When east meets west: the Baozza

Traditional Chinese steamed buns called "Baozi" with meat filling have been redesigned by innovative entrepreneurs Alex Cree and Loren Heinold, using a savory steamed dough and filling it with pizza ingredients. [Photos: Baozza/Alex Cree]

A new twist on an old concept: pizza ingredients inside a traditional Chinese steamed-bun is getting trending online, and becoming a huge hit in Beijing with some of the locals and expats alike. 

The new fusion food has been appropriately named "Baozza" as it is a fusion between traditional Chinese baozi and pizza.

The restaurant, located in Beijing serves the buns that come in flavors like margherita, meat lover, BBQ chicken and Hawaiian jalapeño. 

The restaurant, located in Beijing serves the buns that come in flavors like margherita, meat lover, BBQ chicken and Hawaiian jalapeño. 

The buns which are stuffed with chewy cheese, tomato, and other pizza toppings go for a reasonable 20 yuan for 2 buns (about $2.90 US). [Photos: Baozza/Alex Cree]

The idea of using the food, traditionally stuffed with pork or vegetables, came to the founders as they frequently traveled to southern China for client meetings as consultants.

Alex Cree, one of the co-founders told Reuters, "We were talking about the idea of maybe combining Bao with more traditional American flavours like burger and different things and somebody said 'pizza baozi'." 

Cree continued, "I said 'bao-zza!' and the more I thought about it, the more I thought there might be something to this." 

The new fusion food has been appropriately named "Baozza" as it is a fusion between traditional Chinese baozi and pizza. [Photos: Baozza/Alex Cree]

"We have a lot of people who only order one or two Baozzas, worried that they might not be so good, but who then turn around and ask immediately for more," co-founder Loren Heinold told The Beijinger.

Traditional Chinese steamed buns called "Baozi" with meat filling have been redesigned by innovative entrepreneurs Alex Cree and Loren Heinold, using a savory steamed dough and filling it with pizza ingredients. [Photos: Baozza/Alex Cree]