Happy New Year Cupcake Lovers! 2012 was a year for cupcakes and to commemorate such an awesome year, I've compiled a wrap-up of the highlights from 2012.
Buzz Bakery's Arlington Location
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Warren Brown's Cakelove: How to Bake Cakes from Scratch
Cakelove's Toffee Crunch Cupcakes aka My Boo!
After closing Love Cafe (a U-street staple), Cakelove'sWarren Brown pens another book entitled, Cakelove in the Morning and gives a portion of their toffee crunch cupcake sales (aka, My Boo!) to Hurricakesfor Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts.
Crunkcakes display table at Treat Yo' Self
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Olivia's Cupcake Shop
Photo courtesy of Olivia's Cupakes
L-R: Raychel and Faith, the Ladies of Crunkcakes
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Crunkcakes (last year's winner for Best Overall) held their first 'Treat Yo Self' pop-up shop featuring several artisans and other sweet-treat makers where they introduced two new flavors featuring DC Brau Craft Beer: the Brau Rickey and the Fat Cat. Meanwhile Olivia's Cupcakes (last year's winner for 'Best Red Velvet Cupcakes') tinkers with getting a new food truck and introduces their now famous Ciroc cupcakes.
The Kallinis Sisters at the LA Opening of Georgetown Cupcake
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Election 2012 Cupcakes from Frosting Cupcakery
Photo courtesy of Frosting Cupcakery
Hello Kitty and The Cupcake Critic
The Cupcake Critic in Hello Kitty Swag
This year was also an election year causing several stores like Frosting, Sprinkles, Georgetown Cupcakes and The Sweet Lobby to create Election 2012 and partisan cupcakes. Three of my lucky readers won a dozen election cupcake boxes courtesy of Sprinkles Georgetown. Getting in on the action was Hello Kitty who ran from president and set-up headquarters at the 918 F Street building. Georgetown Cupcake provided the presidential themed cupcakes for Candidate Kitty who ran on the friendship party. I shot a vlog after my own attendance at the event; and
Slava Rubin, Founder of Indiegogo
pictured with The Cupcake Critic
The Sweet Life Tour featured local bakers like Tweets Sweets!
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The Cupcake Critic visits Old Fashioned Radio/
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Recently, my younger sister Shelby celebrated her 20th birthday-Happy Birthday Pooh! Grabbing a dozen if not two dozen cupcakes to celebrate became a challenge and despite being a Critic, I still shell out for cupcakes. With the average cupcake hovering around $3 bucks or more, buying cupcakes for a simple soiree can get pricey. However after careful research I found some chic yet cheap cupcakes for your next shindig.
Tip: Sweet Themez is a full-service bakery that also specializes in custom wedding cakes. Chief baker and owner Adrian can create whatever your heart desires! Limited DC delivery is available for a fee ($15)
As you can imagine, wherever I go, I am asked, “Who has the best cupcakes in DC?” Of course I don't mind the question- after all that's what being a critic is about. But my response of, "It depends..." is never really what people want to hear. Allow me to expound.
Fellow bloggers: (L-R) Stacey, Lauren and Stephanie
On an eventful Thursday night I was catching up with some pals over cocktails at Tap & Parlor on U Street. DC Legend Chuck Brown's funeral was earlier that day so the place was jumping in celebration of a true hometown hero. Fellow blogger and pal Stacey, had given me the cutest cupcake picture which brought up the subject of cupcakes.
My cupcake pic from Stacey
Our other pal and fellow blogger Lauren, asked me the infamous question, "So Steph...who has the best cupcakes in the city?" Her eyes were exacting as they looked at me over black-rimmed Chanel frames. I know Lauren well enough to know that their is no coy way of getting out of this one. "It depends..." was my most sincere answer. She pursed her lips and took a sip of her drink, albeit a bit annoyed, at the inconclusive answer. It's okay. It get that-alot.
Photo courtesy of Rolling Stone Mag
To ask who has the best
cupcakes would be like saying, “Who’s the greatest rapper of all time?” It’s such a broad statement whose answer is based upon so many variables and perspectives. To circumvent this people often
move on to question number two when question number one has proven to be
inconclusive, “So where do you go for your
cupcake fix?” To which my honest reply is the same, “It depends…”
"I bet you get free cupcakes, don't you?" ~ Chris
Very often my personal
decisions are based upon a few factors: my mood, proximity, cost, flavor availability,
etc. As much as I would like to say that I am a card-carrying member of the 'Stephy-Gets-Free-Cupcakes-for-Life' club, bakers are business owners. And although I
have a great working relationship with most of them (and they are more than eager to let
me try their new flavors or just lob a few my way to say, “Thanks!”) I am still
shelling out $3.50 a pop for cuppies which can get pricey.
