400 Gradi Is Making a Literal 99-Cheese Pizza

The world has witnessed pizza spinoffs aplenty since the first pizzeria supposedly opened in Naples back in 1738. But if there's one thing most pizza lovers can agree on, it's that cheese makes everything a whole lot better.

So, you can imagine the cheesy grins all over Melbourne as 400 Gradi this week announced the addition of a 99-cheese pizza to its Melbourne menus for one glorious day. Don't go assuming that the number 99 is hyperbole — this pizza will have literally 99 cheeses of varying textures and tastes in both the cheese base and the extra cheeses on top. Think fior di latte, mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan...literally All The Cheese. 

Created by 400 Gradi owner and winner of the world's best pizza title Johnny Di Francesco, the hallowed pizza will only be available on Monday, September 5 in celebration of America's National Cheese Pizza Day (apparently that's a thing). 

It's not the first time Di Francesco has brought the fabled 99-cheese pizza into reality — he originally created it to coincide with the release of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (the animals who dreamed up the idea of the 99-cheese pizza) movie back in 2014. Since then, he's been hard at work, nipping, tucking and experimenting with cheese ratios to ensure this latest iteration is truly a cheese lover's dream personified.

The 99-cheese pizza will be gracing the menus at Gradi restaurants across Melbourne, including the original 400 Gradi in Brunswick East, Gradi Crown, Gradi Eastland and 400 Gradi Essendon.