The Cake Bar hosts an Afternoon of Tea, Cake, Art and Poetry
For more information: contact@thecakebarandlounge.com
To purchase advance tickets visit us at www.thecakebarandlounge.com

Not a fan of dainty china and cucumber sandwiches. Don't be afraid, The Cake Bar is turning the southern afternoon tea on its ear. A green tea flavored with mango and pineapple, jasmine and orange oolong... and a classic iced tea.

This event's featured liqueur cake is Limoncello, lemon cake soaked with the delicious Italian lemon liqueur, filled with lemon curd and topped with a light lemon mascarpone frosting. And it wouldn't be a southern tea without mint juleps or in this case, mint julep fudge.

And while you attend to your sweet tooth you’ll be surrounded by the vibrant art of Lola Akinmade and hear the affecting words of poets Winona Addison, Dominique Hollins, Fred Joiner and DeWayne Alston.

by Lola Akinmade
I am...
a contradiction to common sense yet the essence of truth
actions reminiscent of the common lost soul
amid an existence as significant as your next breath
------ Dominique Hollins

Little BLACK girl am i,
bad, ugly, nappy, hair have i.

In the kitchen gettin' it fried,
"Fried, dyed, laid to the side."
------ Winona Addison
from Hair Memoirs, Perspectives and Unspoken Truths: from black girlhood to Black Womanhood


Buy tickets in advance at www.thecakebarandlounge.com.

It's come to my attention that the link to purchase tickets to Tea Infusion wasn't working properly. So if you attempted to buy tickets, your order did not process. If you haven't attempted, run, don't walk to www.thecakebarandlounge.com to get your tickets in advance to this fabulous event.

Also, I would like to share with my new found and future friends on the board that the event was listed in Wednesday's Food Section of The Washington Post in the "To Do". I consider this my first foray into Pastry Celebritydom.

Carla Durham
Owner/Pastry Chef
The Cake Bar

Pictures from The Cake Bar's April 22nd event, Tea Infusion.

The Cake Bar's first Sunday afternoon tea, Tea Infusion, on April 22nd honored Southern tradition, but added new twists. The event was an introduction to spring with purple and lavender tulips decorating Reflections sun-filled studio on Capitol Hill and fresh fruit and vegetables complimenting the pastries and teas.

On the dessert menu was:

• Limoncello 6 - lemon cake layered with lemon curd and a lemon mascarpone frosting and infused with the famous Italian lemon liqueur
• Cake by the Pound - a traditional bundt poundcake
• Highlanders - brown sugar shortbread
• Florida Keys - key lime sugar cookies drizzled with a key lime glazed
• Beignets - served hot and covered with powdered sugar
• Mint Julep fudge - rich chocolate fudge flavored with bourbon and fresh mint

Teas served by sponsor Scrumpets, www.scrumpets.com:

• Ring Ben's Bell - an organic Earl Grey
• Life's Lemons - a lemon flavored black tea was served on ice
• Bermuda Triangle - a mango and pineapple flavored green tea
• Nawlins' Nilla - a vanilla flavored red tea
• Peach Fuzz - peach flavored white tea
• Cleopatra's Chamomille - an Egyptian herbal tea
• Karamel Choco Chai - an Indian masala chai with notes of caramel and Belgian chocolate
• Nomad's Travels - a jasmine and orange flavored oolong tea

To compliment the menu flavored cheeses from Cheesetique, Lemon Ricotta and Stilton with mango and ginger, and Sutter Home's Moscato, a light-bodied dessert wine with flavors of honeydew melon and orchard peaches.

The event featured an exhibit by Nigerian painter Lola Akinmade and poetry readings and spoken word from Winona Addison, Dominque Hollins, Fred Joiner and DeWayne Alston.

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, June 9th 7-10:30pm

Reflections Studios
631 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20003

The Cake Bar hosts Birth of the Cool

No matter how delicious the cake, it can always benefit from a scoop of ice cream. So The Cake Bar has created ice creams and sherbets to compliment its desserts.

The event will be sponsored by Pa Dian Accents Art & Framing, Lindeman's Lambic Beers and Scrumpets tea company.

Carla Durham
Owner/Pastry Chef
The Cake Bar
www.thecakebarandlounge.com
301-419-8103

Suited for Change Fifteenth Annual Celebration

Tuesday, May 15th 6:30-9:30pm
The National Museum of Women in the Arts
1250 New York Avenue
Washington, DC
Champagne, Hors D'oeuvres, Silent Auction and Cake Bar
Tickets are $98. Purchase online at www.suitedforchange.com

Suited for Change provides professional clothing and ongoing career and life skills education to low-income women to increase their employment and job retention potential and to contribute to their economic independence.

Carla Durham
Owner/Pastry Chef
The Cake Bar
www.thecakebarandlounge.com

As the weather heats up, cool off at The Cake Bar.

Go back to summer days of ice cream and family picnics
Journey through nights in the jazz clubs of the 50s and 60s
Be there for the

Birth of the Cool

Cakes, Cobbler and Ice Cream
Jazz Art and Photography Exhibit

The event will be sponsored by Pa Dian Accents Art & Framing, Lindeman's Farm Brewery and Scrumpets tea company.

