Pizzeria Da Marco

I wanted to love this place so bad, but the pizza literally can't hold up to the toppings. The flavors are there, the toppings are high quality, but the pizza comes out of the oven a soggy mess. I have a feeling they're not getting their wood burning oven to a high enough temperature to really crisp the bottom of the crust, but I'll leave that for them to figure out.

They have a nice location in downtown Bethesda and the inside is cute. The front wall opens up to give it an airy feeling and extend the outdoor dining to the inside a little. There aren't a ton of places where you can eat outside, so the more the merrier.

What we've got here is a pesto pizza on the left, drizzled with a gallon of olive oil, much of which you can make out soaking the cardboard box in the upper left corner... We did take out, so maybe it would have stayed in the middle if we ate at the restaurant, but really, does it need that much olive oil? I don't think so. The flavors were there, but the overabundance of olive oil and the soggy crust under the toppings were a deal breaker.

On the right was a delicious roasted eggplant and goat cheese pizza, again with the toppings soaking right through crust. In the end it was a dissapointment.

I hope they can get their pizzas fixed, because they could have a great place here. I'll be back when I hear they're more on track.

Pizzeria Da Marco 
8008 Woodmont Avenue, 

Bethesda, MD 

(301) 654-6083

 www.pizzeriadamarco.net

Breckenridge Brewery - Vanilla Porter

This caught my eye in the store and I figured I had to try it. I've been to the Breckenridge Brewery in Breckenridge, CO before, shout out to my Boston friends!, and don't remember leaving amazed by the beers, but I was pretty sick during my stay in town, so I forgive them... for now.

This porter has just a hint of vanilla, and it works really well. Sometimes flavored beers can leave me sick to my stomach, but this left me with the desire to go back for more. It's unique, and I dig it, but I wouldn't sit around pounding these bad boys on game day. It's nice for a night after work when you just want a beer and you're up for trying something new. It's heavy and dark, definitely feels like fall to me and I love that.

My beer place breaks down 6 packs for you, so you can just buy 1 if you want. It cost a little bit more per bottle, but it can be worth it. For this beer, I'd go for the 1 and see if you like it.


From the makers:
Deep in the jungles of Papua New Guinea and Madagascar grows the perfect ingredient for an extraordinary Porter brewed in Colorado. Breckenridge Brewery’s Vanilla Porter. An ale that has all the chocolate and roasted nut flavor of a classic Porter, with an enigmatic surprise thrown in for good measure.

Check out all their locations, if you're ever in Colorado!

www.breckbrew.com

New Belgium - Red Hoptober

Love the name, luke warm on the beer. It's nothing to write about anyway...

Um, ya, so it's very similar to the Ranger IPA, but not as hoppy or unique in flavor. Really left me wishing I had went with another beer this time around. Its got some citrus in there, to make it slightly different, but still has that New Belgium character.

I guess trying out unexciting beers is just part of the job...

Oh right. Well.. my advice for this seasonal is to skip it!


From the company:
Fall is here and with it our seasonal ale, Red Hoptober. Shining like autumn leaves in a globe glass this beer pours a dark and lovely garnet as it builds a bright, inviting head. The Eldorado hops are bold and present with a distinct, piney flavor while the caramel malt and roasted barley provide a backbone to stand Red Hoptober upright. Centennial and Cascade hops offer hints of citrus, tickling the nose, while the tongue carries a subtle, roasty tone that pairs pleasantly with the warming bite of bitter. Red Hoptober is perfect for shortening days and campfire nights.