Each new year introduces fresh food fads to the pizza industry, and the year 2023 is no different. At QuietFootHill, we constantly observe the preferences captivating the palates of pizza aficionados globally. Here we’ve compiled a list of the top and most buzzworthy pizza toppings for the current year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
The trend towards digestive wellbeing has extended to pizza with a newfound appetite for fermented vegetables. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions are providing deep, sour flavors that balance the creamy cheese and robust sauce. These fermented options not only offer benefits for gut health but also bring new textures to the pizza experience.
Featured in our “Fermentation Celebration” pizza are in-house prepared sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, with a final touch of local honey to offset the sourness. This mix might seem unconventional, yet it has quickly turned into one of our most popular specialty offerings.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The move toward plant-based diets hasn't slowed down, leading to an upswing in plant-derived protein toppings on pizzas. Far from the usual veggie toppings, the recent developments in plant proteins have made it possible to please even the most earnest carnivores.
Menu items like non-meat Italian sausage crumbles, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit “pulled pork,” and pea protein “pepperoni” have become commonplace. These toppings are enjoyed by more than just vegetarians, with many guests selecting them for their distinct tastes and their gentler impact on digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Those with a taste for spice are celebrating! In 2023, pizza enthusiasts have displayed a preference for specific regional chilies over the generic hot red pepper flakes. Calabrian chilies have kept their fanbase, while an array of peppers like smoky Spanish ñora, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and spicy Korean gochujang are starting to feature on pizzas.
Our “Global Heat” pizza offers a combination of four distinct regional chilies, each imparting a unique taste profile to a quarter of the pizza, proving particularly popular with our guests open to culinary exploration.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Foraging seasonal ingredients has progressed from the concept of farm-to-table to a practice of adding wild forest picks directly to pizza. Leading this trend are wild mushrooms, including chanterelles, morels, and hen-of-the-woods which are added to pizzas during their peak seasons.
Moreover, we’ve been experimenting with harvests like wild ramps (spring leeks), marine greens such as dulse and nori, and even aromatic spruce tips. These natural ingredients not only deliver flavors that farm-grown products can’t match but also help our customers feel connected to nature.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The contrasting flavors created by honey on pizza have solidified their place as more than a fleeting fancy. Expanding upon the popular spicy honey of past years, 2023 has birthed an array of specialty honey types being drizzled over pizzas just before serving.
Exotic infusions like truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and non-intoxicating honey variations are now featured in pizza establishments nationwide. These final swirls of sweetness add a layer of sophistication, transforming even the simplest pizza to something luxurious.
Honorable Mentions
Some additional toppings narrowly missing our top list but still creating excitement include:
- Preserved egg yolks, finely shredded over pizza like delicate flakes
- Pickled stone fruits, such as peaches and plums
- Crunchy additions of ancient grains like crispy farro or popped sorghum
- Dollops of artisan butter, especially when enhanced with culture or herbs
No matter whether you're someone who cherishes time-honored flavors or a culinary adventurer willing to explore daring new flavor pairings, pizza remains one of the most flexible and universally adored dishes. At QuietFootHill, we honor timeless classics while also welcoming inventive twists—that's evident from the presence of both beloved Margherita and avant-garde specialty pies in our repertoire.
Have you savored any of these trending toppings? Or do you have a signature favorite pairing you'd desire to see on our menu? Share with us in the comments or during your next visit!