Baked and Wired

If you ever find yourself in Georgetown and see a pink bicycle on the street... halt, look up, and prepare yourself for utter deliciousness - you're at Baked and Wired:

This place is awesome.

My TP and I found ourselves in Georgetown one sunny Sunday evening and decided to try and satisfy our craving for bubble tea (or what TP affectionately calls "boba").

In our quest, however, we snagged a money (parking) spot that happened to be right next to the (in)famous Georgetown Cupcake location in D.C. TP asked me if I wanted to try it and I said "yes" - even though I only wanted to try it to hate it.

But then, we turned the corner and saw this:

There was no way that we were about to wait in a line that stretched nearly a city block for one measly little cuppy cake.

We continued our quest for bubble tea but on our way to this place called Snap, our eyes were diverted by this:

TP had the good sense to put our boba quest on hold and take a look inside this pink portal - and what treasures we did find.

The cupcakes at Baked and Wired are huge. Massive. Made for 2 - but can be eaten by 1, of course.

We got the Smurfette - a seasonal flavor: fresh blueberries based into vanilla cake with lemon buttercream frosting. (Sorry, I don't have a photo - I was completely lost in the amazing goodness of it all.)

TP also picked the nutella brownie and the apricot crunch bar with an oatmeal crust.

The Cake: pretty dense and full of flavor - the blueberries were whole and so fresh, the vanilla was warm, yet delicate
The Frosting: the buttercream itself was the perfect balance of air and substance, and the lemon was just tangy enough with it acidity to compliment its sweetness
Overall: A+

The Bar: the oatmeal crust was perfectly buttery, but mostly made up of oats (probably steel cut), it was a fairly thin layer on the bottom, and filled with what was undeniably Bonne Maman apricot preserves (aka. the best), with another helping of an oatmeal crumble on top, this was one of the best fruit bars I've ever tasted
Overall: A+

The Brownie: you could barely taste any Nutella in the brownie and it was frosted with chocolate (which you may or may not prefer), the size and density of the brownie itself was good and there weren't too many nuts in it, but in the end it was just a brownie
Overall: B-

Even the "wired" (coffee) part of the store was good eats - excuse me, drinks.

Next time, I want to try the Vanilla Latte cupcake and I know TP wants to try the Chai cupcake:

I may also have to try a big ass cookie and a slice of TWSS cake:

I will have to try Georgetown Cupcake eventually - but only to confirm that Baked and Wired is far superior.

Go visit the Lincoln Memorial at night. :)

D.C. Cupcake Contest

This past weekend, a few friends and I made Cookie Monster cupcakes for a birthday party:
(a couple very special people even handmade the white chocolate eyes!)


Today, I discovered that Washingtonians showed that they are what they bake with entries to Dupont Circle bakery Hello Cupcake's "Design Your D.C." cupcake challenge. The amateur cake decorators crafted D.C.-inspired cupcakes that reflected their love for the city, and the panel of judges chose winners for: most creative use of fondant; most likely to be eaten; best use of theme and best-designed political statement.


Winner for Most Creative Use of Fondant:
(Metro map)


Winner for Best-Designed Political Statement:
(D.C. Statehood)


For Obama lovers:
(Nom Obama)


For Obama haters:
(Washington Chopping Cherry Tree/Obama Chopping Money Tree)


Foggy Bottom:


Panda at the National Zoo:

Recycle DC:

Snowpocolypse:

Eat Cupcake, Be Happy -- A Tribute to Chinatown:


Grand Prize Winner for Best Overall Cupcake Design & Most Likely to be Eaten:
(Chinese take-out)


Yay, Maryland crabs!:


Of course, there were not 1 but 3 Ben's Chili Bowl cupcake entries:



(This one is my fave:)

McFadden's <3s The Jersey Shore

"Get ready to fist pump: Meet Jersey Shore cast members at McFadden’s nationwide"

January 14 – Yonkers , NY
Mike ‘The Situation’ will be live at Burke’s Bar in Yonkers. Limited number of VIP meet and greet tickets available for only $20; GA tickets for $10. Get tickets.
Burkes Restaurant and Bar
645 Bronx River Rd
Yonkers , NY 10704

January 19 – Washington DC
JWow and Pauly D will be at McFadden’s in DC on Tuesday January 19th for their NEW WTF Tuesday College Party - $1 Miller High Life Cans, $2 Blue Moon drafts, and $5 Jagerbombs 8pm-close!!! They will also be giving away a TRIP TO SPRING BREAK at midnight!!!!!
McFadden’s DC
2401 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20037

