Pizaro's Pizza is offering a Pop Rocks pizza for July 4th weekend.

Unconventional food pairings are divisive—we all remember the infamous mac and cheese ice cream—but some can pleasantly surprise you by how weirdly they work together. For July 4th weekend, the good folks at Pizaro's Pizza Napoletana are trying to convince Houston diners to try pizza ... with Pop Rocks sprinkled on top.

The novelty item is an Independence Day special called the Star Spangled Pizza, whose toppings include mozzarella and ricotta shaped like stars, chorizo and jalapeños. The Pop Rocks are optional, presented on the side in their packet, but as they say: Go big or go home.

Pizaro's owner, Nicole Bean, came up with the oddball combination, a first-time offering for the restaurant, which has locations in Montrose and Memorial.

"I wanted to create something unique for the Fourth of July," Bean said. "The first things that come to mind: sparklers, fireworks and those old-school poppers you throw on the ground."

As well as Pop Rocks, Pizaro's new pizza has star-shaped mozzarella and ricotta for July 4th.

Bean says the Pizaro's team is always testing the limits with their daily pizza specials and loves to create interesting mash-ups. The pizzeria's banh mi pizza and pickle pizza, for example, are very popular. She's been working on developing the perfect Star Spangled Pizza with Pop Rocks for a few weeks now, and her staff helped her taste-test it.

"Knowing that moisture will release the CO2 from the candy, I knew the pizza had to have sauce or some kind or drizzle that would allow for the fireworks to occur," said Bean. "The fun doesn't stop at just the visual effects: When customers bite into the pizza with the Pop Rocks added, they will experience the continual release of the CO2 candy in their mouths."

It is important to Bean that the Pop Rocks do not completely take over the flavor of the pizza. Rather, she wanted the candy to add a subtle sweetness and complement the other components of the pie: the savoriness of the chorizo, the spice of the jalapeños and the coolness of the ricotta.

Calling it a "science experiment," Bean says she wants the Pop Rocks pizza to take people back to their childhoods.

The Star Spangled Pizza will be available starting July 1, until it sells out. Plant-based chorizo can be substituted on request. The special pie costs $21 for a Napoletana style, $21 or $30 for a small or large Detroit-style pizza, and $30 for the New York style.

Find it: 11177 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77079 Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, noon-8 p.m.

Find it: 1000 West Gray Street, Houston, TX 77019 Hours: Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Sunday, noon-8 p.m.

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Emma Balter is the food editor for Chron.

She was previously an entertainment reporter for the Houston Chronicle, writing food, drink and feature stories. Before joining the Chronicle in March 2020, Balter worked for Wine Spectator magazine for six years as a writer, editor and tasting coordinator. She has also contributed to Condé Nast Traveler, Food & Wine, Eater, PureWow, Chowhound and VinePair, among others.

Balter grew up in Paris, France, where she got an early taste for good food and wine. She studied English Literature at Newcastle University in the U.K. and was the lifestyle editor of the student newspaper. She currently lives in southwest Houston.

Follow her on Twitter at @EmmaBalter