Each year, the pizza landscape is influenced by new gastronomic fashions, and 2023 is no different. At CafeHarvestTable, we keep a close eye on the flavors that capture the hearts of pizza aficionados worldwide. Below is our collection of the top trending and adored pizza toppings for the year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Pizzerias have embraced the gut health trend with an unexpected rise in fermented vegetables on pizzas. Ingredients like kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are mixing zesty flavors with the creamy cheese and sauce. Not only do these fermented options bring probiotic goodness, but they're also adding new textures to the pizza experience.
Our Fermentation Fiesta pizza is a crowd favorite, with in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and blue cheese, topped off with a sweet local honey. Though it may be an odd pairing, it's fast becoming a top choice among our specialty offerings.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge of plant-based diets has sparked a growing request for pizzas with inventive meat substitutes. Going beyond standard veggie toppings, breakthroughs in plant-based proteins have developed options even steadfast carnivores can enjoy.
Options like plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, well-spiced tempeh, jackfruit pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni have become staples in our offerings. These toppings are not just a hit with the vegetarian crowd but are chosen for their distinct tastes and easier digestion by many of our patrons.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those who favor spice are thrilled with the recent turn towards specific regional chili varieties over run-of-the-mill red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies continue to be in vogue, we're also finding peppers like aleppo, smoky Spanish ñora chilies, sweet Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang making their way onto our pizzas.
The Global Heat pizza at our eatery is a combo of four distinct regional chilies, each imparting its unique taste to sections of the pizza. It's a fiery journey that's popular with daring food lovers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Seasonal foraged ingredients are gaining popularity, evolving the farm-to-table concept to something we like to call forest-to-pizza. Wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods are regularly featured, aligning with their natural harvest times.
Apart from mushrooms, we've dabbled in wild ramps, seaweeds like dulse and nori, and even aromatic spruce tips. These natural ingredients connect eaters to the wilderness while offering flavors not found in cultivated produce.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
Honey, known for its delightful contrast with savory notes, has secured its spot well beyond a momentary fashion. The current year has seen an array of unique honey variations like truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and specialty honey added to pizzas right before they're served.
This final flourish adds a layers of sophistication, transforming even the simplest of pies into gourmet creations.
Honorable Mentions
Several other toppings didn't quite make our top five but are definitely worth mentioning for the impact they're having:
- Cured egg yolks, delicately grated over the pizza like fine yellow snow
- Pickled fruits, notably stone fruits such as peaches and apricots
- Whole grains for texture, including crispy farro or popped sorghum
- Specialty butter dollops, particularly those that are cultured or laced with herbs
No matter if you're someone who holds the classic pizza toppings dear or if you're open to novel and bold flavor pairings, pizza remains one of the most versatile and cherished dishes worldwide. At CafeHarvestTable, we pay homage to tradition while we also embrace the new—that's why we serve both the time-honored Margherita and revolutionary gourmet pizzas.
Have any of these avant-garde toppings caught your attention? Or do you have your unique favorite that you'd like us to consider including on our menu? Share with us by commenting or on your next visit!