WTN: Two parents at Two Amys

Oddly enough, though the DC area is the worst place I have ever lived for pizza, when my parents came into town one of the first places I wanted to take them was a pizza joint, 2 Amys in DC. Truly a diamond in truly the rough, it ranks among the top four of pizza places I love. It was packed, it was very loud, but it was only a 30 minute wait for a table and then onto the culinary delights.

I have only had the pizza there in the past, but this time we all split a salad of escarole hearts with hard boiled eggs and anchovy dressing--and now I am sure that I'll always have a salad when I go there as well. The escarole was amazing, perfectly fresh, crisp, and wonderful touch of bitterness. What a delicious salad.

Then onto the pizze. My parents both had the Calabrese with tomato, onions, anchovy, fresh mozzarella, parlsey and olives (though my dad passed on those). Wonderful pizza, if a bit on the salty side which made it a great match for my mom's rosato a 2006 Argiolas Isola dei Nuraghi Serra Lori [blend of 25 percent each of Cannonau, Carignano, Monica, and Bovalesardo] (Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, Sardinia, Italy) with strawberry on the nose, pretty basic there, but nice subdued fruit and a feel of less than sweet strawberry cake on the tongue with a bit of zip, perhaps a touch of alcohol, but a nice simple wine (I think a dry white would have paired better, but my mom is like a kid in the candy store when she gets to a place with a rosé selection that is not limited to what she terms 'supermarket wines'.

I stuck with my favorite, the Norcia with tomato, salami, grilled peppers, fresh mozzarella and grana. Doesn't matter how many times I've had this pizza, it is just intensely delicious, the salami is phenomenal. And it paired perfectly with a glass of 2003 Santa Lucia Castel del Monte [100 percent Uva di Troia] (Castel del Monte, Puglia, southern Italy), which was black in the glass, and had quite the funky nose of sweat, sweet leather, more sweat and soy sauce, intriguing and fun on the nose I couldn't wait for the taste which ended up tasting like the cigar I had smoked the night before, layered and smooth, tar and tobacco, weird sweetness, my first Uva di Troia and I loved it. Alas the second wine I chose lined more up with the unambitious interpretation of the term 'pizza wine'. It was the 2006 Terredora di Paolo Aglianico d’Irpinia [100 percent Aglianico] (Irpinia, Campania, Italy) and the nose was kind of a fine one-dimensional raisin quality, but though the taste had some promise with some subdued fruit, the hot and spicy finish was tiring and the wine felt kind of anonymous.

My parents, who live in a far better pizza market than I, were quite impressed and we moseyed off to see more of the DC sights.

I read about this place in Ed Levine's great book on pizza, "Pizza - A Slice of Heaven." He raved about the place and described the pie as "perhaps the best traditionally Neopoltan - style pizza I've had in the States." He also said it had " a crisp crust, beautiful hole structure, and just the right amount of char," and called it "perfectly balanced."

I haven't been to D.C. in ages, but if I ever get back there, Two Amys is on my list.

Thanks for the report. My mouth is watering.

The Washington Post did a series of articles on local pizza back on 28 May. I have friends in the DC area, so I particularly noticed them. There were about a dozen I think altogether that day.

the DC area is the worst place I have ever lived for pizza

Agreed -- it is, in general, a pizza wasteland. But there are some exceptions as you note. Have you tried Pizza Paradiso? Or Comet Ping-Pong? I'm curious how you think those match up with 2 Amys. Also, I recently had a pizza at Busboys and Poets that was quite nice.

Thanks for the notes!

[Jenise]

I'm ready to get on a plane.

My husband lived in DC for awhile and loved a Georgetown place called Gepettos for the pan-fried pepperoni that went on top of a Chicago style deep dish pizza as soon as it popped out of the oven. It would never be my favorite, but it was unique. Probably not there anymore.

[Ed Levine] raved about the place and described the pie as "perhaps the best traditionally Neopoltan - style pizza I've had in the States." He also said it had " a crisp crust, beautiful hole structure, and just the right amount of char," and called it "perfectly balanced."

A perfect description of their style, tempting indeed.

The Washington Post did a series of articles on local pizza back on 28 May. I have friends in the DC area, so I particularly noticed them. There were about a dozen I think altogether that day.

Thanks for this, it was not on my radar. Always helpful to have list of likely suspects . . .

Have you tried Pizza Paradiso? Or Comet Ping-Pong? I'm curious how you think those match up with 2 Amys.

Pizzeria Paradiso is not to my taste . . . tried it first three or four years ago and probably twice since. Not my thing, I guess. Quality ingredients on top, but I don't care for the crust nor the entire package. The beer selection at Birreria Paradiso in Georgetown, however, is something worth hiking out to (though I pass on the food). I have not tried Comet Ping-Pong. Though I am not in love with their overall style, I absolutely love the Fire and Smoke pizza (fire roasted red peppers, sweet onions, chipotle pepper, tomato sauce, smoked gouda, and fresh basil--makes you sweat) at Matchbox in Chinatown . . . good, though more limited, beer selection there as well.