Read Queenedix’s previous food truck reviews here.

Pizza is, most often, a food produced for mass consumption and not maximum enjoyment. Great local options aside, most people think Papa John’s when imagining pizza, not Paradiso. Within the last week, somewhere in America, a group of college students celebrated the end of their term by purchasing several 18-packs of reduced-calorie pale lager, ignoring the concept of moderation, blasting top-40 hits on Spotify, and, inevitably, ordering some quantity of low-quality pizza from a national chain pizza restaurant. Because it lacks flavor anyway, it will be dunked in “garlic sauce” and ranch dressing, serving mostly as an alcohol absorbent and not an enjoyable meal. Pizza is a food that can become sublime, even gourmet (Graffiato’s Countryman pizza springs to mind), and yet most pizzas are made as cheaply and quickly as possible—a reality that made me extremely skeptical of DC Slices, one of the oldest food trucks in the city. Perhaps I should blame months of hearing about Herman Cain and Godfather’s Pizza for subliminally instigating my pizza cravings, but I finally ignored my fear of disappointment and dove into the DC Slices menu.

DC Slices

Pizza: 3 Seconds

Tater Tots: 4.5 Seconds

There are a few things you might hear at a food truck that immediately reassure you of your lunchtime decision. “Would you like fresh basil on your pizza?” and “Your food might take a few minutes, we cook to order,” are two such comments. DC Slices is a solid, reliable, affordable lunch option that might not compete with the specialty restaurants around town, but firmly rests many levels above your average chain or lunch-takeout pizza joint. At $4 a slice, or $5 combined with a soda, it is the best lunch deal I’ve found so far. Their tomato sauce is homemade and well-seasoned, the dough is soft enough to fold your slice but still has a good chewiness, and your pizza is served melty-hot out of the oven. The cheese and pepperoni options were solid; their version of my personal favorite combo, sausage and onion, was tasty but not terribly exciting—the flavors of sausage and onion didn’t stand out on their own from the sauce either time I sampled it.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

Blackbyrd Warehouse, located next to Marvin at 2005 14th St, NW, opened up back in July ’11. I’m curious is folks have tried out the menu or if they like it more as a bar? If there are fans of the menu, any must order items? How does it compare to Marvin next door?

Back in mid-Sept. I shared some details on the new French Bakery, Le Caprice DC, coming to 3460 14th St, NW in the retail space of the Allegro in Columbia Heights. Construction is progressing nicely:

Though, below is the photo, I’m most excited about – the baguette shaper:

And check out the size of this oven:

If all goes well they hope to open up at the end of this week or next week. I’ll update an exact date when it’s official. While the following opening day menu will be expanded – how does it sound so far?

Opening Menu of Le Caprice DC

Croissant au Beurre $1.95
Pain au Chocolat 2.25
Chocolate Croissant
Caprice croissant aux amandes 2.65
Almond Croissant
Raisin Escargot 2.45
Raisin Bun
Chausson aux Pommes 2.65
La gourmandise 2.75
Brioche
individuel 1.95
½ loaf 3.95
loaf 6.95

Choco Brioche
Individuel 2.25
½ loaf 4.75
loaf 8.95

Artisan Baguette 2.75
½ Baguette 1.45

Baguette Céréale 2.95
Whole grain baguette
Cream Puff 1.45
Eclaire 3.95
Religieuse 4.95
Swan 4.95
Saint Honore 4.95
Tarte de Fruit 4.25
Petit fours 19 varieties 8.95 to 10.95 per pound

Also available: Salads, Sandwiches, Quiches, Croque Monsieur and Spinach tourte… for lunch or dinner.

1st Festivus Celebration in Adams Morgan Plaza, Dec. ’08

In Dec. ’08 the Adams Morgan BID launched a successful Festivus celebration in the Adams Morgan Plaza. Readers have recently wrote in asking when the celebration would take place this year? In true Seinfeldian fashion, they’ve decided to go out on top – Festivus is no more in Adams Morgan. After the 3 years of a successful celebration they decided to end the observation before it got stale and routine.

For true Festivus fanatics – keep your eyes peeled in Shaw. Last year I found an actual Festivus pole.

