With each new year, the pizza landscape is infused with fresh culinary fashions, and 2023 is no different. Our team at DriftBridgePaper is dedicated to pinpointing the flavors that captivate pizza enthusiasts worldwide. Behold our list of the year's most attention-grabbing and beloved pizza toppings.
1. Fermented Vegetables
The well-being of our digestive system has influenced the pizza scene, with fermented veggies emerging as an unexpected sensation atop pizzas. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are lending sophisticated, sour notes that enhance the creamy cheese and tangy sauce. These fermented additions boast digestive health advantages and infuse a distinctive textural twist to the classic pizza.
Our new Probiotic Party pizza includes our own sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, with a sweet drizzle of artisanal honey to soften the acidity. This combination may seem out of the ordinary, yet it's swiftly risen to be a favorite among our specialty offerings.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
As plant-based diets gain momentum, we've observed an uptick in the demand for pizzas that showcase inventive non-meat options. Beyond typical veggie toppings, breakthroughs in plant-based protein have yielded variations that can even satisfy die-hard carnivores.
Plant-powered Italian sausage bits, spiced tempeh, marinated jackfruit mimicking pulled pork, and pea protein designed to taste like pepperoni have found a home on our menu. Not just for the herbivores, these protein choices draw in customers for their distinctive flavors and more agreeable effect on digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with a penchant for spiciness, take note! This year, pizza aficionados have shown a preference for particular regional chili varieties instead of generic red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies remain popular, we're also observing a surge in varieties like the sweet Aleppo pepper, Spanish smoked ñora chilies, zesty Peruvian aji amarillo, and piquant Korean gochujang gracing pizzas.
Our Spice Trail pizza is adorned with a blend of four unique regional chilies, each imparting its distinct flavor profile to the pizza quarters. It's a fiery tour that's been remarkably popular among our patrons inclined to daring experiences.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The local sourcing concept has expanded to pizza with the growing trend of seasonal foraged toppings. Leading the pack are wild mushrooms; think chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods featured during their natural growing seasons.
In addition to mushrooms, we've been playing with wild ramps, oceanic greens like dulse and nori, and even fragrant spruce tips. These natural elements offer customers a connection to nature and tastes that can't be replicated with cultivated ingredients.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay of sweet and savory flavors from honey has become a mainstay, not just a fleeting fancy. Riding on the tail of the hot honey craze, this year we've witnessed an array of distinctive honey varieties enhancing pizzas just before they're served.
Opulent truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, aromatic mesquite honey, and CBD-infused honey are now found in kitchens nationwide. These luxurious drizzles impart complexity and turn even the simplest pizza creations into culinary masterpieces.
Honorable Mentions
Other toppings that didn't make it into our top five but are still creating a buzz include:
- Cured egg yolks, finely grated over pizzas for a rich umami shower
- Preserved fruits, particularly stone fruits like peaches and cherries
- Ancient grain garnishes, such as crunchy farro or popped sorghum, for added texture
- Gourmet dabs of artisanal butter, including cultured or mixed herb butters
Whether you're someone who honors classic tastes or a gourmet explorer willing to try innovative flavor pairings, pizza remains among the most versatile and popular dishes globally. At DriftBridgePaper, we respect traditional methods while also embracing the new—that's why our menu features both the timeless Margherita and the avant-garde creations.
Have any of these trendsetting toppings caught your fancy? Or perhaps you have an inventive topping suggestion for us? Share in the comments or during your next visit to our location!