January 21 – Nashville, TN
Pauly D from MTV’s Jersey Shore will be at McFadden’s in Nashville Thursday, January 21st. To get on the VIP Guestlist for a Meet and Greet with Pauly D, email Jeff at jeffkennard@yahoo.com. All VIPs will get drink specials and a special Meet and Greet with Pauly D in the Jameson Room. Doors open at 8pm. This is an 18+ event.
McFadden’s Nashville
134 2nd Avenue North
Nashville, TN 37201

January 22 – Philadelphia, PA
Get ready for a fist pumpin’ good time as McFadden’s 3rd Street in Philadelphia and Johnny Knockout Entertainment bring you the FIRST ‘Jersey Shore’ party in Philly! Come hang with Sammi the Sweetheart and Ronnie from MTV’s ‘Jersey Shore’ as they host the party and enjoy $5 Vodka and Redbulls and $3 Bud Lights!
McFadden’s Philly
461 North 3rd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19123

January 29 – Pittsburgh, PA
The insanity of MTV’s Jersey Shore Crashes on the North Shore of Pittsburgh Thursday, January 21st with Guidolympics hosted by Ronnie & Sammi from the hit reality show. Events for the Guidolympics include “Best Fist Pump,” “Freshest Blowout,” “Tightest Shirt,” “Most Push Ups,” “Miss Jersey Shore Dance AND Hot Body Competition.”
McFadden’s Pittsburgh
211 North Shore Drive
Pittsburgh, PA 15212

January 29 – Boston, MA
Join Jersey Shore’s Pauly D as he hosts the hottest party at McFadden’s in Boston. Compete in a ‘Best Snookie Tan Contest’ and ‘Best Situation Contest.’ Plus they are giving away a McFadden’s Wave Runner (enter to win any Thursday in January at McFadden’s).
McFadden’s Boston
148 State Street
Boston, MA 02190

February 4 – Chicago, IL
Girls, get the poof ready and boys blow out your hair because we have Sammi “Sweetheart” and Ronni from MTV’s Jersey Shore at McFadden’s! $5 Martini’s, $5 Skinny Girl Margaritas, $5 Lite Bite Shots. To reserve your table for this event contact alicia@mcfaddenschicago.com
McFadden’s Chicago
1206 North State Parkway
Chicago, IL‎ 60610

Bling Bling

For more than a half-century, the whereabouts of one of the world’s most celebrated diamonds, the fabled Wittelsbach blue, was obscure. Every person with knowledge of great gems was likely to be familiar with the stone: A grayish blue diamond taken to Europe in the 17th century from India, it was given in 1664 to the Infanta Margarita Teresa by her father, the king of Spain, eventually becoming a fixture of both the Austrian and Bavarian crown jewels. In 1964 the stone passed into private hands, and afterward its whereabouts had been a mystery.

In December 2008, the Wittelsbach blue suddenly turned up at auction, centerpiece of Christie’s London sale of important gems. Expected to fetch $15 million, the cushion cut stone, described as a fancy deep grayish blue, was fought over by rival diamond dealers and hammered down in a matter of minutes for the extraordinary price of $24.3 million — the most ever paid for a diamond at auction and a sum that may also have rendered the Wittelsbach blue, by weight, the most valuable commodity on earth.

The buyer was Laurence Graff, the billionaire diamond dealer whose clients run to other newly minted billionaires, and in short order its new owner made a series of startling decisions about the stone. First, he had it recut, reducing it from 35.52 to just over 31 carats, to eliminate the chips and “bruises” inevitable in a stone of its age but also to improve its clarity, brilliance and grade. Then he renamed it the Wittelsbach-Graff and struck an agreement with the Smithsonian Institution in Washington to display it.

Infanta Margarita Teresa

Order of the Golden Fleece ornament

Ludwig I (Louis I) of Bavaria standing beside the Bavarian Crown mounted with the original Wittelsbach diamond.




Late this month, it will go on view alongside the legendary Hope, a larger stone but a slightly more drab one, and yet a rock whose allure remains potent enough to have drawn five million visitors to the national collection last year.

[http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/fashion/07DIAMONDS.html]

Happy Green Year, D.C.!

"Skip the Bag, Save the River"

Beginning January 1, 2010, District businesses that sell food or alcohol must charge you 5 cents for each disposable paper or plastic carryout bag.

The business keeps 1 cent, or 2 cents if it offers a rebate when you bring your own bag.

And the remaining 3 or 4 cents go to the new Anacostia River Protection Fund. DDOE will administer this fund. We will use it to provide reusable bags, educate the public about litter, and clean up the river.

Dangerously Delicious Pies in Washington(!)

H Street NE


1339 H Street, NE
(in the Atlas District right next to the H St. Country Club)
Washington D.C. 20002
(202) 398-PIES
www.dangerouspiesdc.com

Apple Crumb Pie

Spinach and Goat Cheese Pie

Sweet & Savory Pie List

Bacon Beer

On October 27, the Brasserie Beck will host a Beer and Food Pairing Dinner with Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery who the program says will be 'debuting' his bacon infused beer.

