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Showing results for tags 'pastries'.
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Opened 10/21/2013 - Caffé Aficionado, 1919 N Lynn St, Arlington. A new high-end coffee house opened Monday in the CEB/Deloitte building in Rosslyn. They serve Handsome Coffee, from Los Angeles using a 2-group La Marzocco GB/5. They do pour overs later in the day and serve amazing pastries. Not sure who bakes them, but they are delish. Not everything on the menu is available--like some house made Belgian-style waffles. They also have fresh squeezed orange juice. -
Open only since September, Kafe Bohem (KB) totally deserves its own topic here on dr.com. I begin with this just because there already is a topic for the associated restaurant, Bistro Bohem, which is under the same ownership and shares a wall. Coffee shops are culturally rich for many reasons and this is just one part of their attraction. Most obvious is the coffee/product. We discuss that alot here on the site. Sometimes other beverages or foods. The venue itself. The historical or regional background of the owners or guiding philosophy, including (but definitely not limited to) the various policies in place guiding everything from laptop usage to whether a small glass of water is served with an espresso. And, as important as anything else, the people who frequent the shop. Why start out a topic with the stuff above? Because just when I find myself slipping down the slope of believing we may be approaching coffee shop saturation in DC soon, I come across something that makes me realize the silliness of that notion. We're not even close. HEADLINE A wonderful place to sip, munch, work or talk, all packaged in a way fundamentally different from the many other great coffee shop spots in Washington, DC. VENUE Kafe Bohem is located in Ledroit Park right where Florida, 6th and T (all NW) converge. The coffee preparation area and checkout are on the left at the entrance and are relatively small relative to the generous amount of square footage devoted to smaller and larger tables. The amount of space (and thus ease of getting a place to sit, talk or work) rivals anything in the city. And, when you also add the 40 or so seats in the restaurant (also available to cafe patrons during the day), this is about as spacious as it gets with maybe only Coffy Kafe in Columbia Heights close on a pure square footage basis. The cafe has a a darker (but not dark) feel befitting its eastern European orientation. Dark woods, exposed brick, beautifully darker stained wood floors. Outlets have been thoughtfully located to allow connection from most any cafe table. Free encryptied wifi. While the password is printed on the bottom of any receipt, seems now that they may be using an unchanging phone number 🙂 While there's a definite seriousness to the coffee and baking (more on that to follow), there's a professional and capable casualness to the service and general vibe. Music nicely completes the feeling of tranquil third-placedness without at all being too loud or interfering with conversation in any way. COFFEE KB's coffee program is exclusively based on Julius Meinl coffees. Julius Meinl is a 150-year-old coffee purveyor from central Europe, headquartered in Vienna. Their US presence is new and limited with three Julius Meinl shops in Chicago and, as far as I know, just Kafe Bohem representing them here. The coffees are of high quality and sourced from the familiar regions in Africa and Latin America. As notable, roasting for the US market is done in Chicago so no issues with freshness. Consistent with German/Austrian thinking on coffee, coffee drinks are made with medium roasted and not dark beans. The latter are used for espresso. I had a "Melange Viennese" which, at KB, is identical to a wet cappuccino. Different from how some define the drink in Europe, where it can also be called a Wiener Melange and made with coffee in addition to the espresso and milk or foam. More on that for coffee geeks here. My capp was very nicely made with perfect balance of milk to espresso and served very warm to barely hot (versus scalding). A pour-over bar is planned and well underway and will feature single origin coffees. I was told this should reach fruition by the end of the year. By the looks of things, they seem to have a good variety of quality looseleaf teas on offer as well. PASTRIES Simply stated, the pastries here are better than those I've had or seen at any other coffee shop in the area. I didn't ask about the baker or learn more about what they're doing but, based on a wonderfully fresh, flaky and moist apple streudel and a surprisingly generous (maybe 1.75 inches thick) slice of apple cake which also managed to be very light, someone here knows what they're doing. BOTTOM LINE Kafe Bohem is a wonderful addition to the DC coffee/cafe scene, proving there's still much that can be innovated and enriched when it comes to places to get a cup to run, hang or something else. I've never tried the restaurant but, based on this visit to the cafe, will soon. If you like good coffee and/or are looking for a good place to connect with someone or get some work done, you can't do too much better than coming to Ledroit Park for KB. -
