As we advance through the year, the pizza scene continues to evolve with novel culinary waves. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria., keeping an eye on pizza enthusiasts' evolving preferences is what we do best. Here's our curated list of pinnacle pizza toppings that are dominating taste trends in 2023.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gut health has stormed into the pizza topping terrain, propelling fermented veggies to unexpected fame on pizza pies. Tangy staples like kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are merging their complex flavors with the creamy textures of cheese and tomato bases. These probiotic-rich options are more than just a health craze—they're reshaping traditional pizza canvases with their alluring textures.
Our Gut-Health Gala pizza is a hot-selling item, decked with in-house pickled sauerkraut and kimchi, coupled with pungent gorgonzola, all mellowed with a local honey drizzle. It's a combination that may seem avant-garde at first, but has swiftly climbed the ranks in our specialty pizza offerings.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The trajectory of plant-based diets shows no sign of slowing down, and the impulse for meat-free alternatives has seeped into the realm of pizza. Throwing a curveball to traditional veggie toppings, we've introduced a variety of plant-based protein options which have received nods of approval even from die-hard carnivores.
From our kitchen, plant-derived toppings like crumbled Italian sausage alternatives, richly-seasoned tempeh, jackfruit in a 'pulled pork' style, and pea protein crafted to mimic pepperoni are causing a stir on our menu. These toppings aren't just catching the eye of vegetarians but also of customers chasing distinct tastes and a less hefty post-meal feeling.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
For those with a penchant for heated flavor profiles, 2023 has marked an embrace of distinct regional chili types, moving beyond commonplace red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies continue their stronghold in the market, we're witnessing the rise of spices like fragrant Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora chilies, Peruvian aji amarillo with its fruity notes, and the depth of Korean gochujang on our pizzas.
The Spice Trail Explorer pizza offers a quadrant of these diverse chilies, providing a unique tasting journey with each slice. This fiery culinary experience has found favor especially among our patrons who love a daring dining endeavor.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Wild, foraged produce has transitioned from high-end restaurants to become a celebrated pizza topping trend. Prominent among these are wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods which grace our pizzas in accordance to their harvest seasons.
We've also ventured into wild greens like spring ramps, marine plants such as dulse and nori, and have even tried spruce tips for their distinctive fragrant contribution. These wild-crafted ingredients not only offer a taste of the wilderness but deliver flavors that cultivated options cannot replicate.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
Sweet coupled with savory defines the successful addition of honey to pizza, a nuance that has grown to be more than a transient vogue. Progressing from the beloved hot honey, this year we're adoring an array of specialty honey like truffle-infused, garlic ferment, mesquite flavors, and even varieties infused with CBD, drizzled over pizzas for a final touch of perfection.
These novel drizzles are transforming even the most uncomplicated of pizzas into artisanal masterpieces.
Honorable Mentions
While the following toppings didn't quite make the prime list, they are nonetheless creating a stir:
- Cured egg yolks, delicately grated over pizzas creating a golden cascade
- Pickled fruits, with a spotlight on stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Ancient grains for a crunchy element, think crispy farro or popped sorghum
- Gourmet butter varieties, comprised of cultured or compounded herbs
Whether your taste buds lean towards timeless classics or you're keen to explore avant-garde flavor consortia, pizza remains the ultimate canvas for culinary creativity. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria., we pay homage to time-honored traditions as well as contemporary innovations, which is why our menu features both the iconic Margherita and the most current specialty pies.
Have these trending toppings whet your appetite? Or perhaps you have a unique topping suggestion for us? Share your thoughts in the comments, or during your next visit at Crust & Craft Pizzeria.!