The Reinschweinsgebot will be paired with the 3rd course: Grilled Teres Major Beef with Roasted Autumn Vegetables, Asparagus, Pearl Onion and Mushroom Sauce.

The Brasserie has over 100 beers to choose from.

Price per person for this 4 course dinner is $85 (plus tax and gratuity).

Mr. Sartorialist Goes to Washingon (D.C.)

For his U.S. book tour!


Aptly named "The Sartorialist".


Washington DC
Monday October 19th
9pm-10 pm
Masa 14
1825 14th Street NW

Arty

Dress, Fall/Winter 1990/91, Issey Miyake (b. 1938), Japan. Collection of Mary Baskett.

Contemporary Japanese Fashion: The Mary Baskett Collection
October 17, 2009 – April 11, 2010

THE TEXTILE MUSEUM
2320 S Street, NW
Washington, DC 20008-4088

Phone: (202) 667-0441
Fax: (202) 483-0994
Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, and Sunday 1 to 5 pm. Closed federal holidays and December 24.

Admission: Free (suggested donation for non-members: $5)

Too Lazy/Scared To Boil? Just Freeze Your Jam

by Stephanie Stiavetti

Making freezer jam is easy, but there are a few things you should keep in mind when you make your first few batches. Follow these tips to keep from repeating my mistakes.

Pectin is the fruit-derived gel that holds jam together and creates a thick consistency. It's important to buy a brand of pectin that is compatible with no-cook freezer jam. Read the instructions carefully, as recipes can (and will) vary from brand to brand. Different kinds of pectin call for different amounts of sugar, so read the directions or your jam won't set correctly. Freezer jams always run a touch thinner than heat-processed preserves, but they should still set to a nice, spreadable consistency. If you prefer a thicker jam, you can heat your fruit to a boil for two minutes before freezing.

When making the recipes below, I used Ball No-Cook Freezer Jam Pectin, with which I've always had good experiences. You can also use any number of other brands, and these days many kinds of pectin allow you to use alternative sweeteners such as honey or Splenda, which is good news for those avoiding refined sugar.

If you do decide to use granulated sugar, it's a good idea to use a superfine variety so that it will dissolve more easily into your fruit. Instead of spending extra money on a specialized product, make it yourself by pulsing regular sugar in a food processor five or six times. Be sure to measure your sugar before grinding it, as it will yield a greater amount once the granules are broken down, and adding extra sweetener may cause your jam to be too sweet.

While you can purchase special plastic containers made for storing jam in the freezer, it's not necessary. You can use whatever sealable plastic containers you have hiding in your cupboards, or you can use good, old-fashioned Mason jars. I usually go with the jars because the whole point of this exercise (for me, anyway) was to act as a precursor to heat canning, and nothing invokes the memory of my grandmother's summer jam more than cute, 8-ounce glass jars with a ribbon tied around the top.

If you decide to use Mason jars, a word of caution: Do not use glassware with "shoulders," or a curvature in the jar just beneath the lid. Instead, use straight-sided jars with a wide mouth. When you freeze liquids, they expand inside the container and push against any curves or shape differences. In the case of glass jars, this can cause breakage and a sticky, razor-sharp mess in your freezer.

[Full article and recipes.]

For the fruit, try your local farmer's market. If you are in the District, check out the White House's brand new FRESHFARM Market:

Season: Sept. 17 - Oct. 29, 2009
Day and time: Thursdays, 3:00pm to 7:00pm
Location: 810 Vermont Avenue, NW (between H St, NW and I St, NW). Click here for map.
Nearest Metro stop: McPherson Square (Blue and Orange Lines). MetroBus stops: S2, S4, S9, 42, X2, L2, G8 and 11Y. For more public transportation options, see www.wmata.com.
Other locations: http://freshfarmmarkets.org/markets.html

You just might see a certain someone there(!):

"The only good thing Laura Bush did." -Anonymous

The 9th Annual National Book Festival will take place on the mall in D.C. this Saturday, Sept. 26 from 10:00am-5:30pm.

Authors include:
-Lisa Scottoline
-Gwen Ifill
-Judy Blume
-Paula Deen
-James Patterson
-Ana Menendez
-Junot Díaz
-John Grisham
-Jodi Picoult
-Nicholas Sparks
-Jeannette Walls

Admission: Free
List of Authors
Pavilion Schedule
Book Signing Schedule

Mr. Perez Goes to Washington

What: Perez Hilton Presents features Ladyhawke, Ida Maria, Frankmusik and Semi Precious Weapons

Where: 9:30 Club, 815 V St. N.W., Washington
When: Saturday, 9/12 at 8 p.m. (doors)
Cost: $20

Info: (202) 265-0930
Web: 930.com