Each new year introduces fresh trends in the pizza sector, and 2023 is no different. At FirthlanePark, we continually observe what's captivating pizza aficionados worldwide. Here's our list of the top exciting and sought-after pizza toppings of the year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Pizzerias are embracing the health trend by featuring fermented vegetables, which have become unexpected favorites atop pizzas this year. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions bring a zesty taste that pairs well with the creamy texture of pizza cheese and sauce. These toppings are not just tasty; they also offer probiotic benefits and add new textural elements to the traditional pizza experience.
Our Fermentation Festivity pizza includes our own sauerkraut, kimchi, and bleu cheese, topped off with a splash of artisanal honey to counteract the sourness. This inventive blend may seem strange but has rapidly turned into one of our signature requested pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
With the rise of plant-based diets, there's been a noticeable uptick in the request for pizzas topped with innovative meat substitutes. Apart from the usual veggie toppings, breakthroughs in plant proteins now provide alternatives that even true carnivores can appreciate.
Options such as crumbled plant-based Italian sausage, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit pulled pork prepared in a marinade, and pea protein pepperoni are now permanent items on our list. These toppings are chosen not just by vegetarians but by many customers who enjoy their distinct tastes and less hefty digestive impact.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
For those who favor spice, 2023 welcomed a new trend towards unique chili varieties from specific regions, rather than the common red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies continue to be popular, vibrant spices like the sweetly-smoked Spanish ñora chilies, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang sauce are gaining traction on our pizzas.
Our International Zest pizza is sprinkled with four distinct regional chilies. Each adds a different taste sensation to each quadrant of the pie. This fiery concoction has become quite a hit, especially amongst our clientele willing to explore bold flavors.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Pizza lovers are increasingly valuing locally foraged, seasonal ingredients, a twist on the farm-to-table concept. Leading this trend, specific wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods mushrooms are in demand during their growing seasons.
In addition to these mushrooms, we've played with ingredients like wild ramps (a kind of wild leek), seaweed such as dulse and nori, and even spruce tips for an extraordinary aromatic touch. These wild picks link customers directly with nature and offer flavors that cannot be replicated in a cultivated environment.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The contrasting tastes of sweet and savory brought together by honey have established their place in the pizza world. Continuously building upon the recent trend of hot honey, 2023 has seen the surge of specialty honeys applied to pizzas just before they're served.
Exquisite varieties including truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and CBD-infused honey have been introduced in pizza parlors nationwide. These gourmet toppings contribute intricacy and refine even the most straightforward pizza blends into gourmet creations.
Honorable Mentions
Other toppings that didn't make our top five but are still causing excitement include:
- Salted cured egg yolks, grated finely over the pizza for a luxurious topping
- Sweet pickled fruits, notably stone fruits such as nectarines and apricots
- Textures from heritage grains, like crunchy farro or puffed sorghum
- Dabs of gourmet butter, specifically cultured or blended with herbs
Pizza remains one of the most flexible and widely enjoyed dishes, whether you're a traditionalist who favours time-honoured favourites or an intrepid eater seeking new flavor combinations. At FirthlanePark, we respect tradition while also prizing innovation—this means you'll find both vintage Margherita and avant-garde specialty pizzas on our menu.
Are there any trendsetting toppings you've tried already? Or perhaps you've got a unique favourite mix you'd wish to see on our menu? Tell us in the comment section or when you drop by next!