Sarasota Residents Devour Profane Pizzas Slamming President Joe Biden

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — A Sarasota pizzeria is getting political with its toppings.

Nearly two weeks ago, Solorzano’s Pizzerias, which has six locations throughout Sarasota County and a few opening soon in Tennessee, added the “FJB” pizza to its menu as an insult to the president.

The pizza features a large “FJB” written in pepperoni. That stands for “F--- Joe Biden,” said the outspoken local pizza chain’s founder and owner, Phil Solorzano.

The new menu item was inspired by Solorzano’s frustrations with supply chain issues — both the rising cost of certain items and the unavailability of others — which he blames on Biden.

“Pepperoni more than doubled. Most products have doubled,” he said. “Kenny (Palin, general manager and franchise owner,) has been telling me for months there are products you can’t find, that are out for two to three weeks. It’s just a pain in the butt.”

So, Solorzano called up Palin and said, “Yo, Kenny, put ‘FJB’ — ‘F--- Joe Biden’ — on a pizza.”

Related Story: 'Let's Go Brandon' Seen On Sign At Sarasota Walgreens: Report

He added, “It’s the same pepperoni, the same distributor, but twice the price. We’re taking a jab at Biden.”

Palin, who has worked with the chain for seven years as general manager before purchasing the Gulf Gate/Siesta Key and Longboat Key locations Nov. 1, said it’s frustrating as a business owner.

“It costs more to make, but we sell it at the same price,” he said.

Since introducing it, the “FJB” has “really blown up,” Palin added. “It’s taken on a life of its own.”

During the first couple of days, they only sold a handful of “FJB” pies, but sales picked up. Now, most days, the chain sells more than 20 “FJB” pizzas, Solorzano said.

Because of the success, they’re introducing the “LGB” pizza Thursday — that stands for “Let’s Go Brandon.”

The phrase "Let's go, Brandon" took off after an Oct. 2 incident at a NASCAR race in Alabama won by Brandon Brown, a driver who was being interviewed by an NBC Sports reporter.

The crowd behind Brown was chanting something, and the reporter suggested it was saying "Let's go, Brandon" to cheer the driver. But it became increasingly clear to viewers that the crowd was saying, "F--- Joe Biden."

Since then, the phrase has become known among conservatives as a euphemism for insulting President Biden. It’s been uttered on the House floor by a Republican lawmaker and used frequently by Biden critics on social media and at protests to slam the Democratic president.

During an interview about the “FJB” pizza with the Washington Post, Solorzano said an editor with the news outlet suggested they branch out to make an “LGB” pizza.

“It’s a little less vulgar,” Solorzano said.

Like what you're reading? Invite a friend to subscribe to free Sarasota newsletters and real-time email alerts.

Still, he insists his “FJB” pizza is all in good fun and most of his customers know it.

“We’re getting both reactions, obviously. People know who we are and who I am on social media. I kind of show no mercy and people know my opinion,” he said. “They agree with us or if they don’t agree with us, they laugh at us and know we’re joking around most of the time. That’s how I am.”

One Facebook user commenting on a picture of the new pizza said they were planning a date night just to get an “FJB” pizza, while another asked if they delivered to the White House.

Another user commented, “No place or need for this kind of stuff. We need healing in this country, not more division.”

The chain receives comments from “some real haters,” Solorzano added. Most of these are people who live out of the state or even out of the country, he said. “They’ve never been to Florida. They’ve never been to our restaurant. They were never going to eat here in the first place.”

And he’s not afraid to respond to their harshest critics on social media.

“I’m from Jersey and the best way I explain it is real Jersey pizza equals real Jersey people,” he said. “We’re honest people. This is how I feel. Just because I own a business doesn’t mean I signed away my freedom of speech.”

His advice for those who don’t appreciate the latest addition to Solorzano’s menu: “If you don’t like it. Just scroll by.”