And the Winner Is...The Best of 2012

Winner: Cakelove

Tie-Breaker: Aside from being wildly entertaining and informed about their cupcakes, one of the staff members at Cakelove had on a Wu-Tang Clan shirt with every member of the Wu-Tang Clan's names on it. I guess that's a fairly shallow reason to break a tie but do you know how many people are in the Wu-Tang Clan? Enough to put on a shirt. 

Congrats Cakelove!

R.I.P. Russell Jones

Winner: Georgetown Cupcake 

Tie-Breaker: The Sweet Lobby has amazing macarons and won Cupcake Wars' All-Stars with their MacTop creation. However Georgetown Cupcake cleverly debuted their cupcake hamburger at the start of the summer picnic/BBQ season and didn't forget the special sauce, poppy seed bun and cheese. But let's face it, food in the shape of others foods versus food on top of other foods is pretty creative. 

Congratulations Georgetown Cupcake!

Winner: Buzz Bakery 

Tie-Breaker: Baked and Wired has kickin' cool flavors like the Smurfette and the Fat Elvis that are beyond creative and big enough for two people. At the same time Buzz Bakery has the creative genius of Tiffany MacIssac who made an appearance on Sweet Genius. They also scored a 4.3 on their review compared to the 4 received by Baked and Wired. Overall both bakeries are awesome and yes, I gave Baked and Wired points for being next to a moat. Wait, that is a moat, right? 

Congratulations Buzz Bakery!

Best Cupcake Food Truck: Curbside Cupcake

Curbside Cupcake has a special place in every D.C. resident's heart as the first cupcake food truck. It's destined to go down in D.C. history with Marion Barry and  Ben's Chilli Bowl or Yum's carryout. With new locations in Pentagon City Mall and Union Square, they've revolutionized the food truck industry...lobbied and withstood city regulations and at the end of the day keep it classic.

Congratulations Curbside Cupcake!

Best Liquor Infused Cupcakes: Pretty Girl Cupcakery 

Pretty Girl Cupcakery is an oasis in the cupcake desert of Prince George's County, MD. They explore with various flavor choices but still keep it classy, San Diego. Their liquor-infused strawberry champagne cupcakes have been personally tested by yours truly (twice, don't judge me) and I am pleased as punch to congratulate them on their win!

Congratulations Pretty Girl Cupcakery!

Best New Bakery: Pretty Girl Cupcakery 

Pretty Girl Cupcakery is an exquisite cupcake shop located in suburban Maryland that is truly making its mark on the cupcake scene. They deliver on their promise with delightful waitstaff, innovative technology all housed in a perfectly pink and vanilla box shop. 

Congratulations Pretty Girl Cupcakery!

Best Online Bakery: The Butter Scotch Shop

The Butter Scotch Shop is one of my favorite online bakeries. Their moist and fluffy creations are reminiscent of my own grandmother's cupcakes; and that is hard to do. Owner Brandiss Smith creates each batch with love and delivers with a smile. 

Congratulations to The Butter Scotch Shop!

Best Vegan Cupcakes: Sticky Fingers Bakery

Although most shops have adopted handsome vegan and gluten-free offerings, Sticky Fingers Bakery in Columbia Heights, DC is the Vatican of veganism. It would be a travesty for them not to win this category. Further rockstar baker, owner, author, and two-time Cupcake Wars winner, Doron Petersan is the face of veganism in D.C. 

Congratulations Sticky Fingers Bakery!

Winner: Sprinkles Cupcakes

Tie-Breaker: Although I'm still steamed that DC doesn't have a Cupcake ATM or ice cream store, I am happy that they exist and are only a plane ride away. Further their expansion to the UAE is well, epic! But the true tie-breaker is their announcement of curbside service which makes the Critic very happy when attempting to park on those Georgetown Streets!

Congratulations Sprinkles Georgetown!

