With each new year, the pizza industry sees the emergence of fresh culinary tendencies, and 2023 is no different. Here at Crust & Craft Pizzeria, keeping tabs on the flavors enticing pizza aficionados globally is our forte. We present to you our selection of the top-celebrated pizza garnishes making a splash this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
The heightened attention to healthy guts has ushered fermented vegetables into the spotlight as pizza toppings. The complexity of tangy flavors brought by kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions play off beautifully against the creamy cheese and savory sauce. These toppings don't just enhance gut health with probiotics; they also add new textural variations to the familiar pizza base.
The Fermentation Fiesta pizza at our establishment combines house-prepared sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola, with a touch of local honey drizzled over to counteract the sourness. This peculiar mix might seem odd at first, yet it has swiftly grown into one of our most sought-after specialty dishes.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The popularity of a plant-centric diet is on the rise, engendering a surge in pizza toppings that are crafted from ingenious meat substitutes. Beyond ordinary veggies, novel plant-based protein innovations have won over even the most diehard carnivores.
Our menu now regularly showcases plant-derived Italian sausage bits, flavorful tempeh, jackfruit pulled pork with a marinade, and protein-rich pepperoni from peas. Not only vegetarians, many of our patrons opt for these proteins due to their distinct flavors and the ease they bring to digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those who favor a fiery slice are finding joy in 2023, as pizza lovers are tuning into specific regional chilies in place of the ubiquitous crushed red pepper. The adoration for Calabrian chilies has endured, yet now we're also noticing a prevalence of spices like the smoky ñora chilies from Spain, the sweet and fruity aji amarillo from Peru, and Korean gochujang on pizzas.
The Global Heat pizza we offer is a spicy voyage with four diverse regional chilies, each lending its individual flavor characteristics to each quadrant of the pizza. Particularly popular with our daring customers, this pizza is a culinary journey in itself.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The ethos of 'farm-to-table' has metamorphosed into 'forest-to-pizza', led by the burgeoning appeal of seasonal foraged picks. For this trend, wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods are prominent figures, featured during their peak seasons.
We foresee the use of springtime ramps (wild leeks), oceanic greens like dulse and nori, and even pine tips to bestow a singular aromatic twist. These elements provide a connection to the earth's wilderness and offer flavors that commercial cultivation cannot replicate.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay of sweet and savory continues to delight as honey solidifies itself as a perennial favorite and not a mere trend. Culinary exploration has fueled the introduction of various exotic honeys as a finishing touch on pizzas just before they are delivered to the table in 2023.
Our pizzas may be garnished with truffle-infused honey, garlic honey that has been allowed to ferment, smoky mesquite honey, elevating what might be an ordinary pizza into a delicacy.
Honorable Mentions
Some other garnishes that nearly made it to our principal list but still deserve acknowledgment include:
- Cured egg yolks, delicately grated over the pizza creating a shimmering topping
- Pickled fruit offerings, particularly stone fruits such as peaches and apricots
- Toppings using heritage grains like crispy spelt or popped sorghum adding crunch
- Blots of Hand-crafted butter, specifically those enriched with cultured milk or mixed with herbal infusions
No matter if you lean towards the tried-and-true classics or you're an explorer of bold new flavor combos, pizza remains an infinitely versatile and cherished meal. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria, we tip our hats to tradition while also welcoming progressive tastes—that's why our menu features both the timeless Margherita and our latest adventurous creations.
Have you sampled any of these modish toppings, or perhaps have a proprietary blend you wish to see on our menu? Share your thoughts in the comments or on your upcoming visit!