DC Cupcakes: Not your Usual Guide Part 2!
I can say that the cupcake craze here in DC area got REALLYY INSANE!
Wherever I go, there's always that cute little cupcake shop right around the corner, selling home baked red velvets, classic vanilla cupcakes topped with buttercream or cream cheese frosting and even flavors that are really out of this world! What's more fascinating, aside from the fact that those sinful cupcakes taste immensely gooood are the stories behind those. Would you believe that a lawyer with a stable job, would quit his career in order to pursue his passion to bake cakes from scratch? Crazy as it may seem to people who value stability in life more than anything else, it did happen. Someone who just have to have that passion and courage to pursue his dream did make it happen. That's just one of the few interesting things I've discovered while I was trying to explore the wide variety of DC's cupcake community and I know that there are quite a few that I wasn't able to visit yet, hence the need to go back and continue my Cupcake adventuuure very soon! :)))
While I was searching different cupcake places around wherein I could probably work as an apprentice for while I was in DC, I stumbled upon Cake Love and decided to visit their store nearest to my place. It just so happened that it was located in Washington's very famous U STREET and I was just so happy cause during that one time visit, I did hit quite a couple of birds at the same time! Not only did I get to taste Cake Love's super indulgent cupcakes, I got to taste the famous Ben's Chili Hotdogs as well!
You can check out photos of my U Street adventure here in my profile!https://www.facebook.com/media/set/set=a.10151078912820588.432538.626965587&type=3
So to start the second part of my cupcaake adventure, let me continue the story of a practicing lawyer, Mr. Warren Brown, who through a series of small events led him to realize his passion....
CAKES!
Well, not just baking cakes from a box, but baking cakes FROM SCRATCH! :))) He is that guy that I was pertaining to awhile ago who left his secure job to pursue such passion! Amazing, isn't it? When you follow what truly is in your heart, no matter how hard the circumstances may be, I guess you can never go wrong. :D Right now, Cake Love has 6 branches operating in DC, Maryland and Virginia and I believe Mr. Cake Love's planning to expand further in the futuure! One daay, I will definitely have my own cute little pastry shop! :))) I definitely wil!
You might be in awe right nooooow!!!
An EX LAWYEER?!? Are you kiddiiing???
I mean who would do that in the middle of a recession? :)))
Well, Mr. Cake Love did! :)))
Okay, I guess enough of the back story and moore of his cakes & cupcakes right now! :))))) But if you want to read more of his inspiriing story, just visit this website: http://www.cakelove.com/about_story.php
So when I went there, I had the chance to talk to one of the pioneer bakers who worked with Mr. Cake Love when he first started his business.
MEET MR. JORGE! :))))
He was too kiind to allow me to taaste three of Cake Love's super deliish cupcaakes!
The RED VELVEET
PUMPKIN SPICE
&
CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE WITH CREAM CHEESE FROSTIING
Too bad I wasn't able to taste TOFFEE CRUNCH but these definitely loook like something that one must tryyyyy on their visiiit!!
Verdict from the Pastry Princess:
This is the first time that I actually got to taste a Pumpkin Spice flavored cupcake(definitely not a fan of pumpkiin flavors ever since!), but I must say that it was good first try especially with the cream cheese frosting on it! The cinnamon flavor also added that extra flavoor on the cake! Who doesn't love cinnamon especially on chocolaate chiip cookiees? :)) Now I seriously have to baake soon!!!
On the other hand, the cream cheese frosting on the red velvet & the chocolate cupcakes are extremelyyyy goooood!!! They are definitely NOT JUST THE ICING ON THE CAKE cause they actually became the highlight of the whole cupcake itself! It's not that I don't like the cake that much, it's a little dry but combined with the frostiiing,
you can definitely feel the CAKE LOVE! :)
Next on youur not your usuaaal Cupcaake guide is what almost everybody else claimed as the BEST CUPCAAAKE in DC - eveeen better than your famouus Georgetown cupcakes! And for a cupcake enthusiast like I am, it would be a pastryyy suiciide if I don't get to taste those cupcakes before I left DC! I seriously would've criiiied like a babyy on the plaane, forever thiinkiing how good they were based on online raves & reviews by fellow cupcake lovers!!!
