Bucks Coal Fired Pizza Instagram
When life gives you invasive species, why not make pizza?
That’s the thinking at Bucks Coal Fired Pizza, where owner Frankie Cecere decided to turn Florida’s falling lizards into a culinary conversation starter. But what began as an entrepreneurial response to a record-breaking cold snap has spiraled into the latest outrage spectacle.
Here’s how it unfolded.
During the recent deep freeze that swept through Florida, temperatures dropped so sharply that iguanas — cold-blooded and not built for the chill — literally tumbled from trees. The reptiles, considered invasive across the state, have long overrun neighborhoods and waterways. While some locals have grown fond of the scaly squatters, state officials have repeatedly warned about their ecological impact.
Enter a bold idea.
“My buddy hit me up and was like, ‘How do you feel about me bringing in some iguana meat and making iguana pizza?’ I said, ‘Absolutely,’” Cecere said.
And just like that, iguana pizza was born.
At first, the phones wouldn’t stop ringing.
“We have received about 1,500 calls for iguana pizza … It’s highly sought after, apparently,” Cecere reported. For a moment, the shop’s unconventional topping looked like a runaway success. Adventurous foodies and curious locals alike wanted a slice.
But then came the backlash. Suddenly, social media lit up with accusations and outrage. Some critics even called Florida’s health department, alleging wrongdoing.
“People called in saying we had live iguanas in house, like an animal cruelty issue,” Cecere explained. “We don’t have live iguanas here.” Online critics piled on.
“Nope, and the fact that he put the lizard in the oven and then used the blade to cut the pie, I’ll never eat there,” one furious Instagram commenter wrote.
“This has to be against every health code violation in the book! This place should be shut down!” another declared.
Never mind that many Florida restaurants pride themselves on serving gator and venison — menu items that rarely raise eyebrows in a state known for its wild game cuisine. Apparently, for some, iguana is a bridge too far.
Cecere insists he believed the offering would fall under Florida’s “catch and cook” approach, since iguanas are invasive and can be harvested without a license. But he says regulatory gray areas have complicated matters.
“I thought it would fall under catch and cook,” he said.
“You don’t need a license to harvest iguanas because they’re an invasive species, but apparently there’s no statute for it,” he added.
For now, the shop is scaling back the controversial topping while sorting through the red tape.
In a state battling invasive species and celebrating culinary creativity, one small-business owner’s attempt to innovate has collided head-on with the outrage machine.
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