Every year brings fresh culinary movements to the realm of pizza, and 2023 is no exception. At CairnBridgePortal, we continuously track what captivates pizza enthusiasts worldwide. Here is our rundown of the most intriguing and popular pizza toppings making waves this year.
1. Fermented Vegetables
Attention to gut health has reached pizza kitchens, with fermented vegetables emerging as a surprising favorite on pies this year. Kimchi, sauerkraut, and pickled onions contribute complex tangy notes that balance the richness of cheese and sauce. These tangy toppings offer probiotic benefits and introduce exciting texture contrasts to classic pizza.
Our new Fermentation Celebration pizza showcases house-made sauerkraut, kimchi, and gorgonzola cheese, finished with a drizzle of local honey to temper the tang. The combination might sound unusual, but it’s rapidly becoming one of our most requested specialty pies.
2. Plant-Based Proteins
With plant-based eating continuing to grow in popularity, we’ve seen a notable rise in demand for pizzas featuring inventive meat substitutes. Beyond traditional veggie toppings, advances in plant-based proteins have introduced options that satisfy even devoted meat lovers.
Plant-based Italian sausage crumbles, seasoned tempeh, marinated jackfruit pulled pork, and pea protein pepperoni are now regular features on our menu. These proteins are not just for vegetarians — many guests choose them for their distinct flavors and lighter digestive footprint.
3. Regional Chili Varieties
Heat seekers rejoice! 2023 has seen pizza fans embrace specific regional chili varieties rather than generic red pepper flakes. Calabrian chiles have maintained their popularity from earlier years, but we’re now seeing Aleppo pepper, smoky Spanish ñora chilies, fruity Peruvian aji amarillo, and Korean gochujang making appearances on pizzas.
Our Global Heat pizza features a medley of four different regional chilies, each bringing its unique flavor profile to different quadrants of the pizza. It’s a spicy adventure that has proven especially popular with our more adventurous diners.
4. Seasonal Foraged Ingredients
The farm-to-table movement has evolved into forest-to-pizza with the rising popularity of seasonal foraged ingredients. Wild mushrooms lead this trend, with varieties like chanterelles, morels, and hen of the woods showing up throughout their seasons.
Beyond mushrooms, we’ve experimented with spring ramps (wild leeks), sea vegetables like dulse and nori, and even spruce tips for a unique aromatic quality. These ingredients connect diners to the natural world while delivering flavors that simply can’t be cultivated commercially.
5. Specialty Honey Drizzles
The sweet-savory contrast created by honey has firmly established itself as more than a passing phase. Building on the popularity of hot honey from recent years, 2023 has seen a surge of specialty honey varieties being drizzled on pizzas just before serving.
Truffle honey, fermented garlic honey, smoky mesquite honey, and even CBD-infused honey are appearing on menus nationwide. These finishing touches add depth and elevate even simple pizza combinations to gourmet status.
Honorable Mentions
A few other toppings that just missed our top five but are still making a splash include:
- Cured egg yolks, microplaned over pizza like a golden snowfall
- Pickled fruits, especially stone fruits like peaches and plums
- Heritage grain toppings, like crispy farro or popped sorghum for texture
- Artisanal butter dollops (particularly cultured or compound herb butters)
Whether you prefer the classics or are an adventurous eater willing to try bold new combinations, pizza remains one of the world's most adaptable and beloved foods. At CairnBridgePortal, we honor tradition while embracing innovation—that's why you’ll find both timeless Margherita and cutting-edge specialty pies on our menu.
Have you tried any of these trending toppings? Or do you have a unique favorite combination you’d like us to offer? Share your thoughts in the comments or the next time you visit!