As each year brings its own culinary novelties to the pizza scene, 2023 has not held back. At ThriftBridgeYard, staying ahead of what's capturing the hearts (and stomachs) of pizza aficionados is our game. We're excited to share the prime pizza toppings that are stealing the spotlight this year.
1. Fermented Veggies
Paying homage to our gut's health, fermented veggies have taken pizza menus by storm. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are lending their zesty flavors to enhance the creamy cheese and tomato fusion. Boasting probiotic advantages, these toppings also infuse a dynamic new texture to the pizza experience.
Try our Fermentation Fiesta pizza with its blend of in-house sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola, lightly drizzled with regional honey to soften the sour notes. It's an unusual match but is becoming our signature request.
2. Alternative Vegan Proteins
Amidst a surge in plant-based diets, there's been an upswing in interest for pizzas crowned with innovative non-meat options. Shifting from typical veggie toppings, we now offer pizzas topped with plant-based sausages, seasoned tempeh, marinated jackfruit, and pea protein-based pepperoni. These plant-powered proteins are drawing in not just vegans but anyone looking to indulge in novel tastes and a lighter meal.
3. Specialty Chilies
Those with a penchant for heat are turning to distinctive, regional chili types instead of generic flakes. The hot trend includes flavors from Calabrian chilies, Aleppo pepper, Spanish ñora, Peruvian aji amarillo, to Korean gochujang, bringing a world tour of heat to your pizza.
Textures and tastes clash on our International Inferno pizza, a quadrant of world chilies that offers a piquant escapade particularly loved by our boldest customers.
4. Wild, Foraged Toppings
Foraged ingredients are emerging from the wild straight onto pizzas, highlighting the forest-to-table journey. Favorites among these are wild mushrooms such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods. Wild mushrooms lead the pack with their distinct seasonality.
Explorations in wild foods have seen us feature spring ramps, sea greens like dulse and nori, and aromatic spruce tips. These ingredients present an unreplicable connection to nature and its flavors.
5. Unique Honey
A drizzle of honey has made its mark, offering a sweet twist to the savory classic. Specialty honeys such as truffle, fermented garlic, smoky mesquite, and CBD-infused varieties have exploded onto the scene, converting ordinary pizzas into gourmet treats.
Honorable Mentions
Several other toppings that nearly hit our top-five list but are still making a strong impact include:
- Cured egg yolks finely grated over the pie giving it a delectable golden hue
- Pickled stone fruits like peaches and plums
- Crunchy ancient grains, such as crispy farro or popped sorghum
- Dollops of high-quality butters, including cultured or herbed varieties
Whether you hold true to timeless tastes or venture into bold new flavor territories, pizza remains a highly versatile and universally cherished dish. At ThriftBridgeYard, we revere the classics while pioneering the new, ensuring our menu has the perfect balance of time-honored margheritas and avant-garde specialties.
Have any of these intriguing toppings caught your attention? Do you have a unique topping combo you're eager to see on our menu? Share your thoughts in the comments or drop us a line when you stop by!