I wrote this up several weeks ago, but worth repeating. The Copper Crust Company is a god send to this carb addict. Its located right inside the Central Market in downtown York. The owners are originally from NY, city proper, I may add. They brought their skills to town. An everything bagel that a New Yawker would eat!! Although, I do believe the secret to NY bagels & pizza dough is the water. This should be on a list of MUST eat places while visiting the area, among many more. But rec needs to wait til my next review!! building suspense, kat
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Somehow this place has passed me by with stealth. I just really noticed it today, and it's apparently going to open in mid-May. (Well, that's the target.) Two of us spoke with a man working outside I assume is the owner, and he said that he plans outdoor seating and will also be applying for an alcohol permit to serve wine (or at least wine). Projected hours: 6AM to 9PM Mondays through Thursdays and 6 to 10 on Fridays and Saturdays. Closed Sundays. Since it has completely passed me by, I have no idea how far he has gotten with any of the permitting for outdoor seating or alcohol. I'm not sure how the immediate neighbors will react to those two facets of the operation. There is a decent space for a patio outside. (Visually, this is catty-corner from the northeast corner of the Car Barn, at 101 15th Street.) Their website is up and functioning: http://www.miascoffeehouse.com I wasn't sure if this was the right forum for the posting, but given that this is the coffee menu, I figured here: Espresso Americano Flat White French Press Pour Over Macchiato Cortado Cappucino Latte Cold Brew Iced Coffee Decaf House Blend- 21 replies
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Have been stopping at the wholesale bakery for Balthazar located in Englewood NJ for 2 days. Wonderful breads plus amazing tarts which might be more like spectacular toppings the likes of which I’ve never had. -
Good news for those who spend time on the Mall. Excerpted from a Smithsonian staff email: "The Hirshhorn is pleased to announce opening of a Dolcezza Gelato & Coffee pop-up coffee shop, its first food and beverage service.... Dolcezza’s Hirshhorn pop-up is located on the Museum’s plaza and will serve daily-made gelato, rich pastries, and expertly crafted coffee drinks, pour-over coffee, cider and hot chocolate. Visitors to the space can also enjoy a new commissioned mural by DC-based artist Kelly Towles, inspired by the works of Yayoi Kusama. Currently open 9 AM to 5 PM, the coffee shop will launch extended hours on Monday, April 3, opening at 8 AM every day and staying open on Wednesdays until 6 PM." whoo-hoo!!!!!!!!- 2 replies
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- National Mall
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Just saw this piece about Lia Cafe about a new Brazilian cafe opening in Mt. Pleasant. Looks like it will have all the typical salgadinhos (Pao de Quijo, Kibbe, etc.) that you would find in a Brazilian corner bakery. Hope they also have acai and juices, like a real Rio juice bar. No matter what, I think I will be here a lot. It's a bit sad for me, though. I had an idea to open a place like Each Peach Market, and then someone beat me to it, and my next idea was to open something like this, and I've been beat to it again! -
Attari Sandwich Shop is one of my favorite places to eat in the city, before/after the airport (except Mondays when it is closed), for takeout (bring some to the Getty and have a picnic! It still tastes great at home!), to take visitors...The meat is good quality so the kabobs (which are well-marinated and tender) are nice, but the bread (both the French bread used for sandwiches and the flatbread that you can request for the kabobs) is excellent, so I often go with the sandwiches. The Kashk-e Bademjan eggplant appetizer is the epitome of eggplant spreads and I usually get an extra order to take home (though I don't like the thin, floppy flatbread they serve with it - I bypass that and spoon it onto my rice or use the fluffy flatbread to sop it up). They have some interesting cuts of meat/sandwich stuffings, including mortadella, sosees (hot-dog/sausage-ish), brain, and kuku (herbed egg cooked like a frittata), though I've stuck with the tamer meats. On Fridays they serve ab-goosht, a lamb/chickpea stew about which Jonathan Gold raves (#60 on the list; the restaurant is also featured in the City of Gold documentary about him). As mentioned above, it can be difficult to find parking, but it's worth it! It's crowded inside and the tiny outdoor courtyard is spare but charming; if you sit a while you can clearly see that it's a local gathering place. They have baklava and other pastries but my husband adores the zoolbia above all. -