And of course, while we can’t demonstrate feats of strength here, feel free to air your grievances in the comments. Happy Festivus to all!

Via 19 located at 1140 19th St, NW (formerly Mezza Luna) has an intriguing new sign out front – Via 19 Pho DC Bar and Grill. (Thanks to a reader for sending word.)

It’s not clear if Pho DC is related to the Pho DC located in Chinatown at 608 H St, NW. (I put a phone call into the Chinatown location but it went to voicemail.) It’s also not clear what elements, if any, of Via 19 will remain. What is clear though, is that you’ll soon be able to get Pho at 1140 19th St, NW. We’ll revisit for a proper judging later in the new year. In case they are related to the Pho DC in Chinatown, you can see that menu here.

Photo by PoPville flickr user ekelly80

You can talk about whatever is on your mind – quality of life issues, a beautiful tree you spotted, scuttlebutt, or any random questions/thoughts you may have. But please no personal attacks. I’ll open this thread every morning at 10am.

Folks have been wondering for many months what would be coming to the former El Salvadorena space located at 3548 14th St, NW (14th and Parkwood Pl) in Columbia Heights. I’m psyched to finally get word of the new plans. According to a recent liquor license application The Pinch will be a:

“New restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine. Occasional live music or spoken word performance to be offered in basement area. Occupancy load is 99. Sidewalk Café 28.”

First floor pre-renovation

I also ran into the owner who let me take a couple shots of how the space looks now.

Lower level pre-renovation

If all goes they are shooting for a spring opening. Lots more info coming as construction progresses and they get closer to opening.

Back in mid-Nov. we heard Mrs. Bae of Adam Express was ill and would be going to Korea for treatment. A heartbreaking note was left in the window of Adam Express, located 3211 Mt Pleasant St, NW, saying they would be closed while in Korea. Thanks to all who sent word that Adam Express has reopened. I stopped by on Sunday to get word on Mrs. Bae’s condition but they were closed. Hopefully the reopening is a good sign that all is well. If anyone knows more of Mrs. Bae’s condition please let us know. And def. stop by the store to say hi:

This one blew me away. Can’t believe we still have this beauty in mid-Dec.

Sometimes I really dig the distressed ones.

Lots of awesomeness to this one from East Capitol Street.

From an email:

HARRY BELAFONTE
AT BUSBOYS AND POETS
SUNDAY, DEC. 18, 2011
5:00 PM @ 14th & V
FREE AND OPEN TO ALL

Join us for a lively discussion with American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist, Harry Belafonte! In a conversation with Phyllis Bennis, of the Institute for Policy Studies, Harry Belafonte will discuss his new book My Song: A Memoir. He was dubbed the “King of Calypso” for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing “The Banana Boat Song”, with its signature lyric “Day-O.” Throughout his career he has been an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes.

Photo by PoPville flickr user sciascia

From MPD:

“This morning at approximately 2:52am, officers in the 1300 block of H Street NE heard gunshots at the mouth of the alley on the north side of the street. The officers observed an adult male subject falling to the ground, and he was found to be suffering multiple gunshot wounds to his upper body. The victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment of serious injuries.”

From @DCPoliceDept around midnight:

“4D SHOOTING/ 600 JEFFERSON ST NE/ LOOKOUT FOR A B/M 6’3″ LIGHT COMPLEXION WEARING A BLACK HOODIE ACCOMPANIED BY A HISPANIC FEMALE/5269″

“5D SHOOTING 1200 BRENTWOOD RD NE. NO LOOKOUT AT THIS TIME/5269″

Photo via Lincoln’s Cottage

From a press release:

President Lincoln’s Cottage opened Seat of War: A Panoramic View of Civil War Washington Through Historic Prints early this month in the Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center. This exhibit illuminates President Lincoln’s Civil War Washington through historic prints from our collection. It will run through the new year and close on January 15, 2012.

More info on Lincoln’s cottage here Directions from the Petworth metro here.

The former Best Cellars wine store and more recently a discount cellphone store located at 1643 Connecticut Avenue, NW is now gonna be a Sprint store.

And downtown a weight watchers is coming to 1031 Connecticut Ave, NW: