Tag Archives: zucchini

Something With The Zucchini

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CuVinoWhiteSlices2

I had no idea that CuVino even existed.  And I’m slightly embarrassed by that.  I used to spend a lot of time in this vicinity (history lesson here), and can’t even recall what was in the space before.  Honestly, it doesn’t matter.

CuVino

What’s important is this combination of restaurant/bar/wine shoppe and one of the more cozy and welcoming places you’ll find, is perfect for anyone of any demographic and any walk of life.  Wait, I just said that.

I’ve seen reviews of this place that were a bit pretentious and off putting after I visited, that would actually make want to come back more.   Everyone’s tastes are different, and everyone has a mood and feel of that place in time, that can alter so much.   That can be for the better, or otherwise.

How ironic and fitting that I made two different visits and was fortunate to have different slices available at both times.  Yet, I wanted to keep it simple and get back to basics, with maybe a little pizzazz (ha!) one of them.

CuVinoSlices

First, are the two most recognizable slices on this here planet earth, the cheese and pepperoni.    I wonder how these would taste served a whole pies in a restaurant versus getting them to go.  Yes they’re made exactly the same but my mind thinks differently.  If I’m prepared to sit down and share a meal with friends, the pizza will be savored and appreciated in a way that being of the mindset of grabbing and going may not provide.  With that being said this is great pizza that feels like it was heavily thought about, yet tastes so familiar.  It’s simple, palatable, and wonderful.

I mean this with the highest praise that this is also great greasy pizza with more cheese than I’ve found in other pizzas.  No complaints here.  And the size of those pepperoni slices are absolute gems.  You don’t see that everywhere.  This is one of the better slices of pepperoni you’re going to find.  Of course I took it off the pie and enjoyed part of it all by its lonesome.  Tremendous.

CuVinoWhiteSlices2

Even better, and how that was possible is a testament to this place, were the White Slices.   This is some of the best Bianco I can recall.  And if I am a snob when it comes to pies, it’s that I don’t always find many places offerings the best.  This is up there. The olive oil, garlic, and herbs really come together here.   And it’s that has that slightly greasy goodness that takes me back to my childhood.  Maybe this is why I love this so much.

But the zucchini is the winner here.  Yes the tomatoes and onions are fresh, but the zucchini does it for me.  I just want a plate of wherever they got this from for myself.  I’ll still take the pizza, but this is from somewhere much bigger than us!   Incredible!

Did I not say anything about the crust? Oops.  Well the picture tells that story.  There seemed to be a conscientious effort to heat all of these to perfection.  Either that or the universe is alignment with everything.  And everything seems right…

At $3, give or take, per slice, it’s a bargain when compared to lesser quality pizzerias charging upwards of $5+ for slices.  These slices are worth that much.

CuVino2

What took me so long to get here?   I wasn’t supposed to discover this place until now, but I think I want to save a bigger story for later.  There’s much to be told here.  I hope to get back here before the year is out.  But for now here is their menu,and their location/contact info.

We’re just getting started…

Peace Be With You.

Love,

Ideen

 

 

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Busy City, Busy Pizza

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ZucchiniSlice

I’ve had a lot of great pizza in my life and a lot of bad.  Even that bad can be edible.  Even the bad can be tolerable.  But sometimes the bad can’t be written about.  It would defeat the purpose of this thing if I wrote about dreadful pies with little subjectivity.  I’d be done within a couple paragraphs. If a pizzeria touts itself as one thing but doesn’t deliver, that’s worth writing about.

This brings me to this weeks post, Alberto’s Pizza in the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, DC.

I’ll give a brief overview of my experiences in D.C.  I have done by share of bar-hopping and dining out in and around Dupont.  But I never noticed this pizzeria.  Was my one-track mind fixated on other things, other foods, other experiences?  Or was it easy to miss?  In the 15+ years its been open I’m reasonably certain I’ve never set foot in the place.

Our nation’s capital, like many cities, continues to grow exponentially with little end in sight.  The infrastructure and public transportation system is equipped to handle that. Well at least I think it is.

With an aggressively stuffy city, and the neighborhood within, I expect the food to be prepared and served with a similar energy.  That’s not necessarily a positive or an it is what it is declaration.  It’s more of what DC is and will continue to be, transient and immersed in its own universe.  That’s not my universe.

Enough of the monologue.  This pizza was disappointing.  I ordered 3 slices due to the uniqueness of the ingredients and toppings.  Unfortunately, each came out to $5+ a slice. I understand the location and high costs of running a business so the price isn’t that terrible.

But for the quality, I felt short-changed here.

