As the calendar flips each year, pizzerias eagerly anticipate new trends that will captivate taste enthusiasts everywhere. At PineCrestHall, we're at the forefront, scouting the global pizza landscape for the toppings that gain international acclaim. Feast your eyes on this season's five most sought-after pizza toppings stirring up excitement.
1. Fermented Vegetables
This year, pizza ventures into the realm of gut health with fermented vegetables taking center stage. The likes of kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are infusing pizzas with their complex tart profiles that strikingly contrast with the creamy cheeses and robust sauces. Besides their probiotic goodness, these toppings bring an intriguing new textural twist to the pizza experience.
Our unique Fermentation Fest pizza is a tribute to this trend, showcasing house-cultured sauerkraut, artisanal kimchi, and robust gorgonzola cheese, capped with a sweet local honey drizzle to round out the flavors. It's an unconventional blend that's swiftly climbing our charts of popular specialty pizzas.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
As plant-based diets surge in acceptance, there's been a notable leap in the demand for pizzas adorned with innovative meat substitutes. Beyond generic vegetables, advances in plant-based protein have birthed alternatives that charm even steadfast carnivores.
From savory plant-based Italian sausage bits to seasonally spiced tempeh, savory jackfruit in a 'pulled pork' style, and pea protein crafted into 'pepperoni,' these options have become staples on our menu. They're favorites not only among vegetarians but also among those who fancy their distinct tastes and a more agreeable meal.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
2023 continues to spark an era where aficionados of spice seek out distinct chili varieties, moving past the generic. Although Calabrian chilies keep their foothold, exotic peppers like the aromatic Aleppo, the smoky ñora from Spain, the fruity aji amarillo from Peru, and the boldly flavored Korean gochujang are now gracing pizzas.
Our Spice Trek pizza is a fiery mosaic featuring these diverse chilies, delivering an exclusive savor to each slice. It's a hit with those looking to indulge in a fiery gastronomic quest.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Pizza connoisseurs are now getting a taste of the wild, thanks to the burgeoning appeal of seasonal ingredients sourced directly from nature. Leading this pack are diverse wild mushrooms, such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods – each gracing our pizzas at the peak of freshness.
We've also embraced the verdant flavors of spring ramps (wild leeks), oceanic morsels like dulse and nori, and for those seeking a distinctive touch, spruce tips for an aromatic kick. These foraged delights offer a genuine taste of nature's bounty, delivering flavors unattainable in commercially-grown produce.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
Complementing the savory with sweet, honeys of various unique blends continue to win hearts as an enduring garnish. This year, pizzas have been decorated with drizzles of exotic honeys just before they're served, with variations such as truffle honey, delicately fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite, and wholesome CBD-infused honey showing up on the scene. These finishing drizzles inject complexity and transform ordinary pizzas into gourmet delights.
Honorable Mentions
Other toppings that narrowly missed our top selection but still deserve mention are:
- Cured egg yolks, finely grated over the pizza for a luxurious touch
- Pickled fruits, particularly stone fruits like peaches and plums
- Ancient grain additions, such as crispy farro or sorghum pops for added crunch
- Gourmet butter spots, including cultured or compounded herb butters
No matter if you hold fast to timeless favorites or revel in the novelty of daring combos, pizza remains universally versatile and beloved. At PineCrestHall, we’re paying homage to time-honored traditions while also welcoming the new, with our menu featuring both the dependable Margherita and the avant-garde signature creations.
Have these trendy toppings made it onto your pizza yet? Or perhaps you have a distinctive twist you're eager for us to try? Share your thoughts in the comments, or bring them up on your next visit to our establishment!