Piccolina (da Centrolina) - Amy Brandwein's All-Day Cafe in City Center

[KMango]

“Tell me what you eat, and I will tell you who you are.” –Come on, ya’ll, every one of you knows who said this 🙂

“Tell me who you hire, and I will tell you who you are.”  -KMango

Just a quick shout out, and a bit of head shaking, to Amy Brandwein.  Stuck in CityCenter for almost three months, I practically lived at Piccolina.  I darted in for morning coffee, grabbed late afternoon snacks, and took out several evening dinners.  You name it, I inhaled it.  Which is where the head shaking comes in.  I probably negated a lot of cold weather workouts via my jaunts into the blissfully aromatic, fire-warmed cafe.

Without exception, the ingredient quality and immense satisfaction of each dish delivered.  Of special note were command performances of eggplant Parmesan, lamb sausage scacce, and turmeric roasted carrots with yogurt.       

Deliciousness can be found at many DC haunts.  However, the staff here appear to love what they do, enjoy each other, deeply care for their customers, and demonstrate immense pride in their products.  I wound up chatting with several employees on random occasions, various mornings and evenings.  They all spoke favorably of hard work, reflecting their ethic.  Their eyes lit up when describing the day’s offerings.  A few times while I awaited my order, Amy walked in to check on stock or pick up an item for Centrolina.  Each time, the staff treated her with genuine warmth and admiration.  She returned it, joking around or expressing gratitude.  As I have observed elsewhere, once “the boss” leaves the room, that marks the arrival of rolled eyes or negative comments.  But each time she left, deep smiles remained, everyone seemed elevated and boosted from the exchange.

Amy has created an achievement beyond measure.  She has connected great people with great food and is hiring for fit.  Despite the stresses of a fast-paced, top-quality culinary production, she creates a respectful, meaningful and fun place to work.  She demonstrates character, values, and integrity in action.

Brava, Amy, Brava.

And please, please keep me away from those chocolate crackle cookies. 

[DonRocks]

1 hour ago, KeithA said:

Great article from Tim Carman of the Post on his 10 favorite DC metro pizza: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/food/best-pizza-dc/

58 minutes ago, DonRocks said:

This is a really nice overview of the DC pizza scene right now.

And yet.

I can't remember the last time I took a bite of pizza, and said, "Wow!" I'm accessing my memory banks right now, and I honestly cannot remember.

After writing the previous sentence, I turned to DIShGo, and said, "When's the last time we had a truly great pizza?" <silence> "I mean one where the first bite makes you go, 'Wow!'?" <"Hmm"... <silence> "I don't know." <silence> "I ... can't recall.">

I take it back. Earlier this month, I had lunch at Piccolina, and ordered a Lamb Sausage Scaccia ($13) with Caciocavallo and Rapini. Not only did I say "Wow!" after the first bite, I said "Wow!" when they placed it down in front of me - it was *fantastic*. The only problem is that you need a minimum of two people for this, because #1 on your priority list should be the single-best thing I've had in DC in ... months? Beet-Cured Gravlax and Egg Salad ($12), yes, I said that, and you can thank me after you get them both.

(In full disclosure, we went back the next day, and had two other items which were merely "very good" (Egg and Cheese on Brioche ($8)) and "really good" (Rolled Ham and Fontina Crepe ($7))) - go for those first two things I mentioned, trust me.

[DIShGo]

10 hours ago, DonRocks said:

because #1 on your priority list should be the single-best thing I've had in DC in ... months? Beet-Cured Gravlax and Egg Salad ($12), yes, I said that, and you can thank me after you get them both.

The beet-cured gravlax is hands-down the best thing I have eaten in 2020. That picture makes me want to go back tomorrow.

[DonRocks]

On 1/30/2020 at 1:57 PM, DonRocks said:

I take it back. Earlier this month, I had lunch at Piccolina, and ordered a Lamb Sausage Scaccia ($13) with Caciocavallo and Rapini. Not only did I say "Wow!" after the first bite, I said "Wow!" when they placed it down in front of me - it was *fantastic*. The only problem is that you need a minimum of two people for this, because #1 on your priority list should be the single-best thing I've had in DC in ... months? Beet-Cured Gravlax and Egg Salad ($12), yes, I said that, and you can thank me after you get them both.

I am pleased to announce that Piccolina changed their menu yesterday, and both the Beet-Cured Gravlax and Egg Salad (breakfast and lunch) and Lamb Sausage Scaccia (dinner) are back on the menu.

[Ericandblueboy]

Had brunch at Piccolina before hitting the Holiday Market.  We tried the Lamb Sausage Scaccia, the Porchetta Panuzzo, and the Diavola.  The lamb sausage combined well with the rapini, and the roast pork combined well with mustard greens and salsa verde.  Too bad the kids don't like bitter greens, so I got plenty of delicious leftovers.  The kids had more luck with the pizza.  We sat outside - very comfortable even when the temp is in the low 50s.  

 

[Tweaked]

We swung by Piccolina on a Sunday afternoon for a midafternoon respite.

We enjoyed the focaccia, which was baked with a scattering of shaved summer vegetables.  The wood grilled salsiccia (a coil of lamb and pork sausage) with salsa verde was excellent.  And the almond olive oil cake was pleasant.  All washed down with a tasty campari spritz.  

Piccolina is well worth a stop-in if you are downtown. 

[Pat]

I periodically stop in here for coffee or iced tea when I'm passing through the area. I'm glad to see this thread bumped up.