In my relatively short stay in DC, I am very thankful that I met this giirl who looves cuupcakes and is seriouslyyy obsessed with all things red velveet! In short, she becaame myyy cuupcaake buddy, my travel budyy, myy food buddy and most dearlyy, my friiiend! We just had that instant connection and I'm so happy that I met her! Exploring DC aloone would be boriiiing without youuu, Melaaa!!! :))
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| Taken at Baked & Wired Cupcakes |
Like I've said before, you're a sister that I never had! :)) Okay, I think that I just reallyy miss our girl bonding right noow so enough of all the drama Princess! Time to get back to youur cupcaake storyy!! :)))
So it was my last day in DC, Mela and I had been talking about going to Baked & Wired for weeks and only then we had the chance to visit their only store in Georgetown.
Surprisingly, Baked & Wired cupcakes has a very low profile setting, and situated in a very low profile location as well. To be honest, going there did not gave that super excitiing feeling that I had when I first went to Georgetown cupcakes but I swear, it's their baked produucts that that did matter in the end! :))))
And right now, get ready to feast your eyes with their delectable desserts & super huge cupcakes!!!
Are you ready to get BAKED &WIRED???
As usuaal, it took me a loong time to decide which cupcake to eaat, I mean, loook at these whooole selectiooooooooooon!!!!
Now I guess after looking at all those cupcakes, you can now relate how hard it was for me to choose what to eat during that time! :)))
Don't they just look lovely and delicious and awesome? They come in numerous flavors and outrageous names too!
Uniporns & Rainhos? :)
Seriously? But these taste really delish! They're super yummy vanilla cupcakes with rainbow sprinkles & the best cream cheese frosting you'll ever have! I guess its the simplicity of a vanilla cupcake plus a Southern cream cheese frosting makes it the best option for those who just want their cupcake plain & classy! :))
Had them for lunch here in LA! :)))
From the reviews that I got online, this pastry shop's best seller is their strawberries & cream cupcakes so I decided to taste them!!! Just want to share with you guys, as part of my BACK IN TRACK FITNESS, I originally planned to just eat half of this cupcake, even conditioned my mind to resist.....
.BUUUUT....
They're juust toooooo goooood! Before, I had alwaays opted for the red velveet but this, I just have no words! You can taste fresh strawberries in every biiite and the frostiing's juust...
OH
MYYYY!!!!
I definitely recommend this for people who got tired of eating the usual! They're like a breath of fresh air from the conventional chocolate & red velvet cupcakes!!! :)))
Not to mention, the size of the cupcake is really worth your buck! The cake itself is very moist and the frosting is just heaven! It's not too sweet, just the right taste to bring your senses to a fresh strawberry field!! :)) Now I'm craving for these! Could someone in DC please please send me these cupcakes? :D
Pretty prettyy please???
In the end, I decided to bring the Tessita, Elvis cupcake, one more Strawberries & Cream, Uniporns & Rainhos & of course, the classic Red Velvet!!! :)))
I have tasted a loot of versions of these cupcakes and so far, these are definitely a STAND OUT! :)) I cannot say that they're way better than Georgetown's red velvet because both have qualities that make them distinct from each other! What I noticed with Baked & Wired cupcakes is their cake like frostiing. It's not the usual swirl and soft frosting like the ones in Georgetown, theirs have this hard & crunchy coatiing whiich makes theiir frostiing soo DIVIIIIIIINE!!! I guuess I wasn't able to give juustiice to these cupcaakes still!! SO you really have to go theere and taste them for youuurseelf!! I sweaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaar!!!!