"Do you know The Georgetown Cupcake girls?" ~ Evian
Overall the main
contributor to where I go for cupcakes is usually dictated by one question:
Do I feel like driving into DC for cupcakes? Because of that many suburban bakeries like Cakes Plus, Delectable Cakery and the new Cake Courtesan satisfy my cupcake cravings. Whenever I am in DC I go ga-ga for Sprinkles seasonal key-lime or strawberry cupcakes. And although Georgetown Cupcake is high on my list of delish, I dig that Sweet Themezin Adams Morgan is open late on weekends. So as I stated earlier, it all depends.
"I'm so over this cupcake thing...but I love your blog!" ~Anon
All in all each shop has
something to offer in its own way, for each neighborhood, flavor aficionado, and
at every price level. My goal is to act as a taste-tester and reporter of all the cupcake goodness that is flourishing in DC and beyond. I love the questions that people ask and encourage the dialogue but the most that you'll get out of me is, " I love them all in their own way" :-) R.I.P Chuck Brown
Guess who had a guest spot on The District Dish with DC's concierge of cool, K Street Kate? Kate and the ladies asked me some really tough questions like, who's hot, who's not and above all, what makes me a critic? Watch as I 'dish' on my love for Sprinkles' key-lime cupcakes, how Obama brought pie back and why we should all support Olivia's Cupcakes!
Happy Eating Cupcake Lovers!
PS: I love Olivia's Cupcakes red velvet cupcakes so much that they were voted, 'Best Red Velvet' in my 2011, 'Best of the Best'. So now it's your turn! Visit Olivia's Cupcakes between now and March 11th and receive 50% off one dozen cupcakes when you buy one dozen. Just tell them 'The Critic' sent you!
I'm sure by now you have either heard or seen, the Sprinkles' flagship in Beverly Hills, CA have taken it to the next level and created an ATM machine for your late night cravings! Yes Cupcake Lovers! 24-hour access to those yummy treats! As if they weren't awesome enough, Sprinkles will also be opening Sprinkles ice cream which will feature ice cream, cookies and brownies. Look out Baskin Robbins (or should I say Dunkin' Donuts?) there's a new kid on the block and he's hungry! For more read here
It's March Madness!!!
Photo courtesy of KatieBrownBlog.com
March madness is almost here and being the major b-ball fan that I am, here at Critic
headquarters, I’m having my own March madness! Each week I will be giving away
awesome prizes for my readers. To make sure that you don’t miss anything, be
sure to subscribe to my blog and get a firsthand look at what’s in store.
Olivia's Cupcakes featured on TheRoot.com
Photo courtesy of Olivia's Cupcakes
Writer Erin Williams interviews Cindy Bullock, owner of Olivia's Cupcakes, and winner of The Critic's 'Best of 2011' for 'Best Red Velvet Cupcakes'. Guess who also got a nod in the story? *SMILES* Great article! Check it out! Then read my review of Olivia's Cupcakes here. Don't forget to subscribe to the blog for your chance to win contests and prizes!
Do you have a cupcake news or an event? E-mail me at DCCupcakeCritic@gmail.com to be included in the weekly round-up.
Flavors: Strawberry, Chocolate with Vanilla frosting and Red Velvet
Price: $2
Score: 3.5
“The cupcake disparity is a real issue but how do we overcome it?”
Olivia’s Cupcakes is a first in what I am hoping to be a trend: cupcake shops opening in predominately African-American neighborhoods. Walking into Olivia’s you are immediately greeted with factors beyond their control: crime, poverty, and lack of employment. Despite acting as a solution, you can’t blame them for installing triple thick, bullet-proof glass. Let me elaborate.
(Photo courtesy of Olivia’s Cupcakes)
Housed in a purple brownstone, Olivia’s Cupcakes looks like fairytale princess land. Outfitted in pink princess awnings, glitter wands and a crystal chandelier, it’s an adolescent girl’s dream. I was a bit jealous of the little girl waiting with her mother to discuss having her party in their princess room. What I wasn’t jealous of, was their long wait time only to be told the person that they needed to speak to wasn’t available.
