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.

Bistro La Bonne

The next restaurant on our U St. expedition is the chic French restaurant Bistro La Bonne. Formerly Axis bar and grill this rustic café serves up traditional French cuisine to the culturally diverse U St. corridor. I for one was ecstatic when it opened last year mainly because French cuisine is heavily confined to Georgetown and North Dupont.

My first encounter was for a quick beer last summer before I started blogging. I remember enjoying the décor, the exposed brick lined with French memorabilia really gives it a European vibe. I had meant to return but put if off for a while until this month when I entertained two great friends.

Our evening started off by arriving past our reservation time. Being a Saturday night on U St. this spells nothing but problems as they were booked out with the occasional couple coming in to try and snag any available table. After waiting for a bit we decided to get ordering our meals from the bar.

(Photo brought to you by Yelp)

We decided to start off our meal with one of the most popular French/Belgian dishes moules en frites. Served in a bucket with your choice of broth these crustaceans are one of the restaurants most popular dishes and happy hour special. If you are daring you can create your own stew by adding a variety of ingredients.

Our bartender recommended that we order the Moules Mariniere which are steamed in white wine and topped with shallots, garlic and parsley. His advice was spot on, we all enjoyed it so much so that one of my friends began drinking the broth and soaking it up with our complimentary bread.

(Moules Marinieres)

Next I decided to order a side of Ratatouille. A cornerstone of French culture this peasant dish is simple yet masterful in the flavors it evokes, enough even to warm the heart of the harshest food critique (movie reference here). I have never tried this dish and was never able to find it at any French restaurant that I have been to so I was ecstatic to find out that it was served here. I enjoyed my introduction to the dish and hope to try it elsewhere so that I have a proper barometer.

(Ratatouille)

Next we decided to exit peasentry and order a more bourgeois dish. We ordered a plate of escargot and French Rooster. The escargot which deviates from its traditional serving comes out of the shell. They were far better than the escargot I had at Bistro Francais and Cafe La Ruche mainly because the butter and garlic was nowhere near as overwhelming to the palate. The seasoning and proportions fared well and were fantastic both by themselves or atop of a fresh piece of French bread.

(Escargots)

Our last dish was the aforementioned rooster that both friend and I wanted to order prior to coming here. I was simply interested in tasting the differences between a rooster and a hen. Our meal came in a warm pot and was prepared as a stew with an assortment of vegetables, tortellini all atop a creamy sauce. To put it simply the dish was fantastic. The juicy and succulent chicken was cooked perfectly and the sauce emanated with flavor. We both took our turns devouring this dish and were promptly thrown into a food coma.

In the end we were all pleasantly satisfied with the overall meal which was fairly priced for what we ate. We decided to skip on dessert mainly because of our current condition and somehow managed to lift ourselves from our state of comatose and hit up the bars on U St.

(Coq au Vin)

Overall I was pleased with my experience. The food is great, the prices are reasonable and the service was prompt, I look forward to coming here in the summer for a happy hour and enjoy their outdoor seating which is confined to three tables.

I want to return to try their French Onion Soup, Quiche Loraine and Brunch all of which have received rave reviews. So if you are on U St. I would give this place a shot, their take on French cuisine follows the norm and they have a number of unique dishes that are sure to impress.

Vietnam Georgetown Restaurant

There is a prevailing notion that "Mom and Pop" restaurants seem to serve the most culturally authentic foods. When it comes to Vietnamese food this philosophy is at it's most pronounced. So when looking for authentic Vietnamese food you are limited to this style of restaurant.

As you can see by both the name and picture below Vietnam Georgetown Restaurant has to be the diviest restaurant in all of Georgetown. Uncharictaristly located on M St. this restaurant serves up some great authentic Vietnamese cuisine.

Vietnamese food runs near and dear to me so when I discovered this place I had immediately to sample their menu. My affinity towards this type of food was nutured during my early teenage life when my parents used to take me to 7 corners in Virginia to a mini mall which is infused with Vietnamese culture.

We went to a number of different restaurants my favorite of which served two dishes that I could never live without. The first is the appetizer you see below. Bun Cha Gio are traditional Vietnamese egg rolls that are filled with pork, carrots and jicama which are then deep fried. In my opinion this is one dish you have to try before you die. They are the best egg rolls that I have ever had by a long shot. Full of flavor these rolls have a taste profile of their own and cannot be described in words.