Open Mic Night at Baked & Wired

When: Friday, December 7, 2012

Where: 1052 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, DC 

Time: 6:30 PM- 9:30 PM

Cost: FREE

Baked and Wired will be playing host to WRGW District Radio for a special Open Mic Night! Musicians, poets, spoken word artists, comedians, and other artisans are welcome to sign up. The sign up sheet will be made available beforehand on their Facebook page however walk-ups will be accepted from 6:30-7:30 PM. 

Glee Cast Member Jane Lynch Spotted at Baked & Wired

Photo courtesy of Fox

According to Washingtonian magazine Glee cast member, Jane Lynch, was spotted frequenting Baked and Wired in Georgetown earlier this week. Although it isn't confirmed whether she indulged in one of their signature sweets like strawberry fields or the blueberry and lemon-frosting Smurfette, what was confirmed was her love for their lattes. Read my review of Baked and Wired here. 

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Georgetown Walking Tour with History and Cupcakes!

Georgetown Cupcake (Photo courtesy of J. Jackson)

Take a tour of Georgetown with stops at local cupcakeries: Georgetown Cupcake, Sprinkles & Baked and Wired. Visit the historical Dumbarton House while noshing on a free cupcake from each shop. The tour is 2 hours long, rain or shine, so don't forget your comfy walking shoes! Get your tix here.

When: Sunday, July 22, 2012

Where: Meet at the corner of Q and 27^th Streets, NW 

Time: 10AM-12PM

Cost: $20

Who Has The Best Cupcakes in DC?

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 Themez in 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

The Cherry Blossom Showdown!

Spring is in the air and so are the cherry blossoms! Between now and the end of April DC will be flooded with tourists who have an incurable case of cherry blossom fever. To celebrate bakers are rolling out cherry blossom cupcakes; with each bakery adding their own interpretation of the famed Japanese tree's cupcake-likeness. If you must indulge in the epidemic check out my cupcake critique of the cherry blossom cupcakes to find out who won and whose done in the war of cherry blossom cupcakes! 

Name: Georgetown Cupcakes

Description: Classic Madagascar bourbon vanilla cupcake baked with fresh cherries and topped with a vanilla cream cheese frosting and a fondant cherry blossom

Cost: $2.75

Georgetown Cupcake Cherry Blossom cupcake
Photo copyright TheCupcakeCritic.com

Review: Recently I read an article that encouraged food bloggers not to use the word 'addictive' to describe food. Clearly they haven't tasted Georgetown Cupcake’s cherry blossom cupcakes! These cupcakes were lathered in luscious cream cheese frosting and supported by soft clouds of bourbon vanilla bliss. Each bite provided a chunk of fresh cherry; and each cherry felt like a kiss on my tongue’s taste buds. Even the almond-fondant flower was fresh and utterly craveworthy. By the end of my undertaking I had a Jerry MacGuire moment: “Georgetown Cupcake...you complete me”

Score: 5

Name: Sticky Fingers Bakery

Description: Vanilla cupcake with tart cherry filling, almond creme frosting and toasted almonds.

Cost: $4.00

Sticky Fingers Bakery Cherry Blossom cupcake
Photo copyright TheCupcakeCritic.com

Tart cherry filling
Photo copyright TheCupcakeCritic.com

Review: Sticky Fingers Bakery is awesome and just when I think that they can’t get any more awesome, they surprise me. Enter Kamber: the specialty cake decorator at Sticky Fingers Bakery who personally made the sampled cupcake for me. The cake was smooth and the frosting light and fluffy. When I bit into this cloud of cupcake, a tart cherry filling came out which rounded-out the sweet almond crème frosting. Even my hand painted fondant flower tasted like a fresh lemon fortune cookie. Sticky Fingers I *heart* you!

