Cheese is it!

MANILA, Philippines - Did you know that cheese was discovered by accident? A traveling Arabic merchant had brought some milk stored in pouches made of sheep’s stomach in his journey. When he stopped to refresh himself, he was surprised to find that the milk was “gone.” Instead, he found a white, semi-solid substance in the pouch.

Weariness and hunger overcoming his reluctance, the traveler sampled the strange concoction and was pleased with its creamy and tangy taste.

As it turned out, the heat of the sun and the bumps the merchant encountered along the way activated the enzyme, rennin, found in the sheep’s stomach lining. This made the milk coagulate and form into a block of the yummy, creamy treat we now call cheese.

Filipinos have a penchant for all things cheesy. If we want our food to be extra creamy, we add cheese. If we’re on a diet, we just settle for a few slices of cheese and some crackers. But if we want to reward ourselves, we go for the Ultimate Cheese Pizza treat from Pizza Hut.

But unlike cheese, the Ultimate Cheese Pizza didn’t just land on Pizza Hut’s counter by accident. It’s a product that happily and deliciously came about after thorough research and development.

Pizza Hut’s New Product Development Group and its regional R&D partners from its parent company YUM! Brands Inc. did a lot of research as to what pizza flavors would appeal to the Filipino palate. (Yum! is a Fortune 500 corporation that operates or licenses Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, KFC, A&W Restaurants, among others. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, it is the world’s largest fast-food restaurant.)

“Based on our research, we found out that Filipinos love indulgent products like cheese. And so we decided to come up with a pizza concoction that would top the cheesiest pizza available on the market today,” enthuses Caper.

So Healthy, so yummy, so cheesy

Pizza lovers: Venus Raj and Bb. Pilipinas World Czarina Gatbonton can’t get enough of Pizza Hut’s Ultimate Cheese Pizza.

The elegant design of Pizza Hut Bistro at SM Mall of Asia is enough to entice diners to check out the place. The gleaming, glass-enclosed kitchen serves as the focal point of the bistro. In fact, the restaurant design revolves around it. Pizza Hut Bistro’s architect executed an amphitheater-inspired dining area so guests get a sneak-peek of how their food is prepared. The food is definitely another story.

Known for its world-famous Pan Pizza and the phenomenal cheese-pizza creations such as Stuffed Crust Pizza, Cheesy Volcano, and Cheesy Crust, Pizza Hut has truly established its stature as the ultimate pizza inventor. Following the success of these creations and reinforcing its claim as the country’s Pinaka-pizza, Pizza Hut introduces the Ultimate Cheese Pizza. Topped with six kinds of cheeses mozzarella, cheddar, Provolone, Romano, Monterey Jack, and Parmesan the new offering will surely tickle the palate of cheese-loving Pinoys.

“Most pizza parlors here in the country offer four or five toppings on their all-cheese concoction. At Pizza Hut, we offer six cheeses in one pizza. The Ultimate Cheese Pizza is a gourmet treat, the kind you normally enjoy in five-star hotels,” boasts Caper.

And since it has more cheese, diners are assured they get calcium and protein in one bite. It’s a healthier alternative to the meaty treat we oh-so love.

The new Ultimate Cheese Pizza is available in the new Classic Crust, which is soft, not too thick, and not too thin.

“To be able to savor the rich, creamy goodness of the cheeses, the crust shouldn’t be too thick or too thin. So we’ve come out with the Classic Crust just for the Ultimate Cheese Pizza,” notes Caper.

But for diners who want to enjoy the new pizza flavor in a Pan Pizza crust, they are free to do so. The Ultimate Cheese Pizza is also available in your favorite Stuffed Crust. Just inform the wait staff of your preference upon ordering.

Reward yourself

Miss Universe fourth runner-up Maria Venus Raj and Bb. Pilipinas World Czarina Gatbonton took their crowns off for a day to be Pizza Hut’s celebrity servers.

Venus and Czarina rewarded early birds at Pizza Hut Bistro SM Mall of Asia as they gamely served the Ultimate Cheese Pizza right on the guests’ table during the launch.

“I’m really overwhelmed with the richness of the new Ultimate Cheese Pizza. It has ‘major, major’ cheese, indeed! It’s the perfect way to reward yourself after a tiring day,” says Venus while enjoying a slice of pizza.

The cheesy pizza goes well with Seafood Supremo pasta. Baked in parchment paper to seal in the flavors of shrimp, squid, and scallops, the pasta dish is blended in tomato cream sauce, topped with fresh basil and capers.

Pizza Hut gives diners more reasons to indulge with its Ultimate Reward promo. For every order of the Ultimate Cheese Pizza, customers get a free topping of their choice. Promo runs until Oct. 31.

“I suggest you top it with pepperoni or Italian sausage,” recommends Caper.

Be a Pizza Hut fan on Facebook and get a chance to get an Ultimate Cheese Pizza treat for you and your friends.

“Tell us all about your ultimate break, your ultimate achievement, your ultimate moment. Post it on our wall, then tag three of your friends. You can post as many as three Ultimate Cheese Treat entries per week. The entry with the most number of ‘likes’ will will get a free Pizza Hut’s Ultimate Cheese on the house,” Caper adds.

Those who want to enjoy the Ultimate Cheese Pizza in the comforts of their home can opt for the Pizza Hut delivery and enjoy big discounts. Treat 1 consists of one medium Ultimate Cheese Pizza with two orders of Spaghetti Bolognese and a 1.5-liter of Pepsi for only P429. You’ll save P137. Treat 2, on the other hand, has family-size Ultimate Cheese Pizza, vanilla pudding for dessert, two orders of Spaghetti Bolognese, and a 1.5-liter of Pepsi for P629. Save as much as P172. These offers apply to Pizza Hut delivery service only.

“Our customers not our competitors inspire us to come up with innovative products. And Pizza Hut’s new Ultimate Cheese Pizza doesn’t disappoint,” adds Caper.

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For inquiries, visit www.pizzahut.com.ph. For delivery, dial 911-1111.