(Bun Cha Gio)

I was delighted that they had this dish and it was served in its traditional style unlike their direct competitor Miss Saigon Restaurant. I followed this up with the most influential dish in Vietnamese cuisine, Pho Bo is a rich noodle soup served in either a beef (Bo) or chicken (Ga) broth. The preparation for this dish takes is arduous to say the least but the by-product is heavenly.

The Pho at this place is served in it's traditional style and is slightly above average which is a godsend because most of the great Pho is located in northern Virginia. The soup was both rich and flavorful, adding the plum sauce with a side of shrimp toast and you are in business. Every time I come here I devour this soup with a unmeasurable rage which is followed by a feeling nirvana.

(Pho Bo)

On my last visit I decided to try something I have never had. I ordered my usual spring rolls and a spicy lemongrass soup with shrimp. The broth was full of flavor and the lemongrass added an extra dimension which was very pleasent. I was very pleased with it and will make it a go to soup on a cold day or when I am sick.

The one shortfall with this place is the service. I went with some of my coworkers around 12:30, at that time it was at capacity yet there was only one old lady acting as both the maitre d' and the sole waitress. It took us about 5 minutes to get seated an additional 10 minutes to get water and our menus. So to say the service during peak hours is atrocious is an understatement.

(Canh Chua Sa)

To alleviate this problem I tend to go after the initial lunch rush. When I do this the service jumps exponentially. I never have any problems and am in and out within 40 minutes. There is nothing nice to say about the decor but I guess it comes with the territory of being a dive restaurant. I'm not much a stickler for these nuances as long as the food is tasty and the prices are fair both of which are so with this establishment.

All in all this is a solid place to get authentic Vietnamese food, the service can be horrible if you go during peak hours but people keep coming which says something about the food they serve. So if you are in the neighborhood I would recommend giving this place a shot, especially if you are a enthusiast for Vietnamese cuisine. I promise you that you will not be disappointed.

Unlike other dive Vietnamese places (mainly in Virginia) they accept credit cards. But they do share the same quality of food as well as the atmosphere associated with any authentic Vietnamese restaurant.

Muncheez Mania

For the most part all of the restaurants in Georgetown are well established and have been in business for several years. There are several reasons for this which I will get into a some point in the future. But recently a wave of new dining options have changed the landscape of this historically prominent neighborhood.

One of these new restaurants is Mucheez Mania which opened last year near the busy intersection of M St. & Wisconsin Avenue. I first noticed this establishment when I was shopping at Rugby. It was a semi-warm afternoon and there was a short line outside near a window where you can order crepes to go.

Semi-interested I decided to invite a group of coworkers for lunch there. Upon entering I was immediately puzzled at the swank decor and retro hip-hop playing in the background. I quickly asked myself if I was in the same time period and if I was in a club. The music and mix's were reminiscent of an above average DJ which to this day still puzzles me as I have never been in a restaurant like this.

Leaving the aesthetics behind I previewed the menu and decided to order the grilled chicken and cheese wrap which comes with a variety of vegetables and a ranch sauce. My coworkers got a beef brisket cheese steak and a nutella and banana crepe. While I did eat all of my wrap it didn't find it to be too appetizing, my coworker was disappointed with his brisket and my other coworker seemed to enjoy her crepe. All in all we were thought it was an average meal.

(Grilled Chicken & Cheese Wrap)

But as I do with every place I write about I check it more than once to give me a clearer more objective picture. On my second visit I decided to take a friend of mine. For some reason I was in the mood for a hot dog that day. I had noticed from the last time I went that they had a wrap that came with a hot dog so I decided to go with my instincts and try it out. I ordered the Frankfurter which comes with a hot dog, cheese, chips and onions. Essentially a hodgepodge of stadium food all put in a wrap.

I was surprised to uncover that I deviously enjoyed this coronary nightmare. The flavors meshed well and the hot dog was extremely delicious. My friend shared this and an order of french fries as we sat back and listed to the solid hip-hop playlist in the background.

(Frankfurter Wrap)

During my last visit I was in the mood to get something light and healthy so I decided to try one of their hand made pita wraps. I ordered the Nana's original which comes with an assortment of vegetables including tomatoes, olives and cucumbers mixed with thyme and greek yogurt.

