Each year, pizza sees the emergence of fresh gastronomic trends, and 2023 is no different. TidePlateau constantly explores which toppings tantalize pizza aficionados worldwide. We're excited to share our list of this year's standout and greatly favored pizza additions.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Digestive wellness has entered the pizza world with fermented veggies proving to be a surprise sensation on pizzas. Tangy tastes like kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are teaming up with creamy cheese and luscious sauces to add complexity. Extend the health perks of fermented foods, these toppings also present new textural experiences for pizza classics.
Our Fermentation Fete pizza is a showcase of in-house fermented sauerkraut, kimchi, paired with gorgonzola cheese, and a hint of local honey to soften the sharp flavors. Although unconventional, it's swiftly climbed the ranks to become a sought-after specialty offering.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
As more people opt for plant-based nutrition, we're witnessing a surge in demand for pizzas adorned with inventive meat-free options. Beyond usual veggie toppings, breakthroughs in plant-based proteins are providing selections that can satisfy the most ardent carnivores.
Items like plant-based 'Italian sausage' crumbles, spiced tempeh, jackfruit treated as 'pulled pork,' and 'pepperoni' made from pea protein are now staples on our menu. They attract not only vegetarians but also customers seeking distinctive tastes and a meal that's easier on the stomach.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those who like it hot are celebrating, as aficionados are choosing distinctive chilies from specific regions over the usual red pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies are still a favorite, yet now culinary adventurers are warming up to options like aromatic Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang on their pies.
Our World of Spice pizza offers a mix of four different regional chilies, each contributing its own taste to the pie's quadrants. It's a piquant journey that's captured the imaginations of our boldest patrons.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Farm-to-table has evolved to forest-to-pizza, with foraged seasonal ingredients gaining favor. Leading the way are wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, featured prominently during their natural growing seasons.
We're also incorporating springs' wild ramps, sea greens like dulse and nori, and even aromatic spruce tips. These naturally occurring elements offer diners a connection to the wild and flavors that cannot be replicated through cultivation.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
Honey's ability to bridge the sweet-and-savory gap has certainly outlived its status as a mere craze. Following the hot honey trend, 2023 introduces a variety of unique honey types being drizzled on pizzas at the point of service.
Options including truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and even CBD-infused honey are showing up on menus nationwide. These confections provide a boost in flavor, turning even basic pizzas into luxurious culinary creations.
Honorable Mentions
Other toppings that didn't make the top but are still creating quite the stir include:
- Cured egg yolks, finely shredded over the pizza like a dusting of gold
- Pickled fruits, notably stone fruits like peaches and plums
- Ancient grain additions, such as crispy farro or puffed sorghum for crunch
- Gourmet butter drops, in particular cultured or mixed herb varieties
Whether you stick to timeless favorites or seek out new flavor adventures, pizza remains among the most versatile and cherished dishes on the planet. At TidePlateau, we pay homage to timeless recipes while also welcoming novel creations—our menu features both the traditional Margherita and avant-garde fusion pies.
Have these trending toppings made it to your plate? Or do you have your own unique combo in mind that you'd love for us to try? Share with us in the comments or drop a suggestion on your next visit!