I hope some of you will consider attending my company's 4th tasting event, Birth of the Cool on Saturday from 7-10:30pm at Reflections on Pennsylvania Avenue. It will be an evening of cool jazz and cool desserts.

On the menu is the latest in our series of "cake cocktails", Apricots & Almonds, an apricot cake flavored with Amaretto and topped with a creamy mascarpone frosting. For the summer, we're introducing Charlie Jr.'s Blackberry Cobbler. And as promised, freshly made ice creams and sherberts as only The Cake Bar can do them. Sample our Key Lime Ice Cream Pie and a shot of Southern Comfort ice cream. Taste Lindemans fruit-flavored lambic beers and Scrumpets fine quality teas chosen to compliment the flavors of the desserts. All of this set to the sounds of Miles Davis, John Coltrane and other jazz greats of the 50s and 60s and featuring an exhibit of classic jazz photography and vintage concert posters.

You can purchase tickets on our website, The Cake Bar in advance for $20 or at the door for $25.

I look forward to meeting some of you and getting your feedback on my desserts. Eventually, I hope to open my own place but in the meantime I've enjoyed hosting these themed events and have had a good response.

Carla

Good luck, Carla! I hope you get a great turnout. Depending on how the weekend shapes up, I may come by.

I gather that this business has no fixed location? I can't find an address on the website...so if you order, where do you pick up?

Has anyone tried their products? They sound scrumptious, and would like to know if this is a good option when searching for a good cake for a special event. I checked the bakeries thread and didn't see any mention of it, and all but the most recent post on this thread have been posts by the owner.

Ellen

I don't have a store front yet. But I live in Fort Washington, MD and rent commercial kitchen time in Alexandria. Usually, my customers pick up orders at my house, but now that I have more customers in DC I have had to make some deliveries. I'm in the process of looking for a place to partner with to provide some of my products in DC. Other than that, I host tasting events on my own and with Professionals in the City. I have also sponsored several charity events.

Carla

If you missed The Cake Bar's Birth of the Cool event, we also host events with Professionals in the City, www.prosinthecity.com. Thursday, July 12th from 7-10pm is Summer Desserts Happy Hour. The event will feature our "cake cocktails", flavored cakes with fruit fillings, topped with creamy frostings and most importantly infused with premium liqueurs. For an appetizer, To Your Taste Catering will be providing a mashed potato bar to prep your stomach for the sugar and alcohol.

For a recap of the menu at Birth of the Cool or other events, visit The Cake Bar website.

Carla
www.thecakebarandlounge.com

Come live La Dolce Vita![b]

[b]Sunday, September 9th
3-6:30pm
at Reflections Studio
631 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20003

The wines will take center stage at La Dolce Vita. Wines that go with cake that is! From a honeyed Sauterne to a citrusy ice wine, sample some of the best dessert wines. Each wine will be paired with one of The Cake Bar's luscious cakes - flavored in orange, caramel and cinnamon - and an artisan cheese specially chosen to bring out the best notes of the wine. This event's featured "cake cocktail" is Orange Cream, a combination of cake, orange marmalade, creme fraiche and Grand Marnier.

Tickets are $25. Purchase in advance at The Cake Bar

Hope to see you there!
Carla

All hail the sweet potato! Come give thanks to this staple of southern cuisine at The Cake Bar's pre-thanksgiving party, Sweet Potato Soul. The event will feature our unique as well as traditional sweet potato desserts, including sweet potato cake, cookies and cheesecake. Lindeman's fruit flavored lambic beer and light hors d'oeuvres will also be served. For entertainment, guests will be treated to a Thanksgiving themed poetry slam and the sounds of old school funk, go-go and classic rock and rap. Finally, everyone will get a mini sweet potato pie to take home.

Saturday, November 17th 4-7pm
Reflections Studio
631 Pennsylvania Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20003

Tickets are $20 and available to purchase in advance at www.thecakebarandlounge.com

Sweet potato desserts are our specialty. I hope some of you can make it.

Carla Durham
owner/pastry chef
The Cake Bar

You Are Loved: The Cake Bar's Valentine's Party

Join us for cake and cocktails!

Come singles, couples and friends. This party is for everyone. The Cake Bar is hosting its second annual You Are Loved Valentine's event. Enjoy our decadent cakes and liquor-infused chocolate fudge. While you indulge yourself, you will also be supporting a worthy cause: $5 from every ticket purchased will be donated to the World Cocoa Foundation’s Women in Cocoa Farming Education Program, which provides support and advice on successful farming for female cocoa farmers in West Africa. The evening will also feature a silent auction of special items donated by Arena Stage, Coup de Foudre Lingerie, Pa Dian Accents, ACKC Cocoa Bar, Tranquil Space Yoga, Japonica Tafe, E’Lantourage Communications, Valens Marketing & Consulting Group and FranScents; the proceeds will benefit the Education Program. Event sponsors include: Dagoba Organic Chocolate, Lemur Works, and Une Jolie Fete.

Tickets are $25. Purchase advance tickets at www.thecakebarandlounge.com.