I can easily say that this is the best meal I had from them, it easily surpassed the previous two wraps not only in terms of flavor but also its nutritional value. I was also shocked that they were able to make olives taste good (FYI I hate olives).

(Nana's Original)

All in all Muncheez Mania offers a variety of food which is hit or miss in my opinion. The outdoor window is a nice touch and is now open since the weather is getting warmer. They are also open until 3:30 AM on the weekends which makes this place a solid destination if you bar hoping in Georgetown.

I don't think I will go here too often but I will have to try some more of their vegetarian options and crepes when I do. The service is spot on, the cliental are very nice and the music is very unique. So if you are in the area you should give this place a shot.

IceBerry

Over the past couple of years Cupcakes have been in vogue. The advent of the show Cupcake Wars on Food Network has only increased the demand for those delicious treats. At the same time a similar food craze hit the DC area.

Frozen yogurt has dug it's own niche with a number of different shops opening up all over the DC region. The appeal to frozen yogurt as opposed to cupcakes is their dietary quality. Frozen yogurt is low in calories, fat-free and gluten free all of which can not be said about most cupcakes. The main shortfall of frozen yogurt is that it is a seasonable treat.

Now that weather is getting nice I have decided to put my cupcake binge on hold and go for the more healthy option. Since I work in Georgetown I have the unfortunate burden of having to live in the mecca of cupcakes so resisting the urge to eat them on a regular basis is an arduous task.

Luckily there are a few other options when it comes to snacks or desserts. I chose to try IceBerry which is located right on M St.. This frozen yogurt chain offers a variety of flavors piled high with a number of toppings that taylor to different crowds. If you are a health freak you have the option of picking fresh fruit or if you are like me you can top it off with fruity pebbles, cookies or even gummy bears.

My most recent visit came late last month on an unusually warm afternoon. I wasn't that hungry so I decided to skip lunch and have something small and healthy. The warm weather put me in the mood for something cold and refreshing so the first thing that came to mind was frozen yogurt. I ordered a original flavor with strawberries and fruity pebbles. It was both light and refreshing, it definitely hit the spot and did not damage to my midsection.

(Original Flavor with strawberries and fruity pebbles)

If you are not a fan for frozen yogurt I am also please to inform you that they have smoothes which are both delicious and healthy. I have tried the strawberry banana and kiwi, both of which I enjoyed.

In reality it is hard to judge frozen yogurt shops because of their vast similarities. Because of this I believe people have to nit pick on several nuances. The most popular complaint from this establishment is their customer service or lack their of. On the 4 occasions I have gone here I did not come across anything that resembles this inefficiency but I will keep it in mind and let you know about it beforehand.

All in all IceBerry is a solid place that is convenient for me. So if you are in the Georgetown area on a warm day you should try to avoid the massive lines at the three cupcake behemoths and give this place a shot. Not only will your wait time decrease, your waist line will too.

SPAMaroni & Cheese

It is very seldom that I make meals from scratch. It is arduous and inefficient for those who live by themselves. I am also lazy when it comes to cooking meals. So when I am short on cash or don't feel like eating out I make quick meals that take no longer than 30 minutes to prepare.

My living and eating habits preclude me from having a fully stocked refrigerator and pantry. I usually find myself having to be very creative in my food combinations. As you can see from the picture below I usually have limited options (this picture is probably rock bottom).

(My fridge)

One night I was sifting through my pantry when I found a can of SPAM. It seemed to be the only thing I could eat that night at which point I felt as though I had hit rock bottom. I hardly ate SPAM and when I did I had them with eggs which I didn't have at the time. I happened to look at the back of the can of SPAM and noticed that there was a recipe for SPAM with macaroni and cheese. Luckily I had a box of Velveeta so I decided to take a leap of faith and try this out.

(SPAMaroni & Cheese)

The recipe was simple, it calls for

1 can of SPAM

1 box of Velveeta

A couple dashes of Cayenne pepper

A couple dashes of Paprika

You can use the classic Macaroni & Cheese but I prefer to use Velveeta because it is creamier. I dice the SPAM into tiny little cubes and sear them on a skillet until the are golden brown. I then add them to the macaroni and cheese and let that simmer on a low heat for about 5 minutes. After that I add my spices for an enhanced flavor.

