MELBOURNE, Dec 17 — An Australian pizza maker who boasts the title of World Pizza Champion has created a pie topped with 99 cheeses.

You could call Johnny di Francesco’s “Super Cheese” pizza an amped-up version of the classic quattro fromaggi pizza.

After snatching the title of World Pizza Champion from 600 international competitors in Parma, Italy, this summer, di Francesco gave himself another challenge in a promotional tie-in with the DVD release of the latest Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie.

To defy Donatello’s assertion that a 99-cheeser would be a “culinary impossibility”, the pizza maestro took it upon himself to make the impossible possible by melting down 94 cheeses in a large pot.

The cheese sauce was then blast-chilled to form a solid block of cheese to create the base.

Buffalo mozzarella, goat cheese, fior di latte, ricotta and raspadura were then sprinkled on top to bring the cheese-count to 99.

The cheeses are sourced from Australia as well as around the world, and include taleggio, aged cheddar, double cream brie, pecorino and gorgonzola, reported The Guardian Australia Food Blog.

Because it doesn’t melt well, the most common cheese topping, mozzarella, was used sparingly.

The Super Cheese made its debut at di Francesco’s pizzeria 400 Gradi in Melbourne, where it sold for A$23 (RM80.50).

And though it sounds overwhelming, The Guardian calls the creation “fantastic”.

“Di Francesco has created a balanced and surprisingly nuanced pizza,” it says. “It sounds like a supersized hot mess, the kind of novelty cuisine you might see on a menu at a suburban pizza and ribs joint, but it is anything but.” — AFP-Relaxnews