With each passing year, new gastronomic fads emerge in the pizza scene and 2023 is not falling short. At Crust & Garnish Haven, keeping tabs on what's delighting pizza aficionados worldwide is our priority. Dive into this year's most innovative and sought-after pizza garnishes.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Emphasizing gastrointestinal wellness has led to the unexpected rise of fermented vegetables as pizza toppings. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are lending a complex zesty taste that pairs perfectly with the deep flavors of cheese and tomato. These toppings don't just offer probiotics; they also introduce unique textural nuances to the pizza experience.
The Fermentation Festivity pizza, a novel item on our menu, includes in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola, all harmonized with a touch of local honey for sweetness. It may seem like an odd mix but has swiftly escalated to the top of our specialty pie list.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The persistent rise of plant-based dining has spurred a surge in demand for pizzas using inventive meat substitutes. These aren't your usual veggie toppings – technological strides in plant proteins have furnished alternatives that even true carnivores can appreciate.
Menu highlights now include crumbled plant-based Italian sausage, seasoned tempeh, marinated jackfruit fashioned into pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni. It's not just vegetarians who are opting for these items; our clientele is selecting them for their distinct tastes and gentle impact on digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with a penchant for the piquant are celebrating the embrace of distinctive regional chili varieties over the conventional red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies continue to be adored, we're now seeing the inclusion of Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora chilies, zesty Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang on our pizzas.
The Spice Trek pizza lets you sample four diverse regional chilies, each imparting its signature taste to separate quarters of the pizza. This fiery voyage has found favor especially among our daring clientele.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
What started as the farm-to-table concept has evolved into forest-to-pizza, with foraged ingredients growing in popularity. Leading this wave are wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, featured during their harvest periods.
Our explorative toppings also include wild spring ramps, sea greens like dulse and nori, and even spruce tips adding a distinctive aromatic essence. These natural offerings invite an earthly connection and tout tastes not replicable in cultivated forms.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The pairing of sweet and savory epitomized by honey has secured its place as a lasting culinary fixture. Advancing hot honey's past fame, this year has unveiled a burst of specialized honey varietals drizzled atop pizzas before serving.
Expect to find truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and honey enhanced with CBD gracing menus nationwide. These gourmet drizzles add nuanced flavors that can transform even ordinary pizzas into a deluxe feast.
Noteworthy Mentions
Additional toppings narrowly missing the top five yet still making a notable impact include:
- Cured egg yolks, finely grated over pizza creating a lavish garnish
- Pickled fruits, notably stone fruits such as peaches and cherries
- Ingredients from heritage grains, like crunchy farro or puffed sorghum, add texture
- Touches of artisan butter, including cultured or herb-infused varieties
No matter if you favor timeless classics or are keen to explore audacious new flavor pairings, pizza retains its status as one of the most versatile and cherished dishes worldwide. At Crust & Garnish Haven, we revere tradition as much as we value innovation, evident in our menu offerings from the iconic Margherita to our avant-garde creations.
Are there any trendsetting toppings you've sampled recently? Or perhaps you have a distinct favorite combination you'd like us to feature? Share your thoughts in the comments section or during your next visit!