Unique Pizza Trend in South Florida
A viral video has emerged showing the owner of a South Florida pizzeria crafting a pizza with unusual, local toppings. Buck’s Coal-Fired Pizza in Lake Park is claiming to have created “the first iguana pizza in human history,” as owner Frankie Cecere puts it.
The story traces back to content creator Ryan Izquierdo, who, during a freeze in Florida, gathered cold-stunned green iguanas and headed to Buck’s to create something quite distinctive.
The social media clip features Cecere, 39, preparing an “Everglades Pie,” which includes a white pizza adorned with three meats: venison, bacon, and of course, iguana. The video has garnered substantial attention, racking up thousands of comments and millions of views.
Izquierdo came up with the iguana pizza idea while collecting iguanas that had succumbed to the cold temperatures. Interestingly, during a brief cold spell, Florida temporarily lifted restrictions on transporting iguanas, allowing residents to capture these invading reptiles and bring them to wildlife officials for humane euthanization.
It’s worth noting that it is legal to humanely kill iguanas on private property in Florida.
Initially planned as a one-off collaboration, the concept quickly became a popular focus for the restaurant. Cecere shared with Fox News Digital, “The vast majority of people like it. We’ve had at least 1,500 inquiries about obtaining iguana.” Yet, he also mentioned some backlash. “There’s been a fair amount of hate that has come our way,” he said, elaborating on negative comments and complaints from disgruntled customers.
Despite the expressed interest, iguana pizza is currently not available for ordering. “It was kind of a one-off thing. I did it for a video,” Cecere explained, mentioning that the pizza was specifically made for the viral clip.
While the idea of iguana as a topping may be unconventional, Buck’s does feature other non-standard meats reflecting Florida’s culinary landscape, such as venison and gatortail.
Izquierdo clarified that only a few iguanas were required to create the pizza, utilizing meat from just four iguana legs and some tail meat. His initial tasting came with surprise—he found the flavor reminiscent of frog legs, describing it as “a little sweet.” He expressed hope that people would be more open to the concept of using exotic meats, noting that iguanas are considered a delicacy in various parts of the world.
For now, while Buck’s Coal-Fired Pizza contemplates offering iguana meat through approved vendors, it remains off the menu. Still, the community response continues to evolve, and opinions vary widely on this unique culinary venture.