Score: 4.8

Name: Sprinkles

Description: Cherry cake with maraschino cherry frosting

Cost: $3.50

Photo copyright TheCupcakeCritic.com

Review: Aaaah Sprinkles…my beloved Sprinkles whom I repeatedly boast about and dream of. Although the cake was good my spidey senses were telling me that they’ve fallen off a bit. Not like Whitney (Houston-R.I.P.) back on the pipe fell off but more like J-Lo after she broke up with Marc Anthony fell off. It can stand on its own but would be better together. Overall the cake was a bit dense and the frosting tart. A tad too sweet for me but I gobbled it down nonetheless. Sprinkles I still love you...but please come back home!

Score: 4

Name: Baked & Wired

Description: Vanilla cake with maraschino cherries mixed in the batter and     topped with a cherry-flavored buttercream. 

Cost: $3.85

Baked and Wired Cherry Blossom cupcake
Photo copyright TheCupcakeCritic.com

Baked and Wired Cherry Blossom cupcake
Photo copyright TheCupcakeCritic.com

Review: In an e-mail exchange with Teresa Velasquez, head baker and owner, Velasquez noted that the recipe used for her cherry blossom cupcakes was handed down to her by her grandmother. Although I have a tender spot for familial recipes, I can’t help but wonder if the recipe was developed during war time when butter, milk, and sugar were sparse? It pains The Critic to give a bakery on the level of Baked and Wired such a low score. Although I was happy to see that the line forming out the door was being taken care of quickly and attentively (unlike in previous visits denoted here), ultimately the cupcakes had no flavor and were the consistency of gummy dough. I think that they were having a bad day...

Score: 2.0

Finally, I would like to give a huge "Thank you!" to the staffs of Baked and Wired and Sprinkles. When I arrived to pick up my cupcakes I saw lines wrapped around the corner. Ordinarily I would have waited until my turn in line, but this was an emergency and I needed to get in and out. Both staff's honored me pulling rank as The Critic and had me in and out in a jiff...much obliged folks!

*All cupcakes in this review were gifted but did not affect the opinion of The Cupcake Critic or the outcome of the scores. 

It's Cherry Blossom (Cupcakes) Season!

Photos courtesy of The Nat'l Cherry Blossom Festival

                         
It's Cherry Blossom season here in DC and everyone is a buzz! This year commemorates the 100 year anniversary of the cherry blossoms and their placement near the tidal basin. To celebrate, cupcakeries are debuting their own cherry blossom inspired cupcakes. 


Baked and Wired: Vanilla cake with maraschino cherries mixed in the batter and topped with a cherry-flavored buttercream ($3.50).

Cherry Blossom Cupcake on the Left (Photo Courtesy of Jess Harper)

Buzz Bakery: ($3.75) Lemon chiffon cake with a sour cherry curd filling. Green tea Italian butter cream frosting with fondant cherry blossom decoration.

Photo Courtesy of Buzz Bakery

Crumbs: ($4.50) Vanilla cake filled with cherry preserves, topped with our signature vanilla cream cheese frosting mixed with cherries and a candied cherry.

Georgetown Cupcakes:  Classic madagascar bourbon vanilla cupcake baked with fresh cherries and topped with a vanilla cream cheese frosting and a fondant cherry blossom. (Price $2.75)

  (Photo courtesy of Georgetown Cupcake)

Hello Cupcake: Meyer lemon cake with a filling of French cherry preserves topped with vanilla cream cheese frosting and a handmade fondant cherry blossom. (Price $3.50)

Cherry Blossom Cupcake (Photo courtesy of Hello Cupcake)

Sprinkles: Made with loads of sweet, pureed cherries in both the cake and frosting. (Price $3.50)

Sprinkles Cherry Blossom Cupcake (Photo Courtesy of Sprinkles)
  

Sticky Fingers Bakery: ($4.00) Vanilla cupcake with tart cherry filling, almond creme frosting and toasted almonds

Photo courtesy of Sticky Fingers Bakery

Looking for more things to do? Cherry Blossom events will be going on between now and April 27th. Visit www.NationalCherryBlossomFestival.org for more info and events!