Photo courtesy of HBO/The Wire
Although Olivia’s Cupcakes is metro bus accessible, driving there would be ideal. I decided to drive and found plenty of parking across the street. Making my way up the spiraled stairs, I saw potential cast members for the HBO drama, ‘The Wire’, standing in line for cupcakes. Recognizing my surroundings, I knew two things:
1. I needed to get in and get out.
2. The Critic is madbourgeois
Olivia's Cupcakes Chocolate with Vanilla Frosting
At only $2 a pop I was eager to indulge all my cupcake fantasies. However once I got to the window to order, I was met with the dreaded “Ain’t no mo…” Their website boasted 8 daily flavors but that day only 4 were available. Luckily the line wasn’t long but the two teenaged girls working behind the counter were doing so in tandem versus assembly-line style. Ideally one would handle the money while the other bagged cupcakes. Nonetheless they were super sweet and a bit overwhelmed so I overlooked it.
Strawberry Cupcake from Olivia's Cupcakes
Once I made it back to my car I sunk my teeth into the chocolate cupcake which was Billie D. Williams smooth (Colt 45 Days) and Phillip Drummond rich. Equally rich was their red velvet cupcake. Moist and draped in cream cheese frosting, Olivia’s Cupcakes turned me into a believer! Finally, I managed to grab my all-time favorite cupcake: strawberry frosting on strawberry cake which may sound redundant but Olivia’s made it all worthwhile.
Red Velvet Cupcake from Olivia's Cupcakes
Overall Olivia’s Cupcakes is a venture that I want to succeed. Neighborhoods like Minnesota Avenue are often depraved of eateries (and resources) that others can take for granted. Their cupcakes are awesome and their shop is a sight to behold. Hopefully they will tweak what is within their control so foodies like me don’t mind overlooking what isn’t in their control. Besides, Georgetown can’t have the lock on diabetes and obesity.
With names like ‘Boozy Breakfast’ and ‘Dirty Pillow’ these cupcakes are in a class all their own. Liquor infused, packaged to perfection and priced oh-so-sweetly, they deserve all the accolades that they get. They ‘rep’ the DMV on their logo by giving the District of Columbia’s flag a cupcake spin. They can be found at any of these DC hotspots: Sova, The Rock N Roll hotel and H Street Bakes (seasonal). Read my review here
Despite the fact that I dream about Sprinkles, the Sprinkles staff in Georgetown is superb! Every customer’s name is taken down with their order; every flavor is explained and each order is hand-delivered. There are enough staff members to defray lines and I’ve never seen an employee who looked like they were two steps from mutiny. Did I mention that I dream about them? Read my review here. *Runner Up: Sweet Bites Desserts
When I first encountered Enjoi Cupcakes the owners were suited up in their Enjoi Cupcake gear and their mascot, The Cupcake Princess, was in tow with her cupcake wand and fairy princess costume. Needless to say, she was cuter than Christmas. Their cupcakes, which were featured at Georgetown’s Marvelous Market for a summer pop-up, have always been stellar and nothing less than top notch. Aside from Sprinkles, I dream about Enjoi and their strawberry cupcakes! As the saying goes, “You eat with your eyes” and Enjoi has mastered that (amongst many things). Read my review here.
Aside from being a D.C. favorite (their review received the most views after Crunkcakes), Baked and Wired has more than earned their designation with over 25 flavors that include: Pretty Bitchin, Flapjack (maple brown butter cake with maple buttercream frosting topped with caramelized bacon), Chocolate Cupcake of Doom (chocolate on dark chocolate) and The Elvis Impersonator (a banana cupcake with chocolate and peanut butter frosting). Although some flavors are seasonal, these small batches are baked daily so get it while you can! Read my review here
I will always have a soft spot in my heart for Hello Cupcakes because they were one of the first cupcakeries I went to as ‘The Critic’. Their Dupont Circle location is metro accessible and close to my favorite lunch spot Cosi. With a new location opening in the up-and-coming Barrack’s Row area, I give kudos to Hello Cupcakes for giving their customers more metro accessible options. Read my review here. *Runner Up: Red Velvet Cupcakery
Despite having a cupcake empire, Georgetown Cupcakes are reasonably priced at $2.75. This has proven to be a very savvy marketing tactic to stave off DC newcomer, Sprinkles, and any other competition for that matter. All things considered they give customers quality, variety and size at a price tag much cheaper than area cupcakeries (despite being the Vera Wang of cupcakes). Read my review here.
It’s not a secret that The Critic isn’t fond of red velvet cupcakes *Flashback to childhood memories* but Olivia’s Cupcakes’ red velvet cupcakes makes me a believer! Moist, flavorful and the perfect amount of chocolate flavor, because of Olivia’s Cupcakes *sniff* I can love again… Read my review here.
Who’s your best of the best? Let me know @DCCupcakeCritic or at DCCupcakeCritic@gmail.com. Happy Eating Cupcake Lovers!!