This is an interesting situation for me as moderator, and if we had an existing thread for Boss Hog's (we don't), I'd probably mark that as closed and give Simply Fresh a clean slate. Chef Rana (Rana is her first name) took over Boss Hogs in June, 2015, and changed it to Simply Fresh - both the interior and the patio look *nothing* like I remember Boss Hogs looking like, so unless I'm not remembering correctly, she really gave it a redo. I was driving in McLean, and was planning on going somewhere else, but I saw the sign for Simply Fresh, and it looked brand new to me, almost like some sort of grand opening, so I parked on Elm Street and marched on in, shocked at how nice looking the restaurant is now. It's still a cafe, but it's very clean, and looks like it just opened last week (the cashier told me it's been open since the summer, which surprises me). The cashier is a young gentleman, and Rana is his mom (I'm assuming from the language on their website (they have a second website, apparently for online ordering) that she's the owner as well as the chef). Since he's attached to the restaurant, and since there's such a diversity of items on the menu, I trusted him, and flat-out asked him what he liked. "I really like the lamb," he said, and so the lamb it was. This is where it gets even more interesting for me, because last night I went to Hula Girl in Shirlington, and had what amounted to a blue-plate special with their steak teriyaki. As it turns out, the Roasted Lamb with Potatoes ($12.99) made these two restaurants, in my mind, somewhat alike - the lamb, too, was a blue-plate special. The dish was like something my mom would have made (if she was Greek) - a few slices of fully cooked leg of lamb, high on the flavor meter, accompanied by large, bite-sized chunks of roasted potatoes, and a side salad - both dishes (this one, and the one from last night) were meat-starch-salad, were about the same size, and were about the same price; the only thing different - vastly different - is the atmosphere of the two restaurants: Hula Girl is a bright, loud bar; Simply Fresh is a quiet, workaday cafe. I had just gotten some always-needed cardio, and was starving - I knew halfway through the dish that I was not going to be terribly full, despite it being a perfectly reasonably sized portion of food. Knowing that the Orange Bowl was starting at 4PM, and that I'd be plastered in front of the screen (I'm watching and typing at the same time), I wisely got a second dish to go for later in the day, which was a "special" listed on the chalkboard out in front of the restaurant - however, the exact same dish is on their regular menu, so it was more marketing than anything else. I figured the Roasted Chicken with Potatoes ($9.50) would be the same plate of food as the lamb, and other than substituting chicken for lamb, it was. An uncut, half-chicken was well-roasted - rubbed, moist, and super tasty - whether or not you get the chicken or lamb depends solely if you're in the mood for chicken or lamb - I can recommend them both as good, hearty plates of food - nothing you'll remember in a month, but solid. Just having finished the chicken dish a few minutes ago (I didn't even need to heat it up), I realize that this was my final meal, and final write-up, of 2015, and I can't think of anything I'd rather do to celebrate the New Year, than to support a local, family-owned, mom-n-pop (or, in this case, mom-n-son) restaurant - Hula Girl, too, despite it's pomp and circumstance, is pretty much of a mom-n-pop; just in a completely different style (and most likely with some investors). Simply Fresh (the sign says, "Simply Fresh - barbecue & more") has BBQ, and a couple girls walked in and picked up a $100+ order, undoubtedly to celebrate New Year's Eve. Simply Fresh is big on breakfast, and across from the counter on the right, where you order your meal, it also has a counter on the left, with a pastry display case and an Illy coffee setup - this is probably where the cashier is in the mornings (have a look at this breakfast menu, and file it away in your head for future reference). They're open 7 days a week at 7AM each morning, except for Sundays, when they open at 8AM - I would not hesitate to try the breakfasts here. It's a pleasant, albeit somewhat stark, place to eat, and you won't regret coming here, although it wouldn't surprise me if there was a clunker or two on the menu (when one person does all the cooking, it's hard to do *everything* well). Over the next hour or so, I'll be either cursing at the TV or jumping with joy (Clemson is down 17-16 at halftime to a resilient Oklahoma Sooner team), and then, when it's over, I'll forget about it (unless Clemson wins), and I'll be spending this evening doing exactly what I want to be doing, given that I can't be with the people I want to be with: staying home, not having a drop to drink, relentlessly practicing a Beethoven sonata, maybe watching a rerun or two, and being thankful for this wonderful community. Happy New Year, everyone! I hope that 2016 brings you everything you wish for, and please remember always how grateful I am to have you in my life. -
By now, everyone in this forum has read Sietsema's review of Leopold's Kafe & Konditorei in last Sunday's Post Magazine. This was clearly the horrendous service to which Mr. Seistema has been alluding in his last four chats. Was I the only one who found it inconceiveable that a restaurant with "manequine like managers" and "clueless servers" can be granted a single star? My understanding is that one star is given to restaurants that provide a "satisfactory" dinning experience. Has the bar of satisfaction dropped so preposterously low that entrees can arrive atop appetizers? Who could find satisfaction in being ignored by three staff members when trying to order? Mr. Sietsema even reffered to the managers as 'human peacocks' more concerned with their own dinner on a Saturday night than the pleasure of their guests. While not entirely surprised by the awarding of a star to Leopold's - Beacon Bar and Grille was also heavily criticized for their service and earned a star - I am offended as a restaurant professional. I have not been to Leolold's and I am in no way trying to criticize them. I wish their ownership and management team the best of luck. However, this review describes as satisfactory service that would make me walk out if I were a guest, and that I would not tolerate in my restaurant. It makes me want to grow hair on my bald head solely for the purpose of tearing it out. . -
