The dynamic realm of pizza garnishes continues to evolve annually, and 2023 upholds this tradition. At AlderHeath, tracking global trends that delight the palates of pizza aficionados is our forte. Behold our curated list of the year's most thrilling and favored pizza toppings.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gut health has taken center stage in the pizzeria scene, witnessing an unexpected rise in fermented veggies atop pizzas. These toppings introduce a burst of intricate sourness, courtesy of kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions, that pairs perfectly with the creamy taste of cheese and tomato sauce. Besides offering a probiotic boost, they add novel textures to the time-honored pizza.
The Fermentation Festivity pizza, sporting our in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola, topped off with a local honey drizzle to mellow out the sour notes, may be an unconventional blend, yet it's rapidly soared to the top of our specialty pizza requests.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge of plant-centric diets hasn't bypassed the pizza industry, with a noticeable demand spike for innovative meat substitutions on our pies. These aren't just typical veggie toppings; breakthroughs in plant-based protein have brought forth selections bound to content even the staunchest carnivores.
Options like plant-based crumbled Italian sausage, flavor-infused tempeh, jackfruit 'pulled pork,' and pea protein 'pepperoni,' now augment our menu. These proteins captivate not solely vegetarians but also patrons craving distinctive tastes and a less heavy meal.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with a penchant for spice are celebrating! This year, there's a preference for distinct regional chili types as opposed to indiscriminate red pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies still hold sway, yet flavors such as the smoky Spanish ñora chilies, fruity aji amarillo from Peru, and Korean gochujang paste are also gracing pizzas with their presence.
Global Heat pizza is our spicy sojourn, delivering a quartet of distinct regional chilies, imparting their individual taste notes to each quadrant of the pie, a favorite among our daring diners.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Wild ingredients plucked from nature signal an evolution in the farm-to-table ethos — a trend evident in the rising demand for foraged pizza toppings. Leading this trend are wild mushrooms, with chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods mushrooms featuring heavily when in season.
Our culinary experiments extend to wild ramps, sea-farmed greens such as dulse and nori, and even spruce tips to add a distinct aromatic flair. These forest finds don't just connect our customers with nature but also deliver unmatchable flavors not found in cultivated varieties.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
Sweet and savory contrasts realized through a drizzle of honey have transitioned from a fleeting flair to a staple topping. This year, we're witnessing a variety of unique honey types gracing pizzas. Truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and CBD-enhanced honey drizzles are enhancing flavor profiles at eateries nationwide, transforming even the most basic pizzas into gourmet offerings.
Honorable Mentions
Additional toppings that narrowly missed making the primary list, yet certainly deserve acknowledgment, include:
- Preserved egg yolks, generously grated over pizza for a velvety finish
- Pickled stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Ancient grain sprinkles for added crunch, including crispy farro and puffed sorghum
- Gourmet dollops of butter, featuring cultured or mixed herb varieties
No matter if you lean towards time-honored tastes or are inclined to indulge in novel topping trials, pizza's adaptability and universal appeal hold firm. At AlderHeath, we celebrate the classics while propelling culinary creativity, which is why our menu hosts both the evergreen Margherita and state-of-the-art creations.
Have any of these top picks graced your palate? Perhaps you harbor a preferred topping combo you'd wish to see us offer? Share your experiences in the comments or upon your next visit to our establishment!