As the years pass, pizza continuously adopts new food trends, and the year 2023 offers some fresh and exciting choices. At CabinOrchidWay, it's our job to keep an eye on what's winning over pizza enthusiasts across the planet. Below, we present our selection of the most thrilling and favored pizza garnishes that have taken the spotlight this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
The awareness of gut health has transcended into the realm of pizza making, with fermented veggies emerging as the unexpected champions on pizza this year. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and marinated onions are introducing a layered tang to the mix, providing a nice contrast to the creamy cheese and sauces. Besides their probiotic properties, these fermented enhancements introduce a novel texture experience to the classic pizza palate.
The Fermentation Festivity pizza is our new menu addition, with sauerkraut and kimchi prepared in-house, topped with gorgonzola cheese, and a drizzle of honey sourced locally to offset the zestful taste. It's an unconventional match, yet it's fast becoming one of our most popularly demanded distinctive dishes.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
The surge in plant-based diets has not missed the pizza industry, creating a boost in requests for pizzas adorned with inventive non-meat alternatives. Far from just plain vegetable toppings, innovations in plant-based proteins are offering selections that even avid carnivores find satisfying.
Our menu spotlights meat replacements like crumbled plant-based Italian sausage, seasoned tempeh, jackfruit 'pulled pork', and pepperoni-like slices made from pea protein. These toppings are not exclusively for those who eschew meat—most patrons pick them for their distinctive tastes and their lighter impact on digestion.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Fans of spiciness are in luck! The current year has witnessed a turn towards embracing distinctive chilies from specific regions instead of the commonplace red pepper flakes. While Calabrian chilies have preserved their status from recent times, now we're seeing a surge in the use of spices like Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora chilies, Peruvian aji amarillo with a fruity punch, and Korean gochujang paste on our pizzas.
Our World of Heat pizza brings together a medley of four different global chilies, each lending its exclusive flavor to separate quarters of the pizza, for a worldwide spicy journey that many of our daring customers have been enjoying.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
Moving past the farm-to-table concept, the trend of forest-to-pizza is taking off with the increasing interest in wild foraged ingredients. Leading this trend are wild mushrooms, such as chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods, gracing pizzas in their specific growing seasons.
Apart from mushrooms, our experimentation has led us to include spring ramps (wild leeks), marine plants like dulse and nori, and spruce tips for its singular aromatic touch. These ingredients not only offer a connection with nature but also a taste that can't be replicated by cultivated crops.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The appetizing intersection of sweet and savory brought on by honey has become a staple topping choice. Expanding on the well-received spicy honey from the past years, 2023 has introduced diverse honey varieties as final pizza dressings.
Variations such as truffle-infused honey, garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and CBD-enriched honey are being featured on a variety of establishments' menus. These honeys are not just a final touch; they lend a depth of flavor that transforms even straightforward pizza options into refined culinary creations.
Honorable Mentions
Other garnishes that have also received noteworthy attention but didn't quite make it into our top five include:
- Cured egg yolks, softly grated over the pizza for a dusting of golden richness
- Sour fruits, particularly stone fruits like peaches and cherries
- Ancient grain toppings, using crispy farro or puffed sorghum for added crunch
- Specialty butters, especially those that are cultured or blended with herbs
No matter if you're a purist with a penchant for the timeless or a trailblazer eager for unforeseen twists, pizza remains a universally adaptable and loved dish. At CabinOrchidWay, we pay homage to the standards while also exploring the new—that's why you can find both the timeless Margherita and avant-garde special pizzas in our selection.
Have you sampled any of these trendy garnishes? Or perhaps you have a distinct favorite that you believe we should feature? We're eager to hear your thoughts in the comments, or on your next trip to our location!