La Bohemia has opened. The two friendly guys from St. Michel are working the counter (and baking). The new owners are from the Czech Republic. They are starting slow- all the breads and pastries are made the way St. Michel made them and with the same ingredients. I bought some canneles and a bread pudding cupcake and thought they were delicious. They plan to slowly roll out non-French items such as a Bulgarian bread and a dark, rye-based, sour Russian bread. The co-owner says she has a special honey cake that will be coming soon. They are eager to hear feedback and suggestions for additional products. Really a good group of people making good products that should get our support. -
Since this past weekend was a super special weekend for me (I feel blessed Easter happened around the same time), I decided to treat myself, visit New York and explore bake shops and coffee shops (separate thread soon). For bakeries, here are my observations: Chelsea Empire Cake. I love the clean lines of the font of the storefront and interior design. I also like how they have so many different types of cake and baked goods to choose from. I only purchased one slice of their chocolate cake to sample. The cake traveled well from NY to DC, since I didn't eat it until the next day, and I loved the chocolatey goodness without it being overly sweet. The only slight downfall is that it was a teeny bit on the dry side, but I would still go back to buy their cakes and try their wares. Fat Witch. This is inside the famous Chelsea Market. I bought two mini brownies ($1.75 a piece) and one "Wicked" brownie (with green sprinkle sugar, after the musical - around $3). I haven't had these yet, but the locals I asked really love this place and I really liked the sample I tasted. The shop is really small, but I love whoever designed their logo. East Village Milk Bar. The East Village location is right around the corner from the noodle bar and right across the street from Ssam. One can walk right past it without you knowing it's there. The main design downfall is that it's tiny and no public washroom to use. The main flavor downfall is what others have posted in this forum: it is simply too sweet. I tried the chocolate cake truffles where the first ingredient listed is sugar. That should have clued me in, but nonetheless, I wanted to see what the fuss was about. And I was fussy, but of course, in a bad way. I also didn't like the cornflake chocolate chip cookie for two reasons: 1. It was too sweet as well, and 2. It was too gimicky. Sweet snacks should be simple, no fuss and delish. This place strays from all three in my book. Hell's Kitchen (Theatre District border) Donna Bell's Bake Shop. I stopped here after seeing Avenue Q at the New World Stages. The store is about 3/4 kitchen and 1/4 shop, but boy, what a shop! I wish I purchased more than the one piece of the pecan bar here--it has all the goodness that a good baker/eater looks for in a bar: proper shortbread (okay, it may have been a little too buttery), not too terribly sweet, but just gooey enough (a good use of honey in this case) with a healthy helping of pecans atop. I scarfed it down when I got back to DC. It also traveled well. I definitely can't wait to explore places others have posted in the "Mother Thread" as well.
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The same great quality, fresh ingredients, unique menus, sensational presentations & exceptional value that has made Monty’s Steakhouse & Lounge of Springfield, VA a favorite among the community is now available anywhere you choose: Corporate Private Home Fund Raising Team Sports Houses of Worship Picnics, and much more Whether simple or elegant, drop-off to full service catering, and any combination that suits your event, Monty’s welcomes the opportunity to help ensure that your special event remains special for you & your guests to long remember. There is really no end to our creativity. Contact us by phone, 703-942-8676, or email, catering@montyssteakhouse.co... “We listen not to reply. We listen to understand before we reply.”–Monty’s
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There is a new gluten free vendor at the Middletown Farmer's Market (off of Rt 40A, between Frederick and Boonsboro). Casey Sisters Sweets https://www.facebook.com/CaseySistersSweets makes only gluten free breads, cakes, cookies, cupcakes, etc. The selection changes each week and they are available for custom work. The market's hours are Thursdays, from 3 to 6 pm. http://www.local-farmers-markets.com/market/2262/middletown/middletown-farmers-market Disclosure: I know one of the Casey sisters through L'Academie de Cuisine. She is completing her externship at Tabard and training under Pastry Chef Huw Griffiths. I have personally tried and enjoyed her gluten free pastries. They taste remarkably close to conventional wheat products.
