November 5, 2004
Examining the Jumbo Slice
The Washington City Paper's cover story this week examines the Adams Morgan phenomenon the Jumbo Slice in laudable detail.
The article ranges from the origins of the slice (Chris Chishti, owner of Pizza Mart, claims to be the first), their nutrition (the slices contain over 1,000 calories), their economics (nobody's getting rich), the volume (what does 900 pounds of a mozzarella-provolone mix look like?) and even, well, the culture ("You see people taking pictures of other people eating them. They're almost a...tourist attraction.")
Lest you fear an overly romantic treatment, the article also describes the fights, rats, and neighbors angry about greasy plates. All in all, it's a good read. DCist admits to enjoying a few of these uniquely D.C. delights, although we've never thrown one at anyone - a common theme in the City Paper story. The Post views the Jumbo Slice as a critical D.C. experience, and Life in the District raves about Pizza Mart's "traditional New York style thin crust pizza" despite "fuzzy" memories. What's your favorite Jumbo Slice story? Have you ever brawled under the neon sign at Pizza Mart?
UPDATE: Here's a permalink for the City Paper story.
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I haven't personally, but one night in college when I came down to DC for a little clubbing, my friend did get into an argument over what I think was a misunderstanding about an offer of an unclaimed extra slice. Like most fights, it was a lot of shouting, a simultaneous charge and two groups of friends holding the belligerents back after about five seconds of scuffle.
I maintain that Pizza Mart was the first jumbo slice, and have personally declared Pizza Bolis to be charlatan fuckstains on the matter of the jumbo slice. Suck it, Bolis!
Pizza mart is awesome. While working late, I often take a late night pizza refuge there. Good enough to drive from Bethesda.