another. “I have a sister-in-law and lots of friends called Karen - we had four in our mum’s’ group alone! “They are all the nicest people you could meet.” Domino's Pizza is also trying to spread the word about good Karens, saying that it is offering free pizza to law-abiding and mask wearing Karens. “Karen the nurse, Karen the teacher, Karen the mum, Karen the neighbour, Karen the mask wearer – we’re all in this together, but a vocal minority who believe rules and laws don’t apply to them have given the name “Karen” a bad rap this year,” the pizza company wrote on its <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.facebook.com/DominosAustralia/photos/a.220268216411/10159290591166412/?type=3&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARAtBjfwFpoFQUluk4aTj5R6lvx86cjrTLbWBXE6wGi-8dYcMYGORI4zKCEIhvIkcVTJILZXoSHgSSBoEuVFdpr4fsjke0LdlmBTIuR1u7ScTm-sMP4j1B3FUu5DJRW20Rd0NiWVnA-4Bi085kgYPPfOwrcdnCOsWIABQxFioutTS-zFoZvwccGKCZgskHsikHXOdx0Yvsg1uD-vpohI7UreldJl51--osMnsxI0Y3ofD4iVP_mEdVOUFiJi_nShedqiMIclV7rsw3GR1c1j9xAKccVopCubXSPbRHp2Zh-ghgar4PZR13wBSsqpg8NKvPzjc3TvKKGdSUCFruaVEFK6v6LwtXoDp1ptfsXBYBk&__tn__=H-R" target="_blank" class="_e75a791d-denali-editor-page-rtflink">Facebook page.</a> “At Domino’s, we know there’s plenty of Australians named Karen that aren’t, well, “Karens”. “Let us know if you’re one of them.” </div> </div> </div>

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