The saltiness of the SPAM along with the richness of the mac and cheese yield a satisfying food combination. The dish while deviously delicious can take it's toll on you in a matter of bites. There have been a number of instances where I crossed the tipping point and have been tossed in a state of food hell.

It is for this reason that I recommend this dish only as a side to your meal and something you enjoy only on a monthly basis. You should definitely give this dish a shot, I was a doubter but have since eaten my words.

Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe & Grill

Since when was going to the bookstore cool? Aside from the prodigal student, the Starbucks junkie or a grad student most people would not go out of their way to spend an extended period of time in a bookstore. But this notion is evicerated when you spend some time at Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe & Gill.

Located right off Dupont Circle this cafe is a beehive of activity. Whether it be on a Saturday afternoon, Sunday morning or even a Friday night there is always a sizable crowd gathered at Kramerbooks. I would know because I have been here on all of the aforementioned times.

(Image brought to you by Brooklyn Nomad)

Taking a look inside you will see a wide variety of literature, from bestsellers and classics to cooking books and book about DC.. Their vast book selection along with long hours and dining options create a heterogeneous cliental which line their shelves every day.I personally love going to look at their selection of humorous literature which have included a parody on Where's Waldo (Osama Bin Laden edition) to a number of books about cats. I also enjoy the local literature as well as their staff's pics.

What separates Kramerbooks from Barnes & Noble is that they have a bar and restaurant. Yes you heard correct a bar, the place where people gather to have a cold one. When I first discovered this I questioned whether it could be a good pairing. I mean you always associate a bookstore with a quiet atmosphere synonomous to your experiences as a child in a public library (back when kids used to go).

(Bookstore)

But I was pleasantly suprised at how well the the two divergent atmospheres blended. I only went the bar once to have a drink with a friend after purchasing a novel. I enjoyed my time there especially because I channeled my inner child and went against the notion of being quiet in a bookstore. Attached to both the bookstore and the bar is a restaurant that offers a wide variety of gourmet food.

Whether it be a small appetizer which they call sharezies, a full meal, or a sweet desert to go along with your reading Kramerbooks offers it patrons with an array of dining options. I have eaten here a number of times and for a number of different occasions. My favorite two times came during some of our more prominent snow storms, I enjoyed a warm class of hot chocolate to go along with the scrumptious macaroni and cheese you see below you.

(Mac & Cheese)

While it was not spectacular in any discernible way it did render a homy feeling. I also enjoyed their mini crab cakes which were fairly delightful. Some of my other favorites include the Mozzarella, tomatoes and capper mini salad as well as their steamed mussels. They also have the distinguished honor of serving the Obama family chili recipe. I myself have not tried it mainly because I am not that big of a chili fan.

(Mini Crab Cake Duo)

Aside from their sharezies Kramerbooks also offer a wide variety of entrees. One of my favorite dishes here is the tuna & avocado salad which you see below. It is both light and refreshing and with a price tag of $14 it is a good deal. I also enjoyed their butternut squash ravioli which was very flavorful.

(Sushi Tuna & Avocado Salad)

While all the food I have tried has meet my standards the only thing that keeps me coming back is their wide variety of delicious desserts. As you can see from the case they offer a wide range of scrumptious pies which are paired with a scoop of ice cream.

Of the various desserts that I have sampled I would have to say my favorites are the apple crumb pie, wild berry pie, and their red velvet cake. These desserts are great on all occasions. Whether you are by yourself reading a book, with a friend or even on a date.

(Assorted Desserts)

The cosy atmosphere along with the food and accompanying patrons truly makes Kramerbooks unique. You shouldn't go here just to visit the bookstore or just to get food and drinks because you may be disappointed. If you focus on a single element you may be swayed to go elsewhere. Instead you should visit this place because you want the full experience of this unique store.

All and all Kramerbooks is a fantastic place to visit. If you want to just look at books then go to Borders, if you want to go to a bar or get some food there are plenty of options available all around. But if you want all these at the same time then go to Kramerbooks. The food is good but a bit pricy, the desserts are awesome, and the book selection is solid. All in al a great place to go any time of day and any day of the week.