Last Thursday, Daniel B. over at FUSSYlittleBLOG sent me a invitation to go out to dinner Saturday night. I was able to make it to the Northeast Dumpling House and had a very nice meal - Albany Jane wrote it up here.
Daniel was first to arrive and I was second. In our conversation, he mentioned that he was going to try to get to Pizza Town, USA on his way back to Princeton. He also mentioned that earlier in the day he had stopped by DC's Pizza to try a slice of their sausage pizza which was a runner up in the most recent Tournament of Pizza over at All Over Albany. Anyhow, on Monday morning, I was able to eavesdrop on this tweet:
24hrs later and I can still feel cheese and gravy coursing through my veins but so worth meeting up with @FUSSYlittleBLOG and @AlbanyEats!
— Chopsticks Optional (@chopsticksopt) January 27, 2014
@chopsticksopt I followed up lunch w/meatballs & donuts, then bread pudding today @FUSSYlittleBLOG ever make it to fried calzone land?
— Albany Jane (@AlbanyEats) January 27, 2014
@AlbanyEats Totally. I washed down my disco fries with a slice of pizza, a deep fried calzone and zeppole. Love Jersey. @chopsticksopt
— Daniel Berman (@FUSSYlittleBLOG) January 27, 2014
Well, now I had to chime in. After all, Daniel had just visited a place I recommended. So I wrote:
@JonInAlbany The slice was great. Just as you described. And I lucked into hot-fresh-now zeppole - incredible. @AlbanyEats @chopsticksopt
— Daniel Berman (@FUSSYlittleBLOG) January 27, 2014
The conversation made me want to try DCs sausage pizza and it was lunchtime so I headed over to DC's on Western Ave and reported my experience to Daniel.
@FUSSYlittleBLOG No doubt that you ate the better slice at Pizza Town. The sausage at DCs was good, but I the pizza was pretty weak.
— Jon In Albany (@JonInAlbany) January 27, 2014
Alright, no doubt I'm being a pizza snob, but an honest snob. Here's the pizza a got at DC's slice of cheese and a slice of sausage.
Maybe I got some off slices at DCs. The sausage was good and well seasoned, but I didn't like the crust. Well, more than didn't like the crust. I've never understood why places use pizza screens (see the grid pattern). These slices of pizza made me wonder what made the judges in the tournament of pizza give the sausage pie a 78 - probably among the 10 highest scores given out in several years of tournament judging. Although in an earlier 2013 tournament round the same pizza got a 66. Daniel and I went back and forth about the crust a few times and then...
@RidiculousFood @FUSSYlittleBLOG @JonInAlbany as far as the dough made every day sorry if you didn't like it but 25 years can't be wrong
— DC's Pizza (@DCsPizza) January 28, 2014
I got caught being a snob by the people I was criticizing. It was after midnight when I saw this tweet from DCs and I was tired and grumpy so I fired this off bit of snark.
@DCsPizza I hope you do well but your pizza isn't for me. And 25+ years doesn't equal right. #Dominos @RidiculousFood @FUSSYlittleBLOG
— Jon In Albany (@JonInAlbany) January 28, 2014
I regretted it when I woke up in the morning. DC's pizza is better than Domino's and the comment wasn't intended as a comparison. I just meant that just because something has been around for a long time, doesn't make it good. But whoever runs DCs Twitter account is all class.
@JonInAlbany @RidiculousFood @FUSSYlittleBLOG Hahahhah excellent point, you can't make everyone happy, but I won't stop trying !!!
— DC's Pizza (@DCsPizza) January 28, 2014
We went back and forth a few more times and it ended with me offering to have DC pizza over sometime after I learn how to use the wood fired oven I'm planning for the back yard. Now I've got to get some pizza making skills to back up my trash talk. And Albany Jane is invited over too.
@AlbanyEats Never fear. You are always on the guest list.
— Jon In Albany (@JonInAlbany) January 28, 2014
@JonInAlbany w00t!
— Albany Jane (@AlbanyEats) January 28, 2014
I w00t again!
ReplyDeleteI think DC's has a good handle on their social media account. Honestly, their follow response to your response was a good way to recover from the initial "Sorry-not-sorry" style initial response. (If that makes any sense) It could have snowballed in a big way, but I think they get that you win more customers with honey than vinegar.
Any way, I'll bring dessert - just let me know when dinner is!
I totally agree with you. Our exchange could have definitely gone in a bad direction and I'm glad it didn't. There are so many styles of pizza and what DCs is offering just isn't for me. Neither is deep dish or cracker style although I bet both could be delicious. I have absolutely no ill-will towards DCs and wish them the best.
ReplyDeleteAnd you're not off the hook, AJ. You have to come over lots of times while I learn how to use the oven too. Practice, practice, practice...
I don't know what happened to the pizza judges this year. Joe and I would always tow the line on pizza screens.
ReplyDeleteWhen there were only four judges, having two that cared deeply about a NY-style pizza being cooked directly on the oven floor mattered. That's not to say that I never found myself favoring the one cooked on a screen. Sometimes the strengths of a slice are able to overcome even its significant weaknesses (especially when put up against a lackluster competitor).
As a tournament specatator and fan, I'd say the judging has been pretty consistent. The 12 point swing was a surprise. Hard to say from the outside looking in if that was judging or quality. Albany Jane said quality and I have no reason to doubt her.
ReplyDeleteI understand why places use screens but definitely agree cooking on the floor produces a better crust.