Pizza innovation doesn't stand still, and 2023 has unveiled a fresh assortment of topping preferences. At DriftGarden, we keep a watchful eye on what’s becoming a favorite for pizza aficionados worldwide. Here we present a lineup of the thrilling and sought-after toppings that are redefining pizza menus this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
As gut health takes center stage, fermented vegetables are emerging as a top choice for pizza toppings. Expect to enhance your pizza's flavor with the tanginess of kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions that also bring a probiotic boost. These toppings not only benefit your gut health, but they also introduce invigorating new textures to the classic pizza base.
Take for instance our Fermentation Fiesta pie, with in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and a strong blue cheese, all brought into harmony with a dash of locally sourced honey. It might appear unconventional at first, but it’s fast-becoming a highly preferred option among our unique pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The rise in vegetarian diets has certainly impacted the pizza scene, creating a surge in the popularity of plant-derived meat substitutes. Diverging from traditional veggie toppings, the advent of plant proteins has brought about options that even the most ardent carnivores can enjoy.
On our menu, you'll find such varied protein sources as plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, herbed tempeh, jackfruit prepared in a pulled pork style, and pea protein infused pepperoni. These aren’t just catering to vegans – a range of our customers opt for these choices due to their distinctive tastes and easier digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
2023 has witnessed a new appreciation for specific regional chili peppers over the more ubiquitous crushed red pepper. While the Calabrian chili continues to hold its ground, we’re now witnessing the emergence of Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora, Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang across our pizzas.
The Global Heat pizza is a concoction that combines four distinctive regional chilies, each bringing a unique flavor to different sections of the pizza. This fiery experiment has seen a surge in popularity among our patrons who crave an audacious flavor experience.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The farm-to-table movement has extended to include foraged finds, marking a notable trend on the pizza scene. Leading the pack are wild mushrooms like chanterelles, morels, and hen-of-the-woods, which appear atop pizzas in their natural seasons.
Additionally, we’ve embraced forest finds such as wild leeks in the spring, oceanic greens like dulse and nori seaweeds, and even fragrant spruce tips. These ingredients offer a connection to nature and present flavors that aren’t available through ordinary cultivation.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay of sweet and savory established by honey has become a staple accent on pizzas. Following up on the hot honey trend from preceding years, 2023 has introduced a burst of specialty honey varieties such as truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, and rich mesquite honey, as a garnish for pizzas right before serving.
These honey drizzles don't just add sweetness; they infuse our pizzas with an added layer of sophistication, turning simple recipes into gourmet experiences.
Honorable Mentions
A few other unique toppings that have also been in the limelight, albeit not making it to our top list, include:
- Cured egg yolks, delicately grated over pizzas for a velvety finish
- Pickled fruits, with a preference towards stone fruits such as peaches and cherries
- Grains with heritage such as crisp farro or popped sorghum for crunchy textures
- Handcrafted butter varieties (like cultured or infused herb butters)
No matter if you hold fast to traditional pizza favorites or are open to exploring innovative flavor combinations, pizza's versatility makes it a universally adored dish. At DriftGarden, we celebrate time-honored traditions and also pave the way for modernization—that's why our menu features both the classic Margherita and avant-garde specialty pizzas.
Have you had the pleasure of trying any of these newfangled toppings? Or is there a special topping mix you’d love to see us introduce? Feel free to share in the comments or on your next visit!