Guatemalan Man Cooks Pizza on Active Volcano
There are many different techniques available to those wanting to make the perfect pizza. Some prefer using a pizza oven, others use a pizza stone, but one man in Guatemala prefers using the molten lava and hot rocks from an active volcano to bring his pizza's crust to a perfect crisp.
David Garcia is the mastermind behind Pacaya Pizza, located on the Pacaya Volcano. According to France24, the volcano has been erupting since February, keeping locals and authorities on high alert. However, this hasn't stopped Garcia from making his delicious pizzas.
France24 reports that Garcia begins the pizza-making process by spreading out the dough on a metal plate that can withstand temperatures up to 1,800 degrees Fahrenheit. He then adds marinara sauce, cheese and meat.
Dressed in military clothing for protection, Garcia then places the pizza on the lava. According to the outlet, it takes approximately ten minutes for the pizza to cook through.
Given its uniqueness, Pacaya Pizza has become a popular tourist destination in Guatemala.
"You don't see this anywhere else," said a tourist to AFP. "The fact that there's a pizza chef in the heart of the volcano, is impressive and unique in the world."
Garcia first started baking his volcanic pizzas in 2013, France24 reports.
"I put the pizza together, and one day I brought it to the volcano," Garcia told AFP. "I put it in a hot cave that was approximately 800 degrees and it came out in 14 minutes. So when I tasted the flavor of the pizza cooked with the volcanic heat, I said: 'this is a good idea.'"
There are a few challenges that come with baking pizzas on molten lava. Before Garcia could market his product to the masses, he had to first overcome the special hurdles.
"In a lava river, I have to make sure that the pizza doesn't drift away, that the temperature doesn't get too high ... so it was difficult for me to learn the technique here so the pizza doesn't burn," Garcia said in his interview with AFP. "And it is also a risk to be on the shore because it is at a high temperature of 1,500/2,000 degrees, so I have to watch the wind direction so it doesn't affect me."
Garcia shares his creations, along with stunning photos of the active volcano, to his Facebook and Instagram pages.
So pizza lovers, climb the volcano and try a slice of Pacaya Pizza if you dare.
