The pizza landscape is ever-changing with each year introducing intriguing gastronomic trends, and 2023 is no different. Here at OpenHarbor, we're dedicated to staying abreast of the flavors that captivate pizza aficionados worldwide. Allow us to share the top five pizza toppings that are making a splash in today's dynamic culinary scene.
1. Fermented Vegetables
As pizzas innovate, the spotlight has shone on gastrointestinal wellness, bringing the unlikely hero of fermented vegetables to the forefront. Toppings such as kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are providing depth with their acidic bite, perfectly complementing the creamy heft of cheese and the robustness of tomato sauce. Not only do these toppings introduce a probiotic kick, they also offer a novel textural layer to the time-honored pizza base.
Our Fermentation Fiesta specialty showcases an in-house blend of kimchi and sauerkraut paired with tangy gorgonzola and a hint of local honey to temper the zestiness. While it may seem like a curious pairing, its fast becoming a sought-after creation on our menu.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The rise in plant-forward diets has been mirrored in the pizza realm, with demand soaring for inventive alternatives to meat. Offering more than just garden-variety vegetables, our menu now boasts plant-based versions of traditional meat morsels that even carnivores find irresistible.
We're dishing up plant-derived Italian sausage pieces, spiced tempeh, tender jackfruit treated as pulled pork, and pea protein slices akin to pepperoni. These aren't solely for our vegetarian patrons—many of our guests are choosing them for their distinctive tastes and lighter feel.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
2023 marks the year when pizza lovers have sought heat with a sense of place, preferring specific regional chilies over nondescript red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies remain a favorite, the palette has expanded to include the likes of smoky Spanish ñora chilies, sweet and spicy Aleppo pepper, vibrant Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korea's famous gochujang.
Embrace the Global Heat experience, a pizza that showcases a quartet of international chilies, each imparting its own signature heat and essence. This pie has been a hit with those looking to heat things up a notch.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
We're witnessing a transition from farm-to-table to forest-to-pizza through the burgeoning trend of incorporating seasonally foraged produce. Leading this charge are wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, appearing in tune with their natural harvest times.
Apart from mushrooms, our experimentation has led us to include wild ramps (wild leeks), seaweeds like dulse and nori, and even fragrant spruce tips. Bringing these ingredients to our pizzas bridges our customers with the untamed wilderness and provides flavors unavailable from cultivated sources.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The contrasting pairing of honey on pizza has definitively proven itself as a permanent fixture rather than a whimsical fad. Following on the heels of spicy honey's success in recent years, this year saw the emergence of a variety of specialty honeys gracing pizzas right before they're served.
We're talking about truffle-infused honey, garlicky fermented honey, mesquite-tinged honey, and even CBD-enriched honey making their way onto national menus. Each application adds a dimension of refinement and can elevate even the most fundamental pizza to a sophisticated treat.
Honorable Mentions
Not making our main list but still noteworthy are a few other toppings that deserve honorable mention:
- Cured egg yolks, delicately grated over the dish for a rich, umami sprinkle
- Pickled fruits, with an emphasis on stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Whole grain accents, like crunchy farro or puffed sorghum adding textural variation
- Gourmet butter spots, particularly those infused with culture or aromatic herbs
Whether your allegiance is tied to time-honored staples or you're an epicurean seeking new, audacious blends, pizza remains an infinitely versatile and cherished dish. At OpenHarbor, we simultaneously honor the pillars of tradition and welcome inventive flavors, exemplified by the presence of both a classic Margherita and trail-blazing specialties on our menu.
Have these trending toppings piqued your interest? Or perhaps there's a distinctive blend you'd love to see featured in our selection? Share your thoughts in the comments or on your next visit!