At Denver area eateries, it’s officially peach pie season — and we’re not talking those of the dessert variety.
Still, these pizza pies are certainly quite the treat.
Palisade peaches grown on the Western Slope are ripe for experimentation, something that Cart-Driver discovered about a decade ago when the pizza and oyster spot went out on a limb serving juicy peaches on a quadrant of its Four Seasons pizza.
The peach pizza was such a hit with customers that it’s earned its own spot on the late-summer menu: The $18 Peachza is made with brie and topped with Palisade peaches, drizzled with honey, spiced up with Calabrian chili and horseradish that gives it zing. It’s also got a little crunch from the oven-crisped basil and red onion. Pizza lovers can upgrade their pies with prosciutto for an extra $6.
How long it stays on the menu depends on the growing season, but the Peachza is usually available through at least September, according to Stephen McGregor, director of operations at Cart-Driver.
Of course, the debate over fruit on a pizza can heat up like a wood-fired oven, but those in the pineapple-on-pizza camp are likely allies for peach pizzas.
The way McGregor sees it: “Pizza is such a great way to showcase peaches,” he said. “Palisade peaches are so good on their own, but pizza is a great delivery vehicle for getting all the flavors.”
The Peachza is available at the RiNo location of Cart-Driver (cart-driver.com), 2500 Larimer St.
Other Denver-area pizza joints are peachy-keen on the Western Slope’s stone fruit, too. Here are three more spots where you’ll find Palisade peaches making guest appearances on pizzas.
Pizzeria Leopold
A seasonal peach pizza hits the menu on Aug. 16. A Peach Ain’t One (Jay-Z fans will get the lyrical reference) is made with garlic sauce, mozzarella, gorgonzola dolce, candied bacon, Palisade peaches, a peach and cherry pepper relish, and Altius Farms basil. The 10-inch pizzas are $17 and the 14-inch pies are $25. 1990 Wadsworth Blvd., Lakewood; pizzerialeopold.com
Blue Pan Pizza
Motor City meets Colorado tradition at Blue Pan Pizza, with a caramelized crust true to the Detroit-style pizza cradling Western Slope peaches. The Life’s a Peach pizza is the August pizza of the month, and it’s also made with ricotta and goat cheese, candied walnuts, fresh basil, a pinch of flaky Maldon salt and drizzle of balsamic glaze. The pizza starts at $22 for a small that serves two.
“It’s a very balanced pizza,” said Giles Flanagin, co-founder of Blue Pan Pizza. “It’s got a little bit of sweetness, and some tartness from the balsamic.”
West Highland, at 3934 W. 32nd Ave.; Congress Park, 3509 E. 12th Ave.; Golden, 17525 S. Golden Road; bluepandenver.com
Joy Hill
This Platt Park pizza shop makes the most of the season’s bounty. The $24 Just Peachy Pizza features soppressata from local purveyor Il Porcellino, fresh Palisade peaches, a Calabrian chili cream sauce, mozzarella, ricotta, hot honey, basil, mint and green onion. Save room for dessert: housemade gelato. Worth mentioning: The pizza shop also has an elote pizza with Colorado-grown sweet corn. 1229 S. Broadway; joyhilldenver.com