Georgetown Scoops

Currently our fine city is under a heat wave of immense proportions. Popularly dubbed Heatpocalypse this current streak of record breaking temperatures has literally made our daily lives a living hell. The only way to I can bear out this heat wave is with a refreshing cocktail.

Unfortunately I cannot do this during work so I have to turn to ice cream to cool me down. This takes us to Georgetown Scoops, a tiny chic shop on M St.. I first stumbled upon this shop while going for lunch at Cafe-Tu-O-Tu. As I was walking I noticed a sign that said "Best Red Velvet Cupcakes in DC" and immediately began to chuckle.

This ludicrous marketing scheme worked because it drew my attention and caused me to try one of their cupcakes. I decided not try their highly touted red velvet and instead went for a cookies and cream which was fairly pleasant. I also added a small scoop of cookies and cream ice cream which resulted in a sugar overload.

Now that we are in the dog days of summer I make it a habit of refreshing myself with some ice cream or frozen yogurt. While I don't have the biggest sweet tooth times like these cause me to adjust my eating habits.

They have over 12 flavors to offer of which I have tried at least 5. Their proximity to my office makes this my go to place and far better than Ben & Jerry's. Of all the flavors I have tried their cotton candy and Napoleon are the best, so much so that I often combine them to satisfy my cravings.

They also offer a number of other options including milkshakes and sundaes which I have yet to try. You can also add a number of toppings to your ice cream to spice it up. I usually don't do this because I like my ice cream plain and am not the biggest fan of sundaes or banana splits.

(Cotton Candy & Napoleon Ice Cream)

All in all Georgetown scoops is a ok. While it is not the best ice cream place in Georgetown (I will blog about this soon!!!) the prices, location and flavors make me come back. So if you are in Georgetown skip the overpriced and overrated Ben & Jerry's and hit up this place where you can sit outside on one of their tables and people watch while enjoying this cool refreshing snack.

Sprinkles Cupcake

The local war of cupcakes has been a battle primarily dominated by two establishments both in the Georgetown neighborhood. Now a new competitor has entered the scene. Southern California based Sprinkles has imported their talents and nation wide prestige into the mix.

Now Georgetown is the scene of a three way battle for the bragging rights for the best cupcakes in DC. My office is the breeding ground for debate on this topic and we are given plenty of chances to sample the competition. I decided to take a sneak peak by going during their grand opening.

I was greeted by a relatively long line and cameras both of which are reminiscent of a weekend in the Georgetown Cupcake line. The wait took no longer than five minutes which was great seeing as though I am not fond of waiting in line for food.

Upon entering I laid witness to a pristine selection of the aesthetically modern morsels you see below. Seeing as though this was my first time there I decided to order flavors that were unique only this this establishment. I decided to channel my inner gluten and get the chocolate marshmallow.

I was promptly given my order which I smuggled into my office so as to not arouse any of my cupcake crazed coworkers. After eating it I was a bit baffled, the flavors were there but it seemed too bland. Two days later I decided to try the lemon which was fantastic. The icing was superb and the little hard candy that comes on all their cupcakes was splendid as well.

Next came the first office party where me and my coworkers celebrated a couple birthdays with an array of cupcakes and pie. During this party I sampled the red velvet which was on par with both Baked & Wired and Georgetown Cupcake, their carrot which was good and their coconut which I found to be a bit overwhelming.

(Orange, Strawberry, and Cinnamon Sugar)

My last encounter came this past weekend when I decided to take home the three flavors you see above. Of the three I found the orange to be the best and one in which I highly recommend you trying. The Strawberry was good but not great and the cinnamon sugar was very delightful.

I would have to say off all the cupcake places that I have tried Sprinkles has the best icing which is the most vital part of the cupcake. But their downside lies in the fact that the cake itself is not as flavorful as their competitors.

It is always good to have competition and the arrival of Sprinkles only heightens the cupcake war. Their arrival has irked some (hint: the competitors) mainly because it is a chain which tend to kill the independent shops but needless to say they are here and will be staying as long as cupcakes are in vogue.

Their shop also offers a number of other items including the dog treats you see above you as well as bottled Coca Cola!!!! Cupcakes cost $3.50 each and there is no bundling discount. You can order online and pick it up in the store which is nice. The lines are nowhere near as absurd as Georgetown Cupcake but do go outside the door from time to time.

All in all this is a great place to get one of these popular treats. So if you are in Georgetown try if you might to to a Cupcake Crawl (I should patent the term) and see which one you like best. Stay tuned for my breakdown in the near future.

Baked & Wired

Supercalafragalisticexpialadoshus, my appologies to anyone that suffers from hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia but this is the only way that I can describe Baked and Wired. Located right off of M St. Baked and Wired serves hundreds of loyal customers on a daily basis and has served as the main competition to Georgetown Cupcake.