The Best of 2011: A Year in Review

Best Overall: Crunkcakes

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

                         

           Best Customer Service: Sprinkles

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

                      

    Best Presentation: Enjoi Cupcakes

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.             

   

Best Variety: Baked and Wired

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                                     

                Best Location: Hello Cupcakes

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 
 
                      

Best in Cost: Georgetown Cupcakes

                      

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.

Best Red Velvet: Olivia’s Cupcakes

Photo courtesy of Olivia's Cupcakes

                     
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!!

Baked and Wired

The strawberry fields cupcake (Photo Courtesy of The Cupcake Critic)

Location:  Baked and Wired  1052 Thomas Jefferson Street NW

Flavor: Strawberry Fields

Cost: $3.85

Score: 4

“If hippies had money, this is where they’d buy their cupcakes.”

For some time now I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about Baked and Wired. Located in Georgetown amidst the growing problem of obesity and diabetes, which can only be attributed to the glut of local cupcake shops, *obvious sarcastic snicker*, Baked and Wired sits on the side street of Thomas Jefferson where the gondolas perch. Walking in reminds me of a very cool science lab from a John Hughes film; that meets a New York artist’s loft, which meets a very wealthy university’s library. There were serious students doing serious things on their laptops while drinking very serious albeit unpretentious fair trade coffee.

At $3.85 a pop, it's large enough for two (Copyright: The Cupcake Critic )

Overall though, I dug the space. It looked like where all the cool people go to do cool things and of course eat cool cupcakes. Three young people stood behind the counter: two trendy young men and one young woman who resembled a hippie. I assume to watch paint dry as that would be more exciting than waiting on customers. After all, that’s not what cool kids do. The young female hippie at the register held lengthy conversations with the gentlemen in front of me whose girlfriend obviously got lost in the bathroom.

Prim yet disheveled; wealthy yet disavowed. Well mannered albeit intolerant, there was no line per se or even a rush to service. People just gathered by the register and around the array of food which was only for show. The actual goods were held in the back like art pieces purchased at auction.

Photo courtesy of Baked and Wired

I counted at least ten different variations of cupcakes and each had its own descriptive name like Razmanian Devil (lemon-raspberry) or Pretty Bitchin’ (chocolate & peanut butter). I went with a safe bet and ordered the strawberry fields cupcake which had fresh strawberries baked into the cake batter. This would prove annoying later but I digress. After doing something un-cool like saying, “Ummm… excuse me lady who just wandered up here and didn’t stand in line I’m next!”, I was surprised when the young-hippie told me that my total was $3.85! (To date this is the most that I’ve paid for a single cupcake!) I guess it pays to be cool.

Finally home, I dug into the long awaited treat. The gentleman warned me that there were fresh strawberries baked into the cupcakes. I love a good strawberry cupcake with both strawberry frosting and cake however the authenticity of this cupcake reminded me of the intensity with which my phys-ed teacher told us to use rock crystals versus deodorant because it was “natural”.

Strawberry Fields Cupcake (Copyright: The Cupcake Critic)

The cake was ridiculously soft and offered a fresh taste with each bite. I know I complain alot about artificial flavors and cheap fillers but the level of authenticity that this cupcake offered was more than what I bargained for. It was the cupcake equivalent of a very attractive doctoral candidate who wants to discuss their thesis on the first date; a lot to handle but too attractive to let go.

I’ve expressed before that Georgetown isn’t easily accessible to non-Georgetown-ians. Be prepared to drive and look for parking or take the metro to Foggy Bottom and then walk or cab it up to reach M Street. Overall I was happy and might be back to try the Smurfette; a blueberry cupcake with lemon-blonde frosting with which I’m intrigued by. Cute, right? Who knows, Smurfette may only have a Master’s?

Originally published on 11/17/2011