When I started this Blog, I justified it to myself by saying that it would only be about photography and travel, my two favorite pastimes. No self-righteous rants or mundane drivel. But I have been on a quest for the past few months, and I am dying to report my findings somewhere. The anonymous blogosphere is the obvious venue. So here we are. Apologies to those who may be put off my the frivolous nature of this endeavor. Then again, what are you doing reading a Blog, anyway?
Washington DC Cupcake Tour
Although the Washington Post recently published "Cupcake Wars," I set out to do my own research. In fact, the Post and I were generally in agreement about the DC cupcake scene. Here are my results:
1. Georgetown Cupcake. Excellent variety of flavors, perfectly moist cake, frosting is delicious without being cloyingly sweet. We had them delivered for a party and they were a big hit (though pricey). Major downside of Georgetown is its cult following. The place is tiny, somewhat inaccessible (on a little sidestreet in Georgetown with no parking, far from a metro), there is always a huge line, and there's no seating inside.
2. Baked and Wired. Also in Georgetown. B&W is a coffee shop that sells other stuff so the cupcakes have not achieved the cult status noted above. However, they are quite tasty. Good cake:frosting ratio and the buttercream-style frosting is very yummy. I got something with coconut on top and all the flavors worked together nicely. The coffee shop setting also has the benefit of ample seating, and patrons chill on couches with books and laptops.
3. Red Velvet Cupcakery. I tried both the devils food (chocolate on chocolate) and "summertime" (lemon cake with white frosting and coconut shavings on top). It appears that the quality here is hit-or-miss. Summertime was fantastic--cake was ideal consistency with exactly the right amount of lemon flavor and the frosting was light and delectable. Devils food, however, could have come out of a box. Cake was dry and crumbly and the frosting was overpowering. Good location downtown and there is seating available next door at Tangy Sweet.
4. Hello Cupcake. Cupcakes here are perfectly adequate. Nothing to complain about. Nothing to really rave about either. Flavors have cutesy names--I tried "You Tart!" (lemon)--and it was ok. Too much frosting and said frosting was too sugary. Cake was not particularly flavorful but had a decent consistency. The space itself is inviting with several tables and the Dupont location across from the metro can't be beat. I would probably stop here again for an afternoon snack if I were in the neighborhood.
5. Cake Love. Ok, this place has a compelling story (attractive, dreadlocked black lawyer forgoes the law to open a bakery in a depressed DC neighborhood, encourage economic development, and give back to the community. Bakery is a success with a big yuppie following and opens multiple locations.) There's just one problem. The cupcakes are NOT good. At all. Cake is dry, flavorless, and frosting is too sugary. I give them credit for pre-dating the trendy cupcake wave by several years. But that also means that they had a head-start to hone their craft. I would sooner patronize Cinnabon than Cake Love (and I could, since they both have locations in Tyson's Corner Mall).
