Throwback Thursday: Motor City Pizza Fest

      I'm not sure who tattled but someone told Facebook I was a THOT for toppings because for a good three weeks this past summer, my timeline was bombarded with special advertisements on an upcoming Motor City Pizza Fest. I needn't scroll not one more inch, ANY festival celebrating pizza is the festival for me! For the price of entry you got two tickets which was two slices of pizza while sampling and voting for best pizza.

      Held at Ferndale's Farmer's Market, at first glance this "festival" looked like  a hillbilly family reunion that Honey Boo Boo and crew were sure to walk into at any moment. They had sone well known hitters like "Jet's" "Papa Romano's" and "Papa John's but then Domino's *catches vomit*. { Dominoe's, you need more people. I could get better pizza from Barbie's kitchen.}

      

      There were booths with just about any pizza joint you'd heard of plus a few eccentric newbies like a hippy themed parlor and Coney pizzas. I didn't get any shots because I was too busy taking them for Detroit Style Pizza Co.   The crowd hovering around the back booth piqued my interest but I played the game like a true lady. I walked straight up and grabbed a handful of what I wanted...

Classic Margerita
(cheesy, gooey to perfection!)

Detroit Margarita w/ fresh basil, onion, homemade sauce a mozzarella on garlic and herb buttered crust

   The styrofoam prison trays weren't the most fashionable (or user friendly) option for plating here but none of that matters once you take a bite. I could literally taste the care and attention to each layer.

 Beneath the house made sauce, fresh ingredients and mozzarella lie a bed of garlic herb butter atop the crust. Umm, YUM?!  I circled the event trying to find some pizza, ANY pizza to be worthy of my other ticket but there was none other. After four rounds, I went back home-- I mean, to Detroit Style. They had brought a previous PF award winner out this time

Chicken Caesar salad pizza

But I wasn't messing with it. There are some things one shouldn't convert to pizza and one of those things is Chicken Caesar salad. C'mon bruh...

Trust Nature: Sugar Alternatives Linked to Diabetes...Anyway

    "Artificial sweeteners may lead to diabetes" boasted the front page on my first stop of distractions before I started my "work" day this morning.

The first thought to my head: But of course! Why wouldn't another MAN made product actually be WORSE than its natural original. Even my short search on  Truvia "Nature's Calorie Free Sweetener" showed false promise, safer as an insecticide?! Ok.

 

       It's truly sad that generations of people swear by this living like my 80 year old aunt, thinking the choices recommended by her doctor are best in helping manage her diabetes. But he's just another player in the game of the health system, intended "for the people" working very much against them.

People,  EVERYTHING IN MODERATION!      Have nature's sugar, just don't go overboard!
- Forgo adding that extra heap of sugar to your Cheerios. Try fruit instead.
- Two Crocker Pot tubs of sugar is more than enough for that pitcher of Koolaid, don't you think?
-Double cream, triple sugar?! I hate the taste of the coffee per se, but honey's sweet is naturally more dense. Takes less to get you there ;o)

To err is human, people. The sooner you ACCEPT that the better.


Article at USA Today

1905 Bistro (DC)

       So.... while chatting with some film cohorts on set, I got wind that 1905, right off the famous U Street, had the "best burger in town". Now anyone who KNOWS me knoooooows that I had to look into this, I. LOVE. BURGERS. I mean, how can one not? They combine all the different food groups in one delicious (and might I add, portable) treat. So I had to go. One Friday evening, after a failed attempt at entering some Gentleman Jack event with Howard Alum extraordinaire, my 537 roomies Aminata, Jamie and I scooted on over to see what the rave was about. After finding super close parking and dodging running rats like Kenyans in an obstacle course, we settled down at the quaint spot at about 9:45pm. When you walk up to the entrance, the term "hole in the wall" couldn't be more fitting, setting them up to underpromise and overdeliver.



Interior at 1905, day

   We almost missed the little black awning over a flight of ascending stairs for the bright lights and tomfoolery happening at the venues next door. No trepidation from me, I usually find the best foods in spots like this so....I climbed those stairs! Like a fairytale, when we reached the top it was as if we were in another land. Very warmly lit (and I'm a sucker for lighting), linen tablecloths and gold/brass decor...I was in heaven. When you first walk in, the bar is situated to the far right and you are standing in the dining room which expands to the left. Another warm, romantic date spot for the lovers :o) The music was chill, hip hop (The Roots, Talib, Common) loud enough to enjoy but low enough to still enjoy your companion--- perfect. I knew I wanted to order the 1905 burger but we also ordered cottage fries, tuna tartare, beers and I ventured to order some drink made with several different absenthes ( at those prices, I wanted to order a drink that was a one hitter-quitter!).

Aminata and Jamie

1905 Burger Au Jus

       The appetizers were perfection-- the cottage fries were actually those crispy thin "fries" very much like homemade potato chips. The tartare was tasty with lemon zest and olive oil and also paired with the fries so the different taste and textures indeed explode on your tongue (Mouthgasm! :o) The burger was served juicy and full on a brioche buns with Brie cheese(can you say yummm?), charred with a pickled salad mix. NO mayo, ketchup, mustard or nothing and it was spectacular! The server also informed us that the burger could be served au jus (with its own juice), more American-ly familiarized with the French dip sandwich. While the pic of the original version is serving me "Hillbilly Eats for 500, Alex!"-realness, 1905 was gracious enough to place the warm broth in a holder on my plate so I could dip to taste, as I pleased. Needless to say, it was magically delicious. I'm willing to bet money Lucky the Leprechaun himself was back there sweating over a grill with a block of Brie, looking too grown to be still be dressed as a fucking leprechaun...

        

      Nostalgia aside, if you're looking for an intimate chill spot (friends OR the new boo! ;o) near U Street, check it out.

Beau Thai ( Washington, DC)

   



             Right around the corner from my last place was a trendy little restaurant called Beau Thai. The spot is handsome indeed with walls adorned with glamour shots of Thai women, beautiful Oriental flowers and cityscapes of an industrial-era Thailand but the food??? Oh my God, the food! My foodie friend Holtmeyer and I would frequent this place for a delicious bite whenever we wanted affordable but DELICIOUS food  (which is always :o) On an early evening you will find tea lamps lit at every table with flowers (not overcrowding) as well as patio seating outdoors. The place becomes very chic and romantic, perfect for a date. They have standard Thai treats like drunken chicken, pad thai, Thai Iced Tea (which is delicioso!) but they also have lunch specials and featured entrees for that evening for the adventurous gastronome. While I was there, I was so lucky to have ordered the duck eggroll which is sliced and grilled to perfection and wrapped in their warm, homemade eggroll. It has sliced cucumbers and carrots but the best part is the delectable sweet chili sauce they serve alongside.

     

       The eggroll by itself is just fine but when paired with the sweet chili sauce??? *insert clip from theTrojan His and Hers here* Yes...it's that good. Also, they don't skimp on the good stuff! The shrimp fried rice had shrimps-a-plenty, the crab fried the same and I did especially appreciate the ginger infused veggies they so delecately cured for a well balanced, Thai  meal. I don't know about you but there's something about special treatment that gets me all in a tizzy. Like, have you ever bit into a delicious, juicy burger that was seasoned to perfection all the right toppings and you sit back and notice....they grilled the bread too! THAT is my shit...nothing shows the love and care put into your food as well as little touches like that. As a self proclaimed gastronome and lover of all things delicious, it's the little things that mean the most :o)


Have a good one!