With each new year comes a wave of culinary innovation, particularly in the pizza sector, and 2023 stands as no outlier. At HolmsteadPark, we continually track global pizza lovers' evolving preferences. We're excited to bring you the top pizza toppings that have been dominating the scene this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Gut health awareness has spilled into pizza kitchens, with fermented vegetables emerging as a top topping choice. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are offering zesty, complex notes that blend wonderfully with the creamy layers of cheese and sauce. These toppings are a powerhouse of probiotic benefits and introduce a new dimension of texture to the classic pizza profile.
Fermentation Celebration is our latest pizza creation, featuring our own sauerkraut, kimchi, and creamy gorgonzola, crowned with a sweet drizzle of regional honey. This fusion, though unconventional, is rapidly ascending in popularity among our special offerings.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The upward trajectory of plant-based diets has translated into an increased appetite for pizzas that boast innovative meat substitutes. Extending beyond common vegetable garnishes, novel plant-based protein varieties now cater to even the staunchest carnivores.
Options like plant-based crumbles mimicking Italian sausage, savory tempeh, jackfruit masquerading as pulled pork, and pea protein fashioned into pepperoni have become staples on our menu. These aren't reserved solely for the vegetarian clientele; many choose these for their distinct tastes and lighter impact on digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
In 2023, aficionados of fiery flavors are celebrating specific chili strains over the general red pepper flakes. The love for Calabrian chilies persists, yet now we're tasting various global influences like smoky Spanish ñora peppers, sweet Peruvian aji amarillo, and the umami richness of Korean gochujang.
Our Global Heat pizza invites customers to a zesty journey across the globe, with four celebrated chilies each lending its signature flavor to the pie. This hot experience is particularly favored by our most audacious customers.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The path from wild landscapes to pizza has become more traversed with the advent of foraged seasonal ingredients. Leading the charge are wild mushrooms, such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, gracing our pizzas in their peak seasons.
We're extending our foraging to include wild ramps (a type of wild leek), marine greens like dulse and nori, and even the forest-fresh spruce tips, all to bring an unreplicable aroma and flavor that only nature can provide.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The interplay of sweet and savory brought by honey continues its well-established role atop pizzas. Hot honey's preceding success has inspired an assortment of specialty honeys to grace our pizzas just prior to serving in 2023.
With a selection including truffle-infused honey, tangy fermented garlic honey, aromatic mesquite honey, and honey infused with CBD, these toppings add a refined touch, enhancing even the simplest pizzas to exquisite levels.
Honorable Mentions
Other commendable toppings, narrowly missing our top spots but equally impactful, include:
- Fine, grated cured egg yolks dusted over the pizza for a ric flavor enhancement
- Brined fruits with a focus on stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Crisp heritage grains like farro or popped sorghum adding a unique crunch
- Gourmet butter accents, either cultured or infused with herbs
Whether your taste lies with time-honored classics or you're the type to explore new flavor territories, pizza remains one of the most versatile and universally cherished dishes. Here at HolmsteadPark, we pay homage to timeless tradition while also endorsing culinary creativity, evidenced by our menu's hosting of both the venerable Margherita and avant-garde signature pies.
Have these current favorites made it to your plate, or do you harbor a distinctive preference that you'd love to see in our kitchen? Drop your thoughts in the comments or strike up a conversation during your next visit!