The realm of pizza is always revealing new taste directions every calendar year, and 2023 is not straying from tradition. Here at SoftGrovelane, keeping tabs on the burgeoning tastes of pizza aficionados across the planet is our forte. Take a look at the sought-after pizza toppings that are causing a stir this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Pizzerias are now catering to a gut health-focused crowd by incorporating fermented vegetables, which are making a surprising splash on pizzas. Offering a complex zing that complements cheese and sauce perfectly, toppings like kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions also bring probiotic advantages and a novel texture profile to the pizza's base.
The Fermentation Fest pizza, one of our new offerings, includes in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and creamy gorgonzola cheese, topped with a honey drizzle from local beekeepers to counter the sourness. This ensemble might seem offbeat, but it's rapidly turning into a fan favorite among our specialty offerings.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge in plant-based diets has bolstered the demand for pizzas topped with inventive non-meat substitutes. These go beyond garden-variety vegetable toppings, thanks to protein alternatives that have even die-hard carnivores hooked.
Our menu is now enriched with items such as plant-derived Italian sausage bits, flavorful tempeh, jackfruit pulled pork with a marinade, and a pea protein-based pepperoni. These alternatives are appealing to customers not just for their ethical values but also because they deliver distinct tastes and are lighter on the stomach.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Fans of fiery flavors are celebrating the presence of specific regional chilies on pizzas, stepping away from the standard red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies continue their popularity streak, other types like smoky Spanish ñora chilies, fruit-toned Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang are also trending toppings.
The Global Heat pie presents a mix of four distinct regional chilies, rendering each quarter of the pizza a distinct profile of spiciness. This fiery fusion is proving to be a hit with our patrons who lean towards more bold dining experiences.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Farm-to-pizza is the new phrase, with foraged ingredients finding their way onto menus in alignment with the seasons. Mushrooms foraged from the wild such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods are gracing pizzas according to the time of year.
We're also bringing nature's bounty to our pizzas with wild ramps in the spring, seaweeds including dulse and nori, and even the fragrant spruce tips. These wildcrafted elements not only deliver tastes that cultivated ingredients can't match but also reconnect our customers to the outdoor world.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
Honey is no stranger to pizza, but lately, an array of specialty honey versions have been a hit as final flourishes on our pies. These specialty drizzles like truffle-infused honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and CBD honey are showing up in pizzerias nationwide, lending an upscale twist to even the simplest of pies.
Honorable Mentions
A couple other toppings that nearly broke into the top five but still deserve recognition include:
- Cured egg yolks, delicately shaved over the pizza's surface
- Pickled fruits, with a special nod to stone fruits such as peaches and plums
- Textures from heritage grains like crispy farro or popped sorghum
- Dollops of artisan butter, notably those infused with culture or herbs
No matter if you're set on timeless classics or open to embracing innovative pairings, pizza's versatility endears it to palates everywhere. At SoftGrovelane, our approach celebrates the heritage of pizza while also integrating contemporary advancements—that's why our menu houses both the time-honored Margherita and avant-garde creations alike.
Have you indulged in any of these top-trending toppings yet? Or perhaps you have a one-of-a-kind favorite combo you'd wish to see on our menu? Share your thoughts below in the comments, or chat with us on your next visit!