In this town of scatterbrained workaholics, we are in dire need of sensations that clear our heads and reduce our existence down to a single, simple pleasure. Fortunately for me, the Dolcezza in Dupont Circle has two such options: iced cream and fine coffee. The beans are as bold as owner Robb Duncan’s decision to serve it two doors down from a Starbucks, yet highly advisable for gelato given the surrounding Italian restaurants, Tomate and Sette Osteria.  Not to mention the sweaty nature of a DC summer, the number of District fashionistas who spent time studying in Italy and how our citizens go hysterical for similar treats like cupcakes and frozen yogurt.

Dolcezza’s Valrhona Chocolate Amargo gelato (above), made with 70% dark chocolate, is like a frozen whipped ganache that resembles all the potential energy of a freshly made truffle (Valrhona is the same French chocolate used by Co Co Sala in Chinatown and routinely ranked as one of the world’s best). Cocoa aside, my favorite Dolcezza flavor is Blackberries & Cream and there are several others to choose from.  Customers are encouraged to try before they buy.

Different from the Georgetown and Bethesda stores, the Dupont Circle location is unique for selling coffee and the print edition of Worn Magazine.  During my visit I learned a few of the staff hold top honors from Thursday Night Throwdown, a monthly latte art competition for metro DC baristas. Liz, manager at Dolcezza and owner of dual owl tattoos, mentioned they’re gearing up for Southeast regional competitions in February 2011.  Anyway, I’m spoiled by the fact that within seconds of leaving my home, I can travel the world in a coffee cup and pick up a glossy pastry from here or Filter on 20th Street, which also sells Worn. (Like most coffeehouses in DC, the pastries at Dolcezza are brought in from area bakeries like Hawthorne or Bonaparte.)

Keep your eye on Robb’s blog.  He wants to do another pig roast in Dupont Circle, such as when they celebrated the store’s opening in May.  Rewinding further, Robb’s first blog post in 2006 shares a quote from one of my favorite authors, Tom Robbins, in Villa Incognito:

The ecstasy of living completely in the present moment, which almost everyone experiences briefly in sexual orgasm, mystics access during deep meditation, shamans savor as a reward for their psychedelic ordeals, and some artists stumble upon gratuitously when they lose themselves in their work, that egoless euphoria was, according to Stubblefield, at the core of transcendence, the liberated state of elevated innocence for which every human animal unwittingly hungers.

This tells you everything you need to know about Dolcezza.  Taste it for yourself and pick up a copy of Worn at 1704 Connecticut Avenue.

Dolcezza is a hoot.  Make sure to keep your eye on their daily tweets or join them on Facebook to learn when new flavors arise.

Photo Credits: Joshua Yospyn (please ask permission to use our images)

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