Located right next to my office this enthusiastic bakery offers an array of options and has thwarted my efforts to sustain a consistent diet. Before working at my current job I was unaware of this bakery as I am not too deep in both the cupcake and sweets scene.

What drew me here was the hilarious sign that was posted right outside of their building. When I entered I was overwhelmed by a barrage of baked goods each with a unique and quirky name and animated illustration.

The first thing that drew my attention were the cupcakes. Lined across their stand each flavor offered a unique culinary experience. I immediately knew that I would come here on a regular basis. One of their more salient qualities is their quirkiness and laid back attitude.

The atmosphere gave me more of a west coast feel with an east coast work ethic. I am not much a coffee drinker so I tend to stay away from the Starbucks world. I am also dissuaded by inventory line treatment that you usually tend to get with the bigger chains.

(Assorted Cupcakes)

But this placed diverges from the status quo; the quirkiness of the products translates to to its staff who are all nice and always have a smile on their face. During my first visit I quickly took my camera out and started taking pictures off all hilarious images presented to you in this post.

I followed my instincts and ordered my first cupcake. When I finished I came to believe that these are the BEST CUPCAKES IN DC. If you happen to take bite of these monstrosities you will most certainly agree with my assertion.

The first cupcake I tried was the Razmanian Devil which consists of vanilla frosting on top of a vanilla core with a raspberry baked inside of it. The shear greatness of this delectable treat had me questioning my ability to abstain from sweets on a daily basis.

(Razmanian Devil)

The next day I decided to order a Mocha from the coffee bar which was beautifully designed and served as a energy boost for a long day at the office. I seemed to enjoy the atmosphere surrounding the cafe more than the drink itself. It was a cross between mellow, artful and sophisticated which beats the Starbucks crowd in my opinion.

(Mocha)

The next cupcake that I decided to sample is one of their most popular flavors. The Chocolate Cupcake of Doom consists chocolate cake covered with dark chocolate satin frosting. It was devilishly delectable to say the least and I was on the verge of a sugar overdose when I finished it. In all honesty I believe that this is the cake that people are referring to when they use the expression "I love you like a fat kid loves cake". It is a must try but I must warn you that it is highly addictive, especially to those with a sweet tooth.

(Chocolate Cupcake of Doom)

If cupcakes do not interest you I am pleased to inform you that Baked & Wired offers a wide array of options that serve as both snacks and breakfast options. The doughnut muffin below is one of my favorite items from this store. While I was hesitant at first I decided to ignore my skepticism and dig in. If I had the metabolism of a 13 year old or had an utter disregard for my health then I would make this a weekly breakfast or snack.

The other item is a Caramel S'more which is also very delightful. It definitely makes me reminisce on my childhood as it was a staple snack when I was a child. I would also recommend their homemade pop-tarts, gingerbread, and brownies.

(Doughnut Muffin & Caramel S'more)

I decided to take these delicious morsels to my house in order to introduce the cult that I have become a part of. I bought five cupcakes which cost me about $18 and was a bit upset that they did not have bundle deal. Regardless of that I enjoyed sampling each flavor as did my sister and a close friend of ours. They both seemed to appreciate them and what followed was a small debate on which cupcakes were better.

I have to say that their strawberry is my favorite and one of the best sweet snacks in all of the city. Each flavor is unique in its own way and is tailored to people's different taste preferences. They also are have vegan cupcakes for those with greater diet restrictions. I have not tried one so I can't offer an opinion.

(Pumpkin, Cocunut, Elvis Impersonator AKA The Unporked Elvis, Red Velvet and German Chocolate)

The last two items I decided to try were their respectable selection of tea and quiche. I am a huge fan of quiche so I had

tremendous expectations for what lay ahead of me, especially because they were able to please me with their other goods.

I decided to try the Ham and Gruyere & Mixed Veggie Quiche on different occasions and was disappointed to say that they were average at best. I would like to think it is because of my high expectations but I can objectively say that it was pedestrian.

Their tea on the other hand is great. I have tried their Darjeeling white, Mayan chai and Pomegranate all of which are great. If you are a tea aficionado then you should definitely stop by.

(Ham and Gruyere & Mixed Veggie Quiche)

All in all Baked & Wired is my default cafe for sweets and tea. The staff and company courteous and quirky. They take great pride in what they serve and have a good laugh while doing so. While they are a bit expensive if you go in solely for a snack it is more that justified for taste that is rendered from their treats. The lines can be long from time to time but they pale in comparison for the wait you have to endure for Georgetown Cupcake.

So if you are in the Georgetown area take some time and sample both Baked & Wired and Georgetown Cupcake and pledge your own allegiance. You can follow Baked on their Facebook page here and find out about special events and promotions.