As we traverse the new year, the pizza scene is enriched with emerging culinary fashions. Here at Crust & Craft Pizzeria, our commitment lies in tracking and offering what captures the palates of pizza aficionados globally. Feast your eyes on the most thrilling and sought-after pizza toppings that are currently trending.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gut wellness has entered the sphere of pizza garnishes, with fermented veggies as a novel sensation. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and tangy pickled onions are enhancing pizzas with their complex and savory essences. These toppings are packed with probiotics and add a novel textured twist to conventional pizza fare.
Our Probiotic Party pie stars homemade sauerkraut, kimchi, and intense gorgonzola cheese, all tied together with a sweet drizzle of local honey to soften the sharpness. This peculiar concoction has swiftly climbed the ladder to become a fan favorite for our specialty pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The escalating enthusiasm for plant-based diets has seen a corresponding swell in demand for pizzas adorned with innovative meat alternatives. Plants have proven their prowess beyond mere veggie toppings, as meat substitutes like plant-based crumbles, flavored tempeh, marinated jackfruit, and pea protein products bring satisfaction to all, not just vegetarians for their intriguing tastes and gentler impact on digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Lovers of all things spicy are finding bliss this year with the emerging trend of specific regional chili varieties as toppings, rather than an anonymous mix of red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies continue to hold strong, other flavors such as the smoky Spanish ñora chilies, fruit-flavored Peruvian aji amarillo, and the favored Korean gochujang have begun to make their way onto pizzas everywhere.
Our International Spice Trek pizza is a spicy exploration that offers a quartet of distinct chili peppers from around the globe, creating a blazing journey for the palate and is particularly loved by our patrons with a zeal for heat.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Echoes of the farm-to-table movement can be felt with the burgeoning popularity of wild foraged ingredients making their way from the forests to pizzas. Wild mushrooms including chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods mushrooms are among the foraged stars, depending on their picking season.
Aside from mushrooms, we've dabbled with wild ramps, marine greens such as dulse and nori, and even fresh spruce tips for an aromatic twist. Such ingredients forge a connection to the wild and present flavors that cannot be replicated by farmed varieties.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The contrasting notes of sweet and savory imparted by honey are now solidified in the culinary landscape. Enhancing the trend of hot honey observed in past years, 2023 sees the rise in popularity of various artisanal honey drizzles enhancing pizzas just before they're served.
From truffle to fermented garlic, mesquite to CBD-enriched honey, these ambrosial finishes add further dimension and transform a simple pizza into a delicacy.
Honorable Mentions
Other toppings that are just outside our top five but still creating a buzz include:
- Cured egg yolks, finely grated over the pizza for an exquisite effect
- Pickled fruits, with a notable mention for stone fruits like peaches and apricots
- Heritage grains, such as toasted farro or puffed sorghum, adding crunch
- Handcrafted butter additions, particularly those which are cultured or herb-infused
Whether you're someone who sides with the time-honored classics or a connoisseur eager for new flavor fusions, pizza remains a universal dish that can be endlessly personalized. At Crust & Craft Pizzeria, we pay homage to tradition while we venture into the realm of the new—which is why our menu boasts favorites like the classic Margherita alongside our more avant-garde creations.
Have you sampled any of these toppings that are currently in vogue? Or maybe you have a novel topping idea you'd like us to consider? Share your thoughts in the comments, or on your next visit!