ON THE SIDE:
Hi Melaa!! I know these are youur favoriiite and I just can't forget your reaction when you tasted Pop's red velvet ice creaaam! It's juust classiiic guurl!! IMYY <3
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| Carrot Caake & Red Velvet Cake Ice Creaaaam!!!! Deaath!!! |
ELVIS CUPCAKE
I was never a fan of peanut butter before but when Peanut butter & Jelly was introduced to my breakfast menu, I could never get enough of them!!! That's why when I saw this banana cupcake with peanut butter frosting, I knew I had to taste it!!!! No wonder why real banana tastes really good with some peanut butter on it for snack! :) try it sometime guys especially whenever you have that sweet craving, grab a banana and a few table spoon of peanut butter and jelly if you like! It's healthy indulgence and it will definitely satisfy your sweet appetite! :)
If only I could eat every single flavor in there and not gain a loot of weight in the process!! Which also explains these chubby cheeks that I've been sporting for weeks now! hahahahah! :)) But the most important thing is that I'm happy eating them and they're those type of sweets that are worth the calories! :)))
(NOTE TO SELF: You've got your CHEAAAT DAAAYS PRINCESS, now it's time to get back on track on your FITNESS GOALS! :D)
Before we left Baked & Wired and curious as I was, I asked if they have any future plans of branching out, given that Georgetown cupcakes will be opening its store in Beverly Hills this November. I was mildly surprised by their answer, Baked & Wired Cupcakes has no plans of opening another store at all cause they think that it's going to affect the quality of the baked products that they sell. Well I do hope that they stick to that principle in the long run and keep their Georgetown cupcake business going. :))))
Till I see you again very soon! :))) Can't wait to get baked & wired again! <3
This next one will just be a run through on the cupcake shops that we passed by during the Old Town Alexandria adventure I had with Melaa! :))) ( A separate blog entry will be made for that charming city very soon! )
So while walking along Alexandria's streets, we noticed a lot of cupcake shops around the area and decided to take a visit! We decided not to taste any cause we were supposed to visit Baked & Wired the same day, too bad we were so exhausted from walking that we had to go home and rest! Anyway, I just wanted to share the cupcakes that we've seen and this super cute cupcake necklace that I bought as a reminder of one of the few things that really make me happy! :))
Alexandria Cupcakes
Fresh strawberries & cream cupcakes!!! Wish I tasted them before!!! <3
They look like Georgetown's Red Velvet!!!!!
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| I MISS MY CUPCAKE BUDDY!!! |
SECOND STOP:
LAVENDER MOON CUPCAKERY
Hmmmm... I share the same sentiment guys! If you only know how much I want a cupcake right now!!!!
Vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting! CLASSIC!!!
I know, I'm a sucker for everything cupcakes!!! Thanks Mela for the picture! :))
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| Just a simple girl who wants to have her own pastry shop one day! I know it will happen! I will make it happen! :))) |
OCCASIONALLY CAKES!!!
I guess this is my favorite of all the cupcake shops that we've seen in the Old Town Alexandria area. Their store is just very cozy with a lot of cute cupcake decorations and this is where I found my cupcake necklace!!! :))) I'm such a happy kid! The moment I saw them, I knew I had to get them! They're made for me! hahaha! I know that's a little bit exaggerated but still! Who wouldn't love to have a cupcake necklace, right? :)
Here are some words to live by for cupcake lovers out there!
Well, I guess that sums up the amazing cupcake adventure I had here in DC! I really can never say which one is the best cause every cupcake shop that I visited had something different & interesting to offer!
And I believe that what makes each cupcake so special is that they're baked from the heart.
So if you happen to visit DC, go check out these cupcake places and please please let me know if you discover anything that's not included in this blog! I would really appreciate it if you can share any amazing cupcake discovery you'll have!
Isn't the world a better place with a cupcake?
And by the way, if you haven't read the first part, you can always check it out here: http://worldtravelerandbaker.blogspot.com/2012/09/dc-cupcakes-not-your-usual-guide.html
Till next time cupcake lovers! I will definitely be making cupcakes any time sooner so keep posted guys!
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