I will attempt to find the positives with these selections.

ZucchiniSlice

Number one – the Zucchini, Parmesan, and Parsley.   For a place that touts itself as Chicago Style, I don’t know if this is that.   The thin crust on all three seemed flimsy and lifeless.   They all felt under cooked but this was the best of the three.  The zucchini and parsley were the saving graces.  The sauce tasted like strawberry jelly. It wasn’t even  jam like. The cheese was ok but when I get around to the next two, this seems feels even worse.

I’m hard pressed to find silver linings.

Mushroom&GoatCheese

Number two – the Goat Cheese and Mushroom.  Like the former, I had high hopes.   The goat cheese and mushroom were fine on their own but why was it on top of the mozzarella and that jelly sauce? Did I miss something or was this an accident?  This was an opportunity lost.

ChickenPestoSlice

Number three – the Chicken Pesto.  If there was chicken, I wouldn’t have known.  This was likely imitation pesto, if there is such a thing, drizzled over that same cheese slice.  I must have missed something.  I never thought I would have tasted bad pesto but this was it.  I’m heartbroken.

I write this with the understanding that they’re open late night on the weekends, so the expectations aren’t astronomical but the pizza should be decent.  And I went at lunch time. I should get my monies worth. This wasn’t even close.

For my friends that know the area, this may be a potential teaser for either next week or soon thereafter.  There’s a lot of action on that street, on that block, and even more micro than that.

PerfectLover

This sign is kind of funny even though it goes over my head, just like this pizza.

On to better,

Ideen

 

 

Fells’ Finest

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LiquidEarth

I’m happy to have my first pizza review of a Fells Point establishment be this one.  I love Liquid Earth.  It’s been Earth Week for me, so I wanted the pizza review to reflect that.  And this is special.  This is unique.  Most importantly, it’s delicious.

I had been here a handful of times before.  And thanks to my friends who told me about this place, otherwise I might still drive or walk past it, and never go in.

For our friends in the Baltimore area, there’s no need to explain too much about the place.  But yes it’s Vegan and Vegetarian Friendly.  That alone, makes it unique and charming.  In addition, the interior is so welcoming and has an old time feel. There’s a few tables for dining and a small bar.  Why is there a bar?  Well you can order shots.  And I did just that!

Miso

As you can see, I went real heavy.  I ordered a Pomegranate shot with a side of Miso Soup to start.  Those are apple slices. And I love this presentation.   Yes, the spoon is positioned inside the bread.  I think I order this now, just to see the magnificent layout.   This was exquisite.  In previous visits I’ve ordered Wheatgrass and those are a rejuvenator.

RawItems

So what about the pies?

LiquidEarthPizza

First up, was the Liquid Earth Pizza.   I’ve had this before. My first time felt unique.  It had a taste I’m not used to.  But that’s the fun of this.  Everything we eat now, was at one moment in the past, something we ate for the first time.   And that’s how we develop our tastes in food and drink.  This is a treat from the universe.  Buckwheat and nut cheese are not ingredients I’m used to eating.  And I believe I’ve only had them here.  What a shame.  I would love to try these ingredients on other entrees.    The mushrooms and bell peppers taste so real and so fresh, that it’s like they just came from the farmers market moments before.  Maybe even better than that.   I was happy eating the veggies on their own off the pie.  The basil tastes incredible.   Fair warning, however, this got me full barely halfway eating it.  The crust, made from flax seed, is what got me. And I was happy to take the rest home.

flaxcrust

Here is the crust.  How beautiful is that?

TheOriginal

I noticed a second pizza on me the menu.  And my curiosity couldn’t contain me.  I ordered The Original to go, to have for dinner.  The similarities to the first pie are there at first glance.   But the subtle differences in appearance and taste do shine through.  This is a winner as well.    My photo may not do it justice.  The tomatoes on this one were a godsend.  This makes other times I’ve had a tomato with salad, pizza or anything seem amateurish.   They stand by using local and organic ingredients as much as possible.  Where can I find them?  Any restaurant or business that does its best to stay local, deserves all the praise in the world.  What a treat this was.   The tomato sauce, zucchini, and spinach all play their part in making this a joy. I felt honored eating this.

So have I said enough positives?  There can never be enough.   And at $15.95, this is a more than reasonable price.  Two people can split this and feel satisfied.

I can’t say enough things about this place.  I feel full, fat, and happy each time I’m dined here.  And it’s a good full feeling. There is no grossness or feeling bloated.  I end up with a new found energy and positivity that I’d love to transfer into all facets of my life.

I hope the Earth has been good